How to Cure Roe
Lesson Notes
If you had one chance to catch a Steelhead to save your life, roe is the bait to choose. However, small "bait stealers" can make fishing raw roe frustrating. Spawn sacks are the perfect solution to protect your bait, extend its life, and keep it in the strike zone longer.
Why Use Spawn Sacks?
The Defense: Mesh sacks protect your eggs from smolts, suckers, and pike minnows that will otherwise strip raw roe off your hook instantly.
The Efficiency: They allow you to get a full drift or two without losing your bait, meaning you spend more time fishing and less time re-baiting.
The Utility: Sacks are the best way to utilize "loose" or soft eggs that are too fragile to stay on a hook by themselves.
The Essential Kit
Tools: Sharp scissors and rubber gloves (essential to keep human scent off your bait and egg dye off your hands).
Materials: Spawn netting (pre-cut squares are the most convenient) and stretchy thread (brands like Ghost Cocoon, Miracle Thread, or Magic Thread).
Optional Add-ins: You can include small pieces of shrimp for added scent, or "puff balls" (soft fish pills) to add buoyancy and a splash of color.
The Tying Process
The "Wonton" Fold: Place a chunk of roe in the center of the mesh, gather all four corners, and twist the bait into a round ball. Tip: Twist tight to keep the shape, but don't squeeze hard enough to crush the eggs and lose the juice.
Secure and Trim: Wrap the stretchy thread around the twisted neck several times, lock it with a half-hitch, and break the thread. Finally, trim the excess mesh "comet tail" close to the knot for a clean presentation.
"Extendo" Life: Store finished sacks in a container with a liquid spawn sack formula (like Atlas Mike's Brite & Tight). This marinates the bait and keeps it fresh in the fridge for several weeks.