doobie

Yeah the lack flies is not something I remember complaining about in the past.



 

A bit of info here on surf/salmon rods.
 

It arrived today and it works

and so it begins - went with a can of cat food.

Day one - no eggs yet - but a few ants got to it - they may have taken them away.

So I've put the can in some water and cat proofed it

yeah 3 to 4 weeks would work for me
 

Keeping gents in Bran (as I do) will keep them as long as the shop purchased ones (that are in Bran or whatever sheldons use).
I keep them near the bottom of the fridge in a seal plastic container and each week I get it out for an hour so they can play and breath a bit.
They last long enough for me, maybe 3-4 weeks.

To a bloke who is on the fence as to whether to dive back into the maggot making game - this isnt the news I was hoping for😉
 
 

I have found that "meat" bred gents tended to explode when putting them on the hook ?. They were definitely larger & fatter than the bought ones but looked unappetizing on the hook. I don't breed them anymore as I cannot be bothered. I too buy the long life gents now & found they do last quite some time, so for the amount they cost, more cost effective for me. I just keep the unused gents in the fridge until next time. 

Yep, that's the way to do it.   Even 1 or 2 sheets extra folded up newspaper sheets and put under the newspaper with the meat in it will give extra 'support'  

Yeah YD1, the flies do seem to reduce down during colder months, but you don't need many to get the meat blown.  You don't need a lot of flies to hang around, just enough over a day or 2 (or 3) to let them do their job (compared to probably 1 day in hotter weather).   You don't want too many blowing the meat as there may not be enough meat/food for them whilst growing.
 I haven't actual tried to breed gents during those times, mainly because I am only targeting Salmon.
But whilst I'm filleting the Salmon, flies do still turn up - unless it's bitterly cold, windy and wet day, then probably not.

Yep, that's the way to do it.   Even 1 or 2 sheets extra folded up newspaper sheets and put under the newspaper with the meat in it will give extra 'support'  

Thanks for that Doobie - the day time temp is something I'm concerned about over the coming months - and that fact that I dont see many flies in my area over winter
 
 

Thanks Kelp and Doobie this sand and bucket method sounds very doable - might just get a batch on the go.

Doobie - how long did you leave the chicken under the sand after the flies had laid their eggs.
 
 
 

How much sand do you put on top of the wrapped newspaper?
I probably had about 6" or so of sand on top (and underneath) and would think that is too much for the gents to get up top.

I have now returned to breeding my own gents for 1 pure reason - twice now, I have purchased a container of long life gents and both within a 2 weeks were 3/4 dead.
Each was purchased from a different tackle shop and I'm not sure how 'old' the stock was or for what ever reason, but at $6 a tub for something that should 'last' for say 2 months, I was annoyed.
I used to use fish frames/head but agree the smell is pretty bad, and to also get the gents out from within the heads was difficult also.
Tip: use disposable gloves to help protect hands from absorbing the smell  
Now, instead of fish remains, I use a couple of chicken thighs.  I find the smell is not as bad, but is still smelly.
Someone also mentioned to me recently, just like kelp as mentioned, to bury the 'food' within some sheets of newspaper under dry sand in a bucket.
I tried this about 3 weeks ago (with sand in bottom of bucket, then the 'ingredients', then more sand) and confirm there is no smell in the air during the process - unless you stick your nose real close.  But did notice some blowies still hanging around the bucket, a couple which even laid some babies on top of the sand.
I didn't have any gents rise to the top of the sand, probably because I put plenty of sand to making sure to cover it right up.
The bonus is, the gents are much bigger than purchased ones.
Personally I wouldn't bother going to the trouble of making a maggot trap bucket - too much hassle.

I have now returned to breeding my own gents for 1 pure reason - twice now, I have purchased a container of long life gents and both within a 2 weeks were 3/4 dead.
Each was purchased from a different tackle shop and I'm not sure how 'old' the stock was or for what ever reason, but at $6 a tub for something that should 'last' for say 2 months, I was annoyed.
I used to use fish frames/head but agree the smell is pretty bad, and to also get the gents out from within the heads was difficult also.
Tip: use disposable gloves to help protect hands from absorbing the smell  
Now, instead of fish remains, I use a couple of chicken thighs.  I find the smell is not as bad, but is still smelly.
Someone also mentioned to me recently, just like kelp as mentioned, to bury the 'food' within some sheets of newspaper under dry sand in a bucket.
I tried this about 3 weeks ago (with sand in bottom of bucket, then the 'ingredients', then more sand) and confirm there is no smell in the air during the process - unless you stick your nose real close.  But did notice some blowies still hanging around the bucket, a couple which even laid some babies on top of the sand.
I didn't have any gents rise to the top of the sand, probably because I put plenty of sand to making sure to cover it right up.
The bonus is, the gents are much bigger than purchased ones.
Personally I wouldn't bother going to the trouble of making a maggot trap bucket - too much hassle.

a good method to breed maggots to eliminate the smell is after the blow wrap the blown fish or meat in 5 or six layers of news paper place in the bottom of a bucket then fill the bucket with clean dry beach sand, when you see wriggle tracks on the top of the sand it is time to sieve the sand you will have clean white maggots , I the pour   boiling water over the left over news paper to kill any remaining maggots then bury it deep in the garden makes good fertiliser

yum yum  
A nice darker batch today 
Uploaded just to tease you  

Sounds like a good idea
 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volatile_corrosion_inhibitor
 
VCI technology is interesting. Looks like plano taking it one step further rather than using inserts.
 
Not sure what the compound is and not sure of the safety
 
 

...and the price is ??? Just spray some Inox or even WD40 in the box & on your lures. Have done this for years & works for me.

Keep the moisture absorb packs from food put them in or dry out rice if you don't like inox 

yum yum  
A nice darker batch today 
Uploaded just to tease you  

yum yum  
A nice darker batch today 
Uploaded just to tease you  

yum yum  
A nice darker batch today 
Uploaded just to tease you