Fresh Pilles

[seaeagle]

A couple of weeks ago i went into the local bait shop to buy a 2kg block of pillies, there were two differant packs, the one the shop guy sold me turn out all mushy, heaps of scales and really soft, to the point i couldnt cut em cleanly for even berley.
I just found out that these pillies are from the usa and are called scalelys.
too cut it short..
When buying pilchards look at there eyes, if they are black and look like they are still looking at you buy em.
if they are cloudy or off color, chances are they have been defrosted at some stage or frozen wrong to start with.

[hillbilly]

Ive had a lot of trouble with bait lately I bought bait at several places and the West Aussie pilchards have turned to mush shortly after openning them, even got some at Bemm river that actually had salt chrystels all over them so decided it was best to catch my own poddy mullets and not pay good money for crappy bait.
Dont you put salt on old bait to freshen it up a little ?
Karren :wink:

[Dekka]

I tend to buy my pillies from the fish market in Springvale and salt them before use.

If u***le to do so I have in the past purchased a frozen block down at Patto; defrosted and then salted them before use. They were fine.

Not sure about salting old bait to freshen it. I salt mine to get them to stay on the hook a bit longer (harder to get off) and to last longer. After salting I merely keep in the fridge without freezing. Any leftovers after a trip merely get put back in the fridge.

[Shoulders]

Think I had some of those pillies myself a couple of weeks ago, went to mush after defrosting. Used them in the burley next outing so at least got some value out of them. :(


Shoulders.

[seaeagle]

i have been meaning to try salting em but by the time i get home it just goes strait into the freezer for berly next trip

[TedR]

Karen, at the Bemm or Mallacoota-- I really enjoy catching poddies, and I truly believe that, in these waterways, live bait absolutely outfish's dead baits anyway.

I reckon that the art of live bait catching is part of the fishing experience, whether it be poddy's, nippers, or whatever.

Good fun, and gives me the excuse to nick off by my self for a while.

[grant]

This sounds like a candidate for the knowledgebase.

see new thread and new question.
g./