Author Topic: Has anyone tried "Bait Herring" from the local fish stores in Winnipeg? (Read 7201 times)

Skiff · « **on:** Jan 13, 2007, 04:05 PM »

I just bought a pound of frozen 4" smelts and a frozen 12-pack of 6"-7" bait herring from Neptune fisheries today, and was wondering if anyone has tried the herring for pike or trout?

big-brother · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 13, 2007, 04:31 PM »

Work great. Firsthand personal experience!. Cheaper to hit the superstore and buy a pack of large herring,mackeral etc. Some as large as 12". go big or go home!!!

grumpymoe · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 13, 2007, 05:47 PM »

#1 go to bait for pike Skiff....one of the all time favourites!!!....good luck....stick em on a Norwegian hook....even more fun and guaranteed easy hookout for those you want to release....and a good challenge on maintaining tension on the retrieve....Grump

SK Justin · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 13, 2007, 06:31 PM »

Herring were responsible for my two personal best hardwater pike of 45" and 44". They work...

outdoorman18 · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 13, 2007, 06:43 PM »

my uncle is a lobster fisherman on the coast here in maine and he got me a case of herring about 6-8'' each fish but have not got to try them out yet because we have very little ice....heard they work great for the pike....could tell you better next week!

rainbow · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 13, 2007, 08:03 PM »

Quote from: Skiff on Jan 13, 2007, 04:05 PM

I just bought a pound of frozen 4" smelts and a frozen 12-pack of 6"-7" bait herring from Neptune fisheries today, and was wondering if anyone has tried the herring for pike or trout?

Fished with them on the red way back when

Quote from: big-brother on Jan 13, 2007, 04:31 PM

Work great. Firsthand personal experience!. Cheaper to hit the superstore and buy a pack of large herring,mackeral etc. Some as large as 12". go big or go home!!!

The bigger the bait the bigger the fish

Thriller · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 13, 2007, 08:05 PM »

I bought a pack last winter...I think the smaller ones (4" range if I recall)...package isn't opened yet, although it has travelled with me a couple of times...sigh.

akdg · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 13, 2007, 08:08 PM »

Herring?

big-brother · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 13, 2007, 09:21 PM »

Quote from: akdg on Jan 13, 2007, 08:08 PM

Herring?

Deeker · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 08:16 AM »

Ok...so back to a "herring" question again.............are these herring you speak of buying as bait, the same as the "herring-Tulibee-Cisco" that we were catching when fishing Whitefish?? (see whitefish madness post a few pages back)......hope so, cause i saved some for Pike fishing.
thanks, deeker

Skiff · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 08:58 AM »

No, I don't think they are small tullibee, because the head looks more pointed, and the scales are blue. I think they're (maybe?) salt water herring, or at least not local. There's a 1-800 number on the package that I'll phone tomorrow to see if they have info on them.

sled-in · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 09:46 AM »

I was talking to Manny a week back and he was showing me his bait, he was telling me both were great for pike and lakers, greasy fish, I'm not sure why smelts are so popular, of coarse six herring for $11-12

. but go big or go home

SK Justin · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 05:24 PM »

Quote from: Deeker on Jan 14, 2007, 08:16 AM

Ok...so back to a "herring" question again.............are these herring you speak of buying as bait, the same as the "herring-Tulibee-Cisco" that we were catching when fishing Whitefish?? (see whitefish madness post a few pages back)......hope so, cause i saved some for Pike fishing.
thanks, deeker

The herring typically sold as baitfish are pacific herring which are a saltwater fish completely unrelated to our cisco/tullibee. If you ever watch any of the B.C. fishing shows where they are out trolling for salmon with "cut plugs", these are the baits that they use.

The fish that you saved for pike fishing are simply small tullibee, and should work excellent for pike fishing.

Skiff - what is the name on the package of herring? I can't recall the name, but there is a company that starts with an "R" that sells awesome baits. They are a bit pricey, but they are of a great quality.

grumpymoe · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 05:59 PM »

freshwater herring also run in numerous Ontario lakes and look like their saltwater counterparts....used to dip them when they ran the fastwater in later summers in NW Ontario....man the eyes would go on some crazy feeding frenzies when they were around....talk about the hawgs rising to the occassion....it was nothing to lay a nice one out on a shoreline cast, and watch them hit....Grump

RandyH · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 06:18 PM »

think most of the herring sold around here are from outfit called Rhy Davis. Work well for pike due to the oily nature of the herring - pike have a good sense of smell.

SK Justin · « **Reply #15 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 06:28 PM »

Quote from: RandyH on Jan 14, 2007, 06:18 PM

think most of the herring sold around here are from outfit called Rhy Davis.

