Sardines for wrapping Kwikfish (photo tutorial)

[Ed Fast]

I like to wrap my Kwiks with plain sardines, but sometimes they aren't available or you have left overs that you don't want to refreeze.

Here are leftover sardines from a trip earlier this week:


As you can see, these are pretty big, so after you fillet them, cut them in half. Next carefully slice out the rib bones and then cut the bellies off. Do not throw them away. You should have pieces that look like this:


Next, get your tub of left over egg juice you save from every time you drain eggs out of the freezer. You don't save this? well, you should. There should be a mix of cures and scents in there, especially if you've had it going awhile. Don't forget to set this out to thaw a little while before you prep your sardines. Now put your pieces in there and stir them up a little bit. Here's what it looks like after they've soaked for awhile:


After an hour or so, drain them in a collander and pour the juice back into the tub. Close it and put it back in the freezer. Set the fillets skin side down on a paper towl and let them dry. You can turn a fan on them if you like:


When they get tacky and aren't glistening anymore, stick them in the freezer til they firm up a little. (this step is optional) Now, vacuum pack them or roll them in a freezer rated ziploc with all the air squeezed out of it, label them and stick them in the freezer. Here's what they'll look like:


take them out the morning of a trip. Wrap the fillets as you normally would. They will 'milk' for a little while and will need to be replaced as they get 'washed out' while fishing. The bellies are to use with eggs as a secret weapon when bobber fishing or back bouncing. Just put them in the loop on top of your glob of eggs. Sorry I didn't take pics of the bellies. Normally I would pack them right in with the fillets.

Good luck!

Ed

[Mr. R & B]

Sardines not available? Where you been buying your bait Ed? J/K

Seriously though if you need sardines give me a call. I have not been out of sardines all year.

Great tips as usual Ed keep them coming lots of people will be refrencing your posts for years to come!

RB

[worm slayer]

NICE I never thought to use the juice for that. I like the look of them do they 'milk'?

[RollinontheRvr]

I have heard of guys doing that, I know you were talking about doing that on Sunday. I think the next time I wrap Kwikies I will call Rob to get some sardines and cure them up before I go to the coast. Those wraps look really good Ed, have you ever tried Brine and bite from Pro-Cure? I have heard of guys using that to on their wraps.

[XtremeNW]

ED, If you need any bait let me know. Sardines I have all year long. I am never out of bait since I deal in it. You can cure you sardines with Cure-All like you do Eggs.

[ryank]

Awesome info Ed, I hope this gets saved to the "tackle box" section for quick future reference. I hope you guys slay 'em on friday!
Ryan

[Gabe]

Those things look yummy! Great post Ed. Way to add to my list of things to buy.

[Chinook SSSF]

Awesome info Ed, I hope this gets saved to the "tackle box" section for quick future reference. I hope you guys slay 'em on friday!
Ryan

Ohh it will : )

Thanks a bunch Ed, One for the tackle box for sure Great info!

[Ed Fast]

That's funny Rob and Eric

I haven't had trouble finding sardines, but thanks for the info. What I meant to say was they come in handy IF you have trouble finding sardines or don't have time to get to the store. There are lots of ways to prep the sardines, that's for sure.

I have not tried the brine n bright or regular cure, but hear they work fine. Some pack theirs in rock salt and just leave them there. I have always done well with the plain sardines. Make sure they look good in the package. Always SMELL them before using (don't open the pack at the store). They smell like sardines, which is strong, but not the same as what I call 'fishy'. If they look funny, I bet they will smell funny, too. Look at the frost in the pack, the color, shine and eyes. Same with eggs. If they smell 'fishy', don't use them. Smell good, fresh bait all the time and get used to it. Then, when you get some that smells wrong, you will know. Good, cured eggs have a mild, but distinctive smell. I think they smell pretty good! I certainly wouldn't describe it as 'fishy'. You will learn to recognize it if you do it often. When you smell eggs that are getting too old or that have had any mold, even the beginnings of the spores growing where you can't see them yet, you will smell the difference! This is a good skill to have when buying store bought eggs, as well.

[RollinontheRvr]

Those are some good tips. When I bought the sardines for Sunday's float I just grabbed a package of 'dines, I didn't look at them that closely. They looked good to me, bright, shiny skin not falling apart but I did not look at the eyes at all