How to Cure Fish Roe for Bait

Fish roe make an ideal bait when you are fishing a variety of different species of fish, such as salmon and trout. There is a problem, however, with using roe as bait for fishing, which is that roe does not keep for all that long. Roe will stay fresh if stored in the fridge for a few days and up to a week, and a couple of months if frozen. Curing roe, however, will allow them to keep for up to a month in the fridge and a year in the freezer.

Things You'll Need

  • Roe cure
  • Plastic bowl with lid
  • Strainer
  • Plastic spoon
  • Paper towel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the roe in the strainer, which should be placed in the large plastic bowl. If there is any blood present in the roe, gently rinse the roe with distilled water or river water, but not tap water. Be especially vigilant in rinsing away any blood that might have gotten mixed into the roe during extraction, as blood can spoil roe quickly.

    • 2

      Dry the plastic bowl with the paper towel once the liquid from the roe has drained, and place the roe in the plastic bowl.

    • 3

      Sprinkle the roe cure on the roe. The amount of cure will vary depending on how much roe you have and the specific directions of your roe cure. Read the product label and apply the cure accordingly.

    • 4

      Gently stir the roe with the plastic spoon to mix the cure in. The cure should begin to cause a liquid buildup as liquid is drawn out of the roe. This is normal and the liquid should not be drained.

    • 5

      Place the lid on the plastic bowl and place the roe in the refrigerator. Leave it to cure overnight. In the morning the liquid should have been all reabsorbed into the roe, and there should be little or no liquid left in the plastic bowl. The roe can now be stored up to a month in the fridge or a year in the freezer.