I’ve been using Bait Binder since starting baiting for shrimp several years ago. I decided after last season that I was going to switch to meal and clay this year and sticking to it. I’ve got the meal and clay, but I’m unsure about how far in advance of a trip it’s “OK” to make the patties. Can anyone share their knowledge/experience on when you make your patties? Thanks!
I make them no more than a day ahead. Sometimes that’s too long depending on temps. They will sort on you.
If it fly’s, floats, or, friggs, rent it!
Make them while you are out there
Local Boy, Just having fun.
Me and my partner have switched to Bait Binder, but you will catch more shrimp the more bait balls you put out. When shrimp move in at darkness in the harbor, they come by the millions, so the more bait out the more you can hold on your poles. So what we have done is we use 1/3 of 12 bag of binder and add a 1 gallon of clay to it. We get about 4 nice patties per pole and if they come in good, cooler on and never had to rebait. Now and when we used meal/clay we always make while waiting on darkness or in Bulls waiting for tide to get right.
Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it!
4 patties per pole,you don’t play do you chief? I would like to try that one time,bet it works great.That’s a pro tip,I almost called you about going shrimping but I can’t hack it anymore. I go down to the docks and get a 50lb box 
I usually bring a 5 gallon bucket of meal and 5 gal of clay. I like to set my poles first. Then anchor out and have enough time to mix meal and clay, make at least 30 big flattened balls, and put them on the poles with about 30 minutes to spare before the sun gets on the treetops.
I think “old balls” made the day before are not nearly as good for attracting shrimp as “freshly made” bait balls.
There’s just nothing like getting your hands in the menhaden/mud, and then forgetting and scratching your nose!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Thanks for all the responses and advice! I always mixed Bait Binder on the water, but didn’t really consider it feasible to do that with meal/clay. I stand corrected and will give it a shot!
Thanks again
I have found no issue with making bait a day or even two days ahead. Been doing it for years when I get abitious enough to do it ahead of time. Biggest issues is storing them…they do want “squish” together.
If you do let some go bad - like forget a few balls left in a bucket - your neighbors will let you know.
Hey let me give you a few tips on what works fo me. When I make bait balls I put a paper between each layer of them. This works real good at keeping them from becoming a big mud pie. I use the bags that the bait and clay come in and just tear it to fit the layer. I have also used this same method and put the made balls in the freezer and stored them for as much as a year and they work just fine. The only caution that I would add is if you layer them do not make them with too much water or they will mash together. Keep them COVERED!!! with something or the flies will put the maggots on them . They still work but are a little gross. Try not to keep them out in the open for more than 2 days. After all the fish meal is dried ground up fish so treat it like dead fish and you should be okay.
Hey, forgot to add, you said after last year you changed, but not why. T have shrimped since 1988 and last year was my worst year ever in the harbor. We were only getting half coolers or less of smaller shrimp. The last 3 nights of season we caught almost full coolers and shrimp were a little larger, but mot as big as most years.
Be careful what you ask for, you might just get it!
Following is only my opinion… I’ve used real clay/meal, bag clay/meal, and bait binder… I’ve made them in the bote, I’ve made them just before I leave the house, and I’ve froze them… I’ve thrown 2 patties on a pole, I’ve thrown 3 & 4, I’ve even rebaited while waiting on them to “show back up”. What I’ve found is (this is where my opinion comes into play)… if they’re there, they’re there and they’re gunna get caught. If they ain’t there… well ya must be holdin yur mout rong.
“NICE REPORT” LIKKA LOGGA
MY HERO!!!
quote:
Originally posted by BaitmanFollowing is only my opinion… I’ve used real clay/meal, bag clay/meal, and bait binder… I’ve made them in the bote, I’ve made them just before I leave the house, and I’ve froze them… I’ve thrown 2 patties on a pole, I’ve thrown 3 & 4, I’ve even rebaited while waiting on them to “show back up”. What I’ve found is (this is where my opinion comes into play)… if they’re there, they’re there and they’re gunna get caught. If they ain’t there… well ya must be holdin yur mout rong.
“NICE REPORT” LIKKA LOGGA
MY HERO!!!
Nail on the head!
If it fly’s, floats, or, friggs, rent it!
My son and I have made them ahead, made them on the bote, etc. This year he made his several days ahead and froze them. Worked great! Just an idea, but if you don’t want a messy deck, this is one idea. they defrost quickly in the salt water.
