Frozen lug

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#1 Post by KK » Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:14 pm

Although fresh Lug is far better than frozen i sometimes have to buy the frozen black lug as back up and it does catch fish, but can anyone jus freeze lug?? if i dig my own lug can i freeze it and use it at a later date??
it might sound stupid but i have no idea

#2 Post by **m.b3** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:34 pm

i have frozen blow lug. just as it is in box in freezer. needs to be whipped to the hook but it works for dabs n whiting.

#3 Post by **lumpy** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:01 pm

have done the same but wrapped them in news paper ala black lug. have had wrasse and flounder as well as the obligitory coalies on it. hand for off the cuff trips

#4 Post by **phanover** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:12 pm

I believe the trick with freezing lugworms is to get rid of as much moisture as possible before freezing or they go to mush. I've read a few articles about salting them down first. This site shows how

http://codheadbob.tripod.com/topmarks/id36.html

Haven't tried this myself mind, but I'd love to know if the end result can still catch fish.

Paul

#5 Post by KK » Wed Nov 15, 2006 12:33 pm

Ive salted mino for trout fishing its the same thing, great idea im gona dig lug today and salt them they would last months in the shed. Im sick of buying bait!!!

#6 Post by **Adam S** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:05 pm

you could try salt storing them or storing them in alcohol. freezing causes them to go to mush because the ice that forms intracellularly destroys the cell membranes by crystal formation.

if you salt of alc prep them you will kill the bacteria that would have decomposed them but you wont have damaged membrane integrity.

70% ethanol,15% glycerol and 15% water should preserve them for years, we have some preserved ragworm in the lab for 20 years and when you take them out they are still quite solid and not mushy

#7 Post by **lumpy** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:12 pm

would the use of alcahol cause any effect on the scent released form them. i presume salt disperses quite quickly in salt water. would alcahol based fluids react similarly or would it have any effect on its dispersion

#8 Post by **Adam S** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:58 pm

i would be surprised if it affected it negatively. ethanol is a strong solvent so it might even further solubilise the fluids and oils and help scent dispersal ( a la wd40).

have had plenty of wrasse of alc. worms, and pollack too. so they work visually at least.

#9 Post by **Read** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 3:24 pm

Adam S wrote:70% ethanol,15% glycerol and 15% water ....

I'll have a pint of that, a babycham and a packet of crisps please 8) .

#10 Post by **BigPhil** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 6:45 pm

great if the fish have an alcohol problem like some memebers on this site!!!!! :lol:

seriously though , i would like to find out what the lazylug is stored in

#11 Post by **Adam S** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 11:29 pm

it would have to be some solution thats retards bacterial growth - so maybe some type of concentrated salt solution? or something alcohol or acid based.