10-17-2019, 02:27 PM
"I don't gut em myself currently, it's just the argument I hear) that the acids and enzymes in the internal organs will leach out and break down the meat/skin such that you get " soft" bait when you unfreeze and they wont stay on the hook as well. Also that it impacts the sent let off when they unfreeze in the water."
[#0000FF]That process is known as "autolysis". It is more of a potential problem for trout and other delicate-fleshed fish you plan to keep for the table than for bait. If you process and fast-freeze your bait fish as soon as possible after they croak you will eliminate or retard the breakdown process significantly.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]When I bring home minnows to process for bait I have them on ice for the trip home. Then I immediately package and freeze them in a single layer in a small box...with enough water in the package to cover the minnows...after squeezing out all the excess water and all of the air bubbles.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]I sometimes fish with minnows that have been in my freezer for over a year...and they usually come out of hibernation almost as good as fresh. As for negative odors...well a whole lotta fish still slurp them up so I guess they ain't all that bad.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]Some of my more successful minnowing trips might result in a couple hundred of the bitty tykes. I can't imagine all the hassle it would take to gut each one.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]One of the things I often do...especially when fishing with whole minnows...is to use a small sharp knife point to poke holes in both sides to release more scent. And that almost always produces faster action and more bites. So it does not seem that autolysis has played a negative part.[/#0000FF]
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[#0000FF]That process is known as "autolysis". It is more of a potential problem for trout and other delicate-fleshed fish you plan to keep for the table than for bait. If you process and fast-freeze your bait fish as soon as possible after they croak you will eliminate or retard the breakdown process significantly.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]When I bring home minnows to process for bait I have them on ice for the trip home. Then I immediately package and freeze them in a single layer in a small box...with enough water in the package to cover the minnows...after squeezing out all the excess water and all of the air bubbles.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]I sometimes fish with minnows that have been in my freezer for over a year...and they usually come out of hibernation almost as good as fresh. As for negative odors...well a whole lotta fish still slurp them up so I guess they ain't all that bad.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]Some of my more successful minnowing trips might result in a couple hundred of the bitty tykes. I can't imagine all the hassle it would take to gut each one.[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]
[/#0000FF]
[#0000FF]One of the things I often do...especially when fishing with whole minnows...is to use a small sharp knife point to poke holes in both sides to release more scent. And that almost always produces faster action and more bites. So it does not seem that autolysis has played a negative part.[/#0000FF]
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