How to Fish With Borax Bait
Fish with Borax bait to catch big trout, bass, muskellunge, pickerel, salmon and many other game fish. Big fish love trout and salmon eggs, but fresh egg sacs (called skeins) are soft and delicate, making them hard to keep on a hook. Preparing the skeins to make effective fish bait was once a well guarded secret passed along from seasoned fishermen only to their close friends and family, but now the secret is out. Next time you clean your catch of salmon or trout, set aside any skeins you find to make your own Borax bait. Here's the recipe.
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Instructions
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Lay the skeins on a flat surface and use a sharp kinfe to cut through the membrane, dividing the skein into 2- or 3-inch long sections. Salmon eggs are best because the skeins and the individual eggs are larger, but trout egg skeins work well, too. In fact, you can use the skeins of almost any game fish you catch to make Borax bait.
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Pour a layer of Borax about 1/4 inch deep onto a flat pan, large enough to lay all the skein sections on it without touching each other. Once you lay out all the skein sections on the Borax in the pan, sprinkle more Borax over them. Cover each section completely. The Borax toughens the membranes so the eggs hold together and the skeins will stay securely on your hook.
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Move the pan to a dry, cool place out of direct sunlight and where air can circulate to help the curing process. Be sure to keep the pan and its contents away from moisture. Turn the skein sections every 12 hours while they're curing. The process takes about 3 days. The skein sections are flexible and dry to the touch when fully cured. They should feel a little rough and leathery.
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Lift each cured skein section from the pan and shake off any excess Borax. Store the Borax bait in resealable plastic bags for your next fishing trip. They will keep for at least 2 weeks if you store them in a cool place. Some fishermen report storing them this way for up to a month with no problem. For longer storage, force all the air out of the bag, seal it and store it in the freezer. Allow the Borax bait to thaw completely before using it.
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Tips & Warnings
Add sugar-free Jello to the Borax to color and flavor the Borax bait and make it even more attractive to big fish.
