I have around 20-25 crayfish, that i want to grind up and preserve. Im thinking i should preserve them fresh without tainting or maybe just a day or 2. Around how much sodium benzoate would i want per cup of ground crayfish? Im thinking around 2 teaspoon?

Based on the average ratios, one cup of sodium benzoate per one gallon of bait is common. In ounces, cups per gallon = 8/128 = .06 Therefor, .06 X 8 oz.(one cup)= .48 oz. (approximately 50%.) There are 6 teaspoons in one ounce. So, 50% of that is 3 teaspoons, or one tablespoon. Will somebody check this math? It has been awhile, but I think I am correct converting the ratios to such a small quantity of base stock.

Aren't you glad you asked? Your thinking was mathematically a little shy, but you guessed about right. Have you considered this? Freeze the fresh, whole crayfish you have now, and use one per set come trapping season. Or, catch and freeze a bunch more to make one gallon, or a half gallon of ground stock, mixing that final batch with the prescribed amount of Dobbins bait solution. Then you are done.

Try not make this anymore complicated than it needs to be.

Try to get more crayfish stock throughout the summer months to increase your volume potential before making up a batch of prepared bait before this coming season. Then you will have it to spare, no matter which method you use to put it up "fresh."

If you can manage to accumulate enough of something, put a cup or two of sodium benzoate per gallon, or the amount of a bait solution recommended per gallon of stock.

Are you planning to use this for mink and raccoon? If crayfish are in limited supply, you may want to consider looking for a more abundant source of stock - like carp or suckers, for example that may serve the same, if not better, purpose for making a prepared, "fresh," untainted bait attractive to both raccoon and mink.

Others may respond to this post directly. In the meantime, check out the Lures, Baits and Urine Archives, and "Search" here. Topics of this nature have been discussed rather recently. Good luck.

Jonathan

Tecks, I hope you do not mind if I interject with a thought or two more about your topic.

Are there any other crayfish bait formulators out there? I am curious to know how using it in ground form compares to using prepared fish stock - ground, or chunked. Over the years, I have used only fresh, frozen, whole crayfish on a few rare occasions for raccoon bait on the water line. My mink trapping efforts are with blind sets.

Just a long time hobby trapper still in training and open for suggestions. Thank you.

Jonathan

I figure if theyre ground theyll give out more scent.I have carps and other fish for bait, but want a variety.thanks for reply.

i ground up and got around a cup and a half of it.it has a real mild smell.probally good for a base.

Straight Propylene glycol...(the good stuff)..done it for years!

Is there an advantage to using it ground as a base (assuming you are adding other ingredients to it) over just slapping in a pocket and throwing in a whole crawfish? Curious as I am leaning towards the latter?...

Ground bait is easier to use and store, that's for sure!

It would seem to me that they'll give off more smell ground.Esspecially since they have a shell. Ill probally make some with a little anise and some with other things to give me a variety.


Does Propylene glycol act as a preservative lt grey? And how much if any taint do you have it achieve before preserving?

....is he kidding? Glycol is a FOOD PRESERVITIVE.....(he's jokin, somebody tell me he was)!



Since raccoons prefer fresh.....

From the lure list i have it says:

Propylene Glycol:
Liquid lure base, antifreeze, mixes well with most materials.

which i got from this site.so you could see how i'd be mistaken.

Not everyone is the expert you are.

Yeah LT,

I thought PG was used to keep a lure moist (ie castor), and that it was used as the base for automotive antifreeze and was POISONOUS!

On Wikipedia it states when comparing it to Ethylene Glycol: Propylene Glycol, on the other hand is less toxic..."
And the Poison Control Center says "...except in small quantities, propylene glycol should not be used, instead substituting glycerin in food safe applications..."

No worries Tecks, even LT's not the expert he is, every time.

Krusty

Tecks, I am very far removed from the "expert" category, only because I am not that far away from home to talk smart like one.
Glycol and glycerin are not antioxidants to serve as preservatives. They are vehicles to only liquify and mellow their efficacy when added to your ground up stuff.

With disclosure, at age 66, and 55 years of trapping romps, may I offer my take on your question in evidence as such.

I have never been an advocate of using "bait" as such on my water trap line over the years. However, the few times that I have engaged in the experiment as such, in change up mode for fun, I pinned a muskrat hind shank, with a smear/dab of raw, aged mink musk on it under an overhanging bank on my water line to "see" who would be attracted. It turned out to be a delicious attraction to both raccoon and mink when I used it in the aside from my blind sets for both. I only used it in a pinch.

Now, back to your original crayfish question. I have used them whole a few times in a former life. My thinking was to use them whole, as is, as a sight attractant only. I cannot relate to their ground up presentation, have never been that route with them.

I do not know much, but LT and others do - your choice while in the chamber of this dichotomy of evidence in the spellings.

In the residue of evidence, try both!

Jonathan

Trust me on this...,catch a gallon of crayfish....throw 'em in a blender,wwwwwwwwhhhhhhhiiiiiiirrrrrrrrllllllllll.....mix in some propylene glycol...........tip upside down, back and forth every day for a week.........end of story! Take my word on it..it's all you need.....anybody says different, either doesn't know what they're talkin about or wants to sell you something....I've done it for years! Now what you add to it after that...well, that's up to you!

I'll try both glycol and SB and see what happens with each.