[puppypal]

We catch and put up skips when they run and freeze them for use during the year. Got that going on pretty good and seems to be working out well. But the question I have is how to keep them from getting soggy in the bait cooler after you have opened the package. I have ice in there but over time no matterhow we have done it (it seems the skips get water logged by the melting ice. I have tried the bottle route with ice but has not worked. Seems skips hook up so much better still somewhat froze. Suggestions? We dam fish in direct sunlight on the rocky edge?

 

[Arkansascatman777]

Glenda, heres a couple of suggestions that we do whether we are tournament fishing or fun fishing.
1. keep the drain line open on your bait chest to keep the water drained as it melts, keeping your bait on top of the ice.
2. Use a bowl with a lid that seals tight and leave the bait whole or go ahead and cut it up and have it ready to go on the hook.

 

[Dirtdobber]

Glenda, heres a couple of suggestions that we do whether we are tournament fishing or fun fishing.
1. keep the drain line open on your bait chest to keep the water drained as it melts, keeping your bait on top of the ice.
2. Use a bowl with a lid that seals tight and leave the bait whole or go ahead and cut it up and have it ready to go on the hook.

I use this same method on both skippys and shad.

 

[Netmanjack]

Well Glenda, if you have used frozen bottles to no avail, your problem is soley soft flesh after thawing, no matter how frozen your skippies are, they will soon thaw in the warm water. Get use to it as just part of the nature of your bait, or get a CO2 fire extinguisher and give them a blast from time to time! :laugh1:

 

[Alabamacatman]

Hey Glenda.. I believe you need to pack your skippy's on ice the second you catch them...The ice chest must have a drain hole in it to allow melting ice water to escape..Then I package them whole 3 to 4 per bag so you dont have to many out at one time...I freeze them and when i go fishing i take what i think i'll need .keeping the frozen bait packed in ice and only taking out one pack at a time .get what i need and back on ice....I never pre-cut bait until its going on the hook.

 

[linedrager]

I cut up my skips and put them in a glad or tupperware or freezerbag, that way they only soak in their own juices not water, and I keep it on ice, hope that helps, let me know.

 

[linedrager]

I ment to ask are you vacume packing your bait when you catch them and also you may try flash feezing them.

 

[Matt77]

nice post and replys guys. I catch shad when I can and throw them in a big zip lock for later use. as far as keeping them cold the other guys pretty much said it use a cooler. You fishin in the day time? I fish at night and don't really have a problem with them getting soggy.