Was hoping someone could give me an easy step by step instructions for curing salmon eggs. I've been doing some reading but am not yet satisfied on how to do it "right".


Also, I found this information that I thought was interesting....


"I NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use borax for one simple reason. years ago when i was a fisheries student we got to visit and work at a lot of hatcheries. one day when working at one of them (we always carried our fishing poles in our trucks) we had discussed different egg cures and the hatchery manager told us to clip off the hook and just use the eye and shank with the egg loop and toss it in the tanks to see how the fish would react to our eggs. we all tried this at several different hatcheries for differnt salmon and steelhead. one thing was always consistent, the fish NEVER held the borax eggs for long. a lot of the sulfate cures the fish chewed on awhile, some seemed to swallow it, now years later we know the right cure will make fish swallow your bait. i have never had a fish swallow a borax cure. now i will only use amermans or wizard pro cure for store bought cures or use my own. i think as far as cures go you can do one heck of a lot better than borax. you can dry your eggs and firm them up quite nicely without borax. hint: powdered milk does wonders! just experiment, but no borax!"

Ahhhhh, The Holy Grail...........


http://www.ifish.net/amercure1.html

Thanks Spike, I have always used boric acid and never gave it a second thought.

Spike, Are you registered on Ifish too? I have the same moniker, and ive been there for a few years.

Ive been using amermans salmon cure almost exclusivley. I have used the wizard cure and it seemed to work good too, but im sold on on the amermans for salmon.

I also read that on ifish about the borax. Maybe thats true, but some of the best steelhead fisherman i know use nothing but straight borax on eggs for steelhead and catch a ton of fish. After reading that though, i think im gonna try the amermans steelhead cure more this season. There is a quart already in the freezer.

For a tutorial, the one on ifish is good. I follow it and my eggs come out perfect. Its really pretty easy, i think you just dont want to use too much cure or your eggs wont milk out well.

Where are you at in oregon? Im in corvallis now but im moving to portland in two weeks for a new job. Just bought my first driftboat today <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Plan on hitting the coastal rivers hard this fall bobber fishing for chinook...

I believe the "merits" of pitching roe,are hyped notions that are unsubstantiated myths. It is nay impossible to trump a properly delivered dry fly,for banking copious Salmonids in all conditions.

Having never tried any of the overtouted Roe Cures,I could not offer anything of substance,regarding that much sensationalized approach to yield a strike.



When I bank a fish via Swatter Tackle,I simply leave the roe go,as it is of no value to me. I do not consume it,nor do other fish dote upon it is a bait substance,so it is a superflous substance in my opinion.



I have never seen anyone pitching roe,hammer anything resembling the like number of fish I do,via The Swatter. Roe in my opinion,is a dirty,nasty,messy,worthless means of being repeatedly skunked. There is nothing as rewarding as a beautiful presentation via spey rod and it's subsequent results. It is utter poetry in motion and a thing of unfathomable beauty combined.

I personally view those that stoop to bait,as Heathenistic Bastards,of the lowest order and fully unappreciative of the natural order of things. It makes me cringe to fathom some both devote time and freezer space to such notions.



Anyone that would do that,would likely have zero qualm using a barbed hook,neon dangle doodads and probably paste fish in the head with an aluminum bat for Christ's sake! I'm miffed just trying to picture the scenario.

'Course,your [bleep] mileage might vary........................(grin)

Looks like a certain Heathenistic Bastard is well-heeled for coho season. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I believe that certain sumbitch is likely counting the days on the calendar,to get the green light on pitching the above.

Personally...I'd not wish to be a fish.

You?....................(grin)

Been kinda quiet from the front line lately, figured a certain someone was most likely still trying to fetch said spey from the nearest tree top.

By the way... you can make that two sumbitches...

Multiple sumbitches will be ABSOLUTELY freaking out at the vast numbers and INCREDIBLE size of the resident Coho now running. It is freakish and far and away the best I've ever seen it and we are a coupla rains away from it's peak.

A Power Troller I know,caught one that dressed 23lbs! I chewed his ass for not having it mounted. What a HOG!

As an aside,the spey got tossed in the drink..................(grin)

Its a plague. Drift boats on every trickle. Every yuppie now has an HD. Now this, dry flies, Orvis and tweeds, I imagine.

Here's a spey assortment,bucket of nymphs and some tippets.



Will try to pull some tweed outta my ass..................

There is still hope in the North...

The hope runneth over.

It's gonna be BRUTAL.....................(grin)

Well, show no mercy--I imagine there no worry over that judging by the supplies. Get pics The ocean is a ways off but the steelies are only about a month away from this point on the drink--but am headed to Superior in-between for lakers..and maybe a king or two.

Here's a typical scene,from last year's efforts.



Please note the spey,25lb tippet and dainty nymph. Disregard the corpses...them was decoys.

Though it resembles work,someone has gotta do it....................(grin)

Jolly good! Is that a climbing device in the foreground? Well, I'm off to peruse the new Orifice catalog for one of those new fly reels with the line counter and a nice 5 weight to match.
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Nawwwwww...the instrument in the foreground is a Tourist Trap.

I believe that if you brought your soon to be procured Swatter gear to Paradise,you'd enjoy the company(and results).

Regards..................

Yeeeeeeeee..............[bleep]......................haaaaaaaaaaa.

Do believe I'm about to lose load!

"Hello, 1-800-AlaskAir.......do you have a seat available for....ummmm.....TOMORROW?!"

BTW, Stick-um....I'm on the 9:45 chopper to Hollyland.....can you pick me up there on Saturday or you gonna make me walk? Figured with the longer drive we might get lucky and find a box of kittens.

I believe that.
Tom

Whatever your schedule,we'll make it work.

Am thinking a guy could pull a Buck,a Bear and a Buncha Fish outta his ass on that trip.

I'll letcha know how I do......................(grin)

laugh'n my azz off........just be sure to leave me a forky buck, a rubbed out bruin and..........a trout or two.

Oh yeah, save me a beer too.

You folks from DownSouth SURE fret details...

Do NOT worry,I'll be in Anchorage to pick you up,or someone else will.

Just raise the sign that says "Will trade: Sex for Fish"...........................(grin)

Anchorage? Jezzus, I screwed up.....booked my flight to Fairbanks. Can you make the extra drive? I'll pick up the gas. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />


Did the Bonzi Master leave me any presents at your place today???????

Welp...I guess we enjoy eachother's company on the long drive?!!?

He did in fact leave you a fresh Herring,in the foot of each wader leg. Might that interest you?

The Mating Ritual of Fly Swatters leaves me at a loss for words. After that's outta your system,I'll show you a right proper time.

Word is,the bar has been lifted. 15lb test is now the working minimum,as the Boys are getting serious after hooking a coupla fish. I'm spooling 20lb main line,so as to not get duped on the next quirky nuance(grin).

Bring your game face..........................

20lb???? What the??????????? I just got all spooled up with 10 and 15lb.

Oh wait, think I might have one with 20.....................(grin).

I'm gonna pitch 6lb mainline and 2lb leaders.

They call me Sporty Spice(give or take).................

Hey, any chance of going out in the Ducky for Butts???

That IS why were fishing the creeks, right..........bait! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Reeling in Halibut does get old. I'd much rather Drift Fish,but you Texans are quirky bastards and I aim to please.

I guess we'll mull over details at The Bush Company?!!?....................(grin)