Salted Minnows

[Lexus]

Would anyone have information on salted or prepackaged minnows to pack in on our up coming Canada trip?

Used prepackaged minnows before and liked them, but company stopped making them.

Have tried salting them on my own, but must be doing something wrong as they always become soft as soon as they thaw out.

Thanks,

Lexus

[swede]

You cannot use only salt. You have to put at least 1/3 or 1/2 borax to salt mix. You will find borax in the detergent section of the local supermarket. Salt alone will make them stiff,dry,brittle, dull in color. all the moisture out of the minnow.
Were you using ANY salt or just freezing them as you said they were mushy after thawing. I have used frozen minnows that worked OK if you hook them on when still somewhat frozen.
Borax and salt combo will make the tough,pliable and have a good shelf-life. Freeze them after treating them if you want. I use them a week after I treat them and not freeze.

[TONY ON ICE]

LEXUS
The borax works good mixed with the salt but if you want to salt them like the bait shops, you have to put the live minnows onto a aerated or bubbed tank with pickling salt (Non-Iodized) until they die and then immediately remove them and put them on a piece of paper to absorb the excess water.
Blot them so they'te not soaking wet but leave a little moisture and then drop them in a container with more of the same kind of salt and shake them up until they're coated .
Leave them out to dry for an hour (not in direct sunlight) and then bag them the way you want. You can freeze them and they'll be nice and firm when thawed. Can't hurt to toss in a couple spoon fulls of borax though.
I make several batches throughout the year and color many of them with food coloring while they're still swimming in the salt water.

[SUPERTROLLER]

TONY, I have always just used regular iodized table salt for mine. Do you know why it is said you "can't" use iodized salt for this. Other people have told me this but the trout don't seem to care that I used the salted minnows for. The minnows are stiff and dead either way. They do seem to get wet and mushy after several days but I then add more salt and it's better then.

Does anybody have a reason NOT to use iodized salt other than "you just can't"?

[Lexus]

Thanks for all the helpful advice, I will try these out before I leave for Canada.

Lexus

[Cangl]

Looks as though maybe those fish do not need to be cured of thyroid ailments? Quit doctoring those fish Super T, at least with out a medical license!