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There are some new regulations coming down the pipe regarding egg cures in Oregon. Studies have apparently shown that eggs cured with too much sodium sulfite can kill salmon and steelhead smolts that ingest them so major cure manufacturers have agreed to lighten up on the ingredient.
Read more at the Mail Tribune
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Now, all we need is some wasabi!!
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JD,
For curing roe to use as bait, where do I find borax? And how is it different from Boraxo?
–Bill E.
Bill, you get it in the laundry aisle of the grocery store…20 Mule Team Borax is the most common brand. Comes in a big ol’ box that will last you quite awhile. For egg curing, NEVER EVER use Boraxo, which is borax with laundry detergents mixed in…unless you like your eggs coming out tasting like a flowery meadow after a spring freshet :)
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JD,
I was wondering if you could explain the difference between sulfite and borax eggs cures. Furthermore, are there times when one is superior to the other, for example do Kings prefer sulfite cured eggs over borax?
Cheers,
Mike
Mike, many of the commercially-produced cures like Pro Cure, Pro Glo, etc. are sulfite cures…in that, sodium sulfite is one of the main ingredients. Usually, there’s other stuff in there too like dye and maybe some sort of “bite stimulant.”
Boraxed eggs are just that — baits rolled around in a bowl or Zip-Loc of Borax (not Boraxo). Borax helps toughen the outer membrane so the eggs will fish longer but doesn’t add any flavor or color.
Generally speaking, kings and other salmon prefer bright red salty eggs so go with sulfite eggs while chasing them. On the other hand, steelies like a sweeter egg, so Borax or Jell-o cures are better for them.
Both species will cross over and eat the other type of bait, but you will definitely do better by matching your bait to the species you’re after.
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Okay, so it’s not exactly a secret, but roe is one hell of a productive sturgeon bait. Ever since we started catching diamondbacks on eggs years ago while fishing for salmon on the Sacramento River, I always wondered why the sturgeon guys didn’t use the stuff. After all, we caught pretty good numbers of fish boondoggin’.
Well, as it turns out, sturgeon guys are a crafty lot and small groups of anglers had been using salmon roe and keeping it quiet. Since then, the lid has been blown off the story and everybody’s using it.
Before we get too far along here, a few quick pointers. First off, don’t cure your eggs with a sulfite-based salmon cure…sturgeon don’t like eggs cooked that way as much — unless you’re in freshwater. In salt, plain is better. Keep in mind, that the cure isn’t quite as important in briny water since the eggs won’t milk all that much. If you want to add something, soak the eggs in scent first.
Okay, so now Jay Lopes of Right Hook Sportfishing in West Sacramento shows how it’s done…
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Ever wished there was some magical bait that made trout go crazy? One that made rainbows, browns, and all their beautifully spotted cousins as easy to catch as farm pond bluegills? And wouldn’t it be great if this bait was available in large quantities for free? Well, I’ve got some good news here, folks: Such a bait exists.
This super bait doesn’t come in jars or Styrofoam containers; it doesn’t live on wet grass or under logs. It doesn’t wiggle or hop or swim and it doesn’t require much special care. It’s not made out of chemicals and doesn’t have a doughy consistency yet it keeps well in the fridge or freezer. Give up yet? Here’s one final clue: the world’s greatest trout bait comes from the bellies of salmon. Yep, we’re talking about roe here.
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