Quest Outdoors

tyee · Alevin Joined: 02 Sep 2005 Posts: 11

I cured a batch of singles per my freinds instructions (mix pro-cure powder with water and stick them in the refrigerator for several days and they are ready to tie in spawn sacs). they plumped up and are nice and bright red but break easily when handled. My question is does anyone have any advice at this point on how to toughen them up a bit? I was thinking about trying to air dry them and / or sprinkle them lightly with borax.

Eggsack · Lunker Joined: 26 Apr 2004 Posts: 214 Location: WV

The only way to get an egg tougher is to water harden them before any type of cure is added. Usually on a good sized Salmon egg, anywhaer from 15- 30 minotes should be enough for singles. YOU MUST USE RIVER WATER TO DO THIS. TAP water will not work as it has too many chemicals that the egg sucks up.

Bow_buster · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject:

This topic is covered in the Ask the Staff forum of Quest. Check it out.

Randy

Bobber1 · Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2005 1:53 pm Post subject:

Want nice firm natural looking singles?

Try a ten to one mixture of water and muriatic acid. Use gloves and outside though (need I really explain this...lol).

Take a straining ladel (plastic) and a large clean plastic ice cream tub (or any small plastic vessel). Put the water in first and add the acid second (10 parts water to 1 part acid). Have a second container of water to dunk rinse, a wad of paper towels to lay the eggs and pat dry after, and plastic or glass jars for the finished product.

Put the eggs in the strainer ladel first, lower it slowly into the mix. Let it sit for a 30 seconds to a minute. Dunk rinse in the other container, and then pat dry. Test a couple with a hook point, you want it to be solid enough to hold on the hook and not still be liquid inside. Whe you figure out the timing do the rest of your eggs.

Tie in clear material, singles or doubles (just to keep on the hook). I have landed bow after bow on the same egg, so you don't need to tie too many at a time.

Good Luck