How to Cure a Skein With Borax

Female trout and salmon readily strike pieces of egg skeins.

Eggs form inside spawning female fish in two long clumps called skeins. These eggs make excellent trout and salmon bait. Keeping the eggs in skeins, rather than individual eggs, makes them easier to put on a hook. The only drawback of trout and salmon eggs is their short shelf life. They quickly dry up if not preserved. With just a little preparation and a few ingredients, you can preserve egg skeins for up to a year, providing you with enough bait for many outings.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors
• Bowl
• Measuring cup
• 1 cup canning salt
• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup sugar
• Spoon
• Plastic bags

Instructions

1. Cut the skeins into bait-sized pieces about 1 to 1-1/2 inches square with scissors.

2. Pour one cup of sugar, Borax and canning salt into a bowl. Mix thoroughly with a spoon.

3. Place the skein pieces into the mixture. Roll them around until they are thoroughly coated with the preservative.

4. Place the bait into plastic bags. Put just a few pieces into each bag -- enough for one outing.

5. Place the bags into a refrigerator or freezer.

Tips & Warnings

• Eggs will keep for about a month in a refrigerator or one year in a freezer.

References

• Lake Michigan Angler: How to make your own homemade Salmon and Trout Egg Cures