By Rodney Hsu & Marco Li

Bait fishermen who frequently fish the BC rivers will all agree that roe is by far the most effective bait for salmon, trout and steelhead. It is natural and it produces a scent that is simply irresistable to the fish. Unlike other bait, roe requires a bit of effort to ensure its freshness for a long period of time. Without "curing", roe can easily be wasted as it softens and rots within a week or two. Anglers should also not freeze roe before any curing is done. Like fishing techniques, curing methods vary greatly. Different method is needed for different fishing conditions. In this article, Marco Li and Rodney Hsu have illustrated some of the most common methods that are used for roe curing.

Marco Li's single egg sac preparation

Single eggs are found in females that are close to spawning. The eggs are no longer held together by the skein and they are slightly harder. To use them requires a bit of work. Eggs can not simply be threaded onto the hook since they will burst. They need to be hold together in a roe sac. Marco Li's method is simple to use and the end products are often deadly for driftfishing. His preparation, step by step, is listed below:

1. Rinse the egg under water just to wash off sand etc.

2. Mix little salt, sugar or jelly power (for colouring) in a bucket with the eggs.

3. A couple of hours later, put the eggs on newspaper just to let them dry out (don't over dry them).

4. Put 4-5 eggs, depends on the size of eggs, on a square of mesh and wrap it to form an egg sac (ask tackle shops for mesh, they know).

5. Get a pot on the stove, heat up the water to 85*c (hot but not boiling).

6. Dip the sacs in water for about 30 seconds or until the eggs become plastic feel (or test them with a needle, poke the egg to see the juice run out like a thick glue, if not dip it in for 5 more seconds. Add up the time, then you know how long it takes to do for the rest of them).

7. Put the cooled egg sacs in a jar with a tight lid, and fill them with anise oil until it cover the sacs.

8. Store them in the fridge, only take the amount needed per fishing trip, don't put the left over sacs back into the jar.

This method is excellent for driftfishing in streams since you don't have to mess with cutting up chunks of roe. All you need to do is to grab a sac from your jar and hook it onto the hook without getting sticky fingers.

Rodney Hsu's roe curing method for barfishing

When barfishing for salmon or trout in the Fraser River, presentation is not as important as when fishing in clear water streams where fish are able to see the bait. The purpose of curing the roe that is to be used in the Fraser River is to ensure it retains the firmness so it will not fall off the hook easily during casting or when small fish nibble on it. Your ingredients for this preparation is simple: Borax, salt, water, dye and some paper towels. You can use any types of roe for this method, however chum roe is ideal due to the egg size and large quantity produced by the female. This preparation is not for single eggs, but for roe that are still intact in one large chunk by the skein. The preparation, step by step, is explained below:

1. Fill up a container with water, enough to submerge your roe.

2. Add dye into the water if you wish to brighten up your roe.

3. Place the roe in the water, pour and spread salt into the water. The amount added should be between 1/2 cup to a cup. The purpose of this step is to wash the roe, harden the roe and let all the blood clots diffuse into the water.

4. Take roe out of water after a couple of hours. The amount of time left in the water depends on how hard you want your roe to be. Personally I prefer firm roe. If they become hard as a rock then they can be hard to stay on the hook.

5. Place the roe on several pieces of paper towel, allow the roe to air dry for 30 minutes or so.

6. Once the roe becomes drier, grab a large container, pour borax into it and place the roe in it. Spread more borax on the roe and mix the roe well in the borax. Make sure all surface of the roe is covered with the borax. Borax is a preservative that allows the roe to retain its moisture and prevents it from becoming too soft at the same time.

7. Once the above steps are completed, place your roe into a container for storage. Make sure a paper towel is laid on the bottom of the container to drain off excess liquid. You should store this container at a cool place, the fridge is good. The roe will remain fresh for up to 6 months.

You can either cut your bait in advance or cut it while you fish. There are advantages to both. By cutting the bait in advance, you will avoid getting sticky liquid all over your hands while fishing. However, cutting the bait while you fish allows you to decide how big your bait should be based on the circumstances. If you do decide to cut your roe during fishing, I suggest you to bring a small bucket and a large towel so you are able to clean your hands each time. This will make your fishing experience a lot more enjoyable.