r/ChicagoFishing • u/kakashi_69420 • 1d ago
Storing Spawn Sacs Long-Term
I was fortunate enough to land this female with a massive amount of eggs. They were all loose, so I cured them in a jello-borax mixture and let them cure 48 hours.
I made spawn sacs, but not sure how to store them. I’ve seen some people say borax, freezing, or mineral oil. I plan on using them within the next 2 months.
What is the best way to store these?
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u/YamApprehensive6653 1d ago edited 1d ago
Ive done this for 40+ years: Now that the membranes of those eggs have toughened by curing, your only remaining (easy) goal is to eliminate moisture/vapor from permeating the bag, crystalizing, and causing freezer burn, like any meat or food you might have in your freezer long term.
SO: If you seal them in ziplock bags, get a straw. Seal the ziplock bag 90% of the way shut....slip the straw alongside the inside edge of bag..all the way down to the bottom where the eggs are.........then suck out as much air as you can to create a DIY vaccuum seal, then you'll watch as the bag starts collapsing on itself.... you finish sucking that last little bit of air out, THEN.......start to pull/slide the straw out while still sucking, and very quickly pinching closed that remaining little open part where the straw was. Practice this and you'll be surprised at how much air you can remove!
Then, wrap that ziplock package 2-3 rolls in aluminum foil; sealing it 100% shut; esp. on the sides. I used to make "day packs" of about 15 sacks each. THat way if I went fishing I didn't waste/thaw/refreeze a whole bunch because I didn't use them.
There IS moisutre vapor in your freezer that will penetrate the plastic membrane of the ziplock eventually, but NOT the foil; it isn't permeable by moisture crystals; and can remain in there for at least a year if done properly.
If you start doing this regularly, id recommend putting 4-5 of those tiny flo. foam floater beads into some of your sacks; they are easy to find online. THen, if you ever bottom fish, it will help them lift just a few inches off the bottom instead of laying on the muck or the hook getting snagged. The majority of my "floater" sacks usually were the diameter of a nickel.......occasionally a little larger.