02-01-2003, 05:39 PM
Fresh, firm bait stays on a hook better and almost undoubtedly has a more enticing odor and taste.
Immediately after I dipped my limit of Cisco this year, I headed for what snow was left on Cisco beach and topped my bucket off with it. Doing so made it so I was able to spend the rest of the day at the Bear without worrying about the Cisco.
When I got home, I rinsed them off, shook the excess water off of them, put some Cling Wrap over a cookie sheet, laid them out on it in one layer, and put them in the freezer. After a few minutes, I pulled them back out of the freezer after they were partially frozen (just stiff, not rock hard), vacuum packed 2 or 3 in each bag, and put the vacuum packed Cisco back into the freezer to await the day I break them out for bait.
A vacuum packer can suck the juice right out of a Cisco. It will flow toward the opening of the vacuum bag during the process and prevent the heat strip from sealing the bag. That's why I partially freeze them. I only do 2 or 3 to a bag because I don't want to thaw out a bunch of Cisco if I'm only going to use a couple for bait.
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Immediately after I dipped my limit of Cisco this year, I headed for what snow was left on Cisco beach and topped my bucket off with it. Doing so made it so I was able to spend the rest of the day at the Bear without worrying about the Cisco.
When I got home, I rinsed them off, shook the excess water off of them, put some Cling Wrap over a cookie sheet, laid them out on it in one layer, and put them in the freezer. After a few minutes, I pulled them back out of the freezer after they were partially frozen (just stiff, not rock hard), vacuum packed 2 or 3 in each bag, and put the vacuum packed Cisco back into the freezer to await the day I break them out for bait.
A vacuum packer can suck the juice right out of a Cisco. It will flow toward the opening of the vacuum bag during the process and prevent the heat strip from sealing the bag. That's why I partially freeze them. I only do 2 or 3 to a bag because I don't want to thaw out a bunch of Cisco if I'm only going to use a couple for bait.
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