ColumbiaDawgfan
Sea Hunt Triton 220
quote:
Originally posted by BaitmanFollowing is only my opinion… I’ve used real clay/meal, bag clay/meal, and bait binder… I’ve made them in the bote, I’ve made them just before I leave the house, and I’ve froze them… I’ve thrown 2 patties on a pole, I’ve thrown 3 & 4, I’ve even rebaited while waiting on them to “show back up”. What I’ve found is (this is where my opinion comes into play)… if they’re there, they’re there and they’re gunna get caught. If they ain’t there… well ya must be holdin yur mout rong.
“NICE REPORT” LIKKA LOGGA
MY HERO!!!
Yep! If they’re there, 1 golf ball sized bait ball per pole will more than load the boat. If they aren’t there, a thousand bait balls per pole won’t catch them.
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
quote:
Originally posted by banderson212121I’ve been using Bait Binder since starting baiting for shrimp several years ago. I decided after last season that I was going to switch to meal and clay this year and sticking to it. I’ve got the meal and clay, but I’m unsure about how far in advance of a trip it’s “OK” to make the patties. Can anyone share their knowledge/experience on when you make your patties? Thanks!
As far as making up bait ahead, I always do. But it doesn’t really matter, it just saves me time. Using milled Kaolin clay, make them as dry as possible, but Kaolin is very forgiving as opposed to red clay. Just enough water to make a ball and have it stay together. I mix my meal/clay about 40/60 and then roll the balls is meal to coat them. We call that the “quick kill”. Layer them in a small tote with some kind of paper (several sheets of newspaper works well) between the layers. I have frozen leftover balls and used them the next year with excellent results.
Side note: Once I started using milled clay, I will never use red clay again. Too cheap, too easy, too forgiving, and holds water MUCH better(won’t turn into a big mudball in your tote, bucket, etc.)
-The size of a fish is directly proportional to the time between when it’s lost and the story is told. - Me
-What’s the best eating fish, you ask? I’ve found that for a lot people, its the ones that they happen to be able to catch, clean, and cook. - My Dad (1/13/37 - 9/27/16 I love you Pops)
-Until you have loved a dog, part of your soul remains unawakened. Anatole France (paraphrased)
-RIP my “Puppy Dog” 10/15/2004 - 1/14/2013. I’ll never forget him. What a special friend he was.
-Team Gonna Fish
Amen on the clay comment! Milled is the way to go. I’ve been using bait binder over the last 5 or so years simply because it’s quick and clean and easy to use. I
Must confess… Boz put me on the binder. Prior I was skeptic.
“NICE REPORT” LIKKA LOGGA
MY HERO!!!
quote:
Originally posted by BaitmanI
Must confess… Boz put me on the binder. Prior I was skeptic.
roger that…Bait Binder is so much easier to deal with…and still catches as many shrimp as meal and clay…thanks to dgasque for inventing it!
The Morris Island Lighthouse www.savethelight.org
I used to mix well ahead, I bought a cheap chester freezer and used it for all my bait balls and bait. Just hope you never lose power, or you will be throwing the freezer away. Can’t get the smell out no matter how much bleach you let it soak in.
I used the milled clay ruffly 50/50 plus I would add menhaden oil to the mixture. I’d put wax paper between each “patty” while placing them in the freezer. I don’t make them round because I feel those will be more apt to move in the current. When I’d go, I’d fill a 5 gallon bucket and cap it up. They are usually 1/2 unthawed by the time you throw them in the water.
I do like Sman now, just buy a 100# or so a year from my friend, or when he needs the help on his shrimp boat and I’ve got the time, work it out in labor trade.
The one thing I don’t regret about buying off a boat is you don’t have to worry about the fish meal taste that you can get.
To answer your question directly, and me quit all the babble… If you don’t have a good place to store i wouldn’t mix any more than a day in advance and carry some good gloves.
Thanks again to everyone for sharing your experience!
To answer the question on why I’m switching, I really just wanted to give it a try. The friend who took me the first time to show me the ropes used meal/clay, but I went with Bait Binder on my own first trip just because it was easy and stuck with it. It has worked well for me, so I might be breaking the old if it’s not broken don’t fix it rule.
Also, I just like going, and being retired military have the time, so I’ve been going as much as possible. The meal/clay is less expensive. I’ll just have to decide if the savings are worth it!
Making the first trip of the season next week. I’ll let you all know how it goes!
Thanks again!