Chicken Skin???

[ficious]

I've heard of a lot of different types of bait mentioned in the ice forums, but never chicken skin. Am I the only one that uses it?? Works best on perch, but have caught all types of panfish on it. The best things about it are, it's like leather, it rarely comes off and the more fish you catch on it, the more alive it looks.

ficious

[ChapstickCharlie]

I have a question, is there a salmonella danger in using raw chicken skins?

[ficious]

As bait, I doubt it. Just don't forget to take it out of your snowsuit......NASTY!! If you've never tried it, you've got to see how it looks whan it's jigged.

Drumstick or thigh skin is the best, it's more flexible because there is less fat. Stretch