Yep, those are the ones that I was thinking of.

Thriller · « **Reply #16 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 07:10 PM »

Probably just a typo there, but it's Rhys Davis out of Sidney, BC.

RandyH · « **Reply #17 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 07:50 PM »

Excuse me

grumpymoe · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 08:22 PM »

lmao at Randy.....make sure you dot the l's and cross the lees....er...tees....G rump

Husser · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 08:43 PM »

So the big old herring from SuperStore will work good for Pike? I saw them on sale yesterday, but they were not frozen. Are these the same type of herring yall are talkin about? It's hard to find good big Pike bait here in Saskatoon. Smelts or Sardines. I really don't like Sardines. Looking for 20+ lbs pike at Tobin Lake. Any recomended size of herring. Thanks.

big-brother · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 08:47 PM »

bigbait=bigfish

Thriller · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 14, 2007, 10:13 PM »

Quote from: RandyH on Jan 14, 2007, 07:50 PM

Excuse me

I hope you didn't take offense...it wasn't my intent...I don't have a problem with typos or spelling errors most of the time, but if someone tried to search on the name or something it might not have worked that well.

Skiff · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 15, 2007, 11:41 AM »

Hokay - I just phoned the North King Bait Co. to find out where they were located, and where the herring came from. They said the fish they package are Pacific Herring, caught off the shores of Vancouver Island, and packaged in different sizes. The company is located in Campbell River, BC. Interesting that our bait should have to come from so far away, but they must be effective because they are sold extensively for salmon and trout fishing in the Great Lakes.

akdg · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 15, 2007, 01:41 PM »

I think these are what he's talking about

only these are from the other side of the border

sled-in · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 15, 2007, 02:09 PM »

nice herring!!!

Deeker · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 15, 2007, 07:50 PM »

Thanks for looking into that Skiff!
So..... I wonder if the local Herring are just as good? I guess we'll just have to try both one day and see what works best. I would imagine the local herring (tulibee) would be just as good (or better hopefully).

Barleydog · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 16, 2007, 07:47 AM »

Gents,
Hey here's a little recipe for curing up your herring. Not all herring are firm enough to fish, so this will help ya out.

OK, first things first.... Salt will "firm" up your fish! If you leave them in fresh water, they will soften up.

I posted this recipe on MyFishFinder about 2 years ago... I learned it from a charter boat capt. in Puget Sound who was our fishing club president. It's a great little trick to keep bait on your hook and not frozen on the ice.

This recipe is fantastic for salt curing smelt, herring, alewives, and sardines!!!
First get your bait and never let it get warm. Warm bait will start to deteriarate rapidly which leaves you with mushy bait that's hard to thread on a hook.

1. Take a cooler and fill it with 2 1/2 gallons of ice cold "non-chlorinated" water. If you don't have a way to remove the chlorine, leave the water out on the counter overnight and it will be gone by morning.

2. Mix about 3 Tbls. of Mrs. Stewarts liquid blueing into the water. This will give the fish a really shiney look that is quite impressive! If you can't get liquid blueing, try green food coloring, but it's not as productive.

3. Mix in 4 cups of Non-Iodized salt, rock, or even kosher salt until diluted.

4. 1 cup of powdered milk. This will help keep the fish firm and fresh, and helps if your working with soft fish.

5. Let the fish sit a couple hours or a couple days. You can add chopped garlic, garlic oil, or about 2 tbls. of anise oil for extra flavoring.

This recipe is a bit labor intensive, but trust me it's worth it! You should wait until after the fish have firmed up before performing any cuts for the purpose of cut-plugging etc...

;)Enjoy! Barleydog

Husser · « **Reply #27 on:** Jan 16, 2007, 05:55 PM »

Is this recipe for fresh bait or can they be frozen afterward? Are they to stay in the solution at all times. Can a guy experiment with diff food colors? Thanks.

Barleydog · « **Reply #28 on:** Jan 17, 2007, 07:41 PM »

Fresh is firm enough you don't have to mess with this recipe. I use it on frozen herring only. Keeping it cold is really key! You can take them out of the solution and pack in a little salt if you want... Or leave it in the solution either way, they remain firmer than straight frozen fish.

powderburns · « **Reply #29 on:** Jan 17, 2007, 09:55 PM »

I've used them in the past but found to have better luck with smelt. I like my baits to be at least 8in in length.

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Author Topic: Has anyone tried "Bait Herring" from the local fish stores in Winnipeg? (Read 7201 times)

grumpymoe

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RandyH

RandyH

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