MulletMan
17-02-2006, 11:30 AM
I have been steadily improving my methods for years now and have a finished product that will have your woims staying fresh and useable for up to three months minimum.
I know the Metho dunking works pretty well but this is my way:
The first bit really hurts because we all love to put a fresh worm on right up!
Nope, I put 'em down the moment I buy them! This takes enormous will power to see a big, happy, fresh, wriggling worm seem to disappear before your eyes but trust me, I have caught more whiting in Spot X (25-35 cms) in the Rous Channel on treated worms than the fresh ones. One reason is that the treated worms can last up to five or more times before they are stripped from the hook. In other words, you will get 5 to 1 whiting on the rubbery ones - they love 'em!
1. # Drain the new worms and put them on any old flat surface
2. # (Be brave now) Cover them with course salt (NOT the fine kitchen stuff). Pool salt or course sea salt crystals preferably.
The worms become kinda active for a few moments but they chuck in the towel pretty quickly.
3. # Leave them for a maximum of ten minutes covered THICKLY and EVENLY in salt
4. # Lay down a dozen or more sheets of newspaper and after GENTLY SHAKING off the excess salt, spread the worms over one
side of the stacked paper
5. # Fold the other layer of paper on top of them and press down quite firmly - it won't hurt them (they're ded anyway!)
6. # Pick them up and again shake gently but DO NOT remove any salt that clings to them
7. # Get a Zippy Lock Bag and put the whole lot in one bag - more is better
8. # Throw in a teaspoon of Tuna Oil or Olive Oil and mix them up a bit. Close the bag up and put them in the crisper or meat tray
of the fridge.
9. # Do NOT FREEZE!
10. When you are using them, still try to keep them cool (NOT FROZEN) on the boat as they do not react well to direct sun or heat
(go all like mushy peas!)
That's it! They will last for many months (the best I have done is six).
The whiting attack them as eagerly as they do the fresh ones. If you can't hack the killing of your nice wriggley fresh ones, then just experiment with a few at a time till you prove it does work.
I know the Metho dunking works pretty well but this is my way:
The first bit really hurts because we all love to put a fresh worm on right up!
Nope, I put 'em down the moment I buy them! This takes enormous will power to see a big, happy, fresh, wriggling worm seem to disappear before your eyes but trust me, I have caught more whiting in Spot X (25-35 cms) in the Rous Channel on treated worms than the fresh ones. One reason is that the treated worms can last up to five or more times before they are stripped from the hook. In other words, you will get 5 to 1 whiting on the rubbery ones - they love 'em!
1. # Drain the new worms and put them on any old flat surface
2. # (Be brave now) Cover them with course salt (NOT the fine kitchen stuff). Pool salt or course sea salt crystals preferably.
The worms become kinda active for a few moments but they chuck in the towel pretty quickly.
3. # Leave them for a maximum of ten minutes covered THICKLY and EVENLY in salt
4. # Lay down a dozen or more sheets of newspaper and after GENTLY SHAKING off the excess salt, spread the worms over one
side of the stacked paper
5. # Fold the other layer of paper on top of them and press down quite firmly - it won't hurt them (they're ded anyway!)
6. # Pick them up and again shake gently but DO NOT remove any salt that clings to them
7. # Get a Zippy Lock Bag and put the whole lot in one bag - more is better
8. # Throw in a teaspoon of Tuna Oil or Olive Oil and mix them up a bit. Close the bag up and put them in the crisper or meat tray
of the fridge.
9. # Do NOT FREEZE!
10. When you are using them, still try to keep them cool (NOT FROZEN) on the boat as they do not react well to direct sun or heat
(go all like mushy peas!)
That's it! They will last for many months (the best I have done is six).
The whiting attack them as eagerly as they do the fresh ones. If you can't hack the killing of your nice wriggley fresh ones, then just experiment with a few at a time till you prove it does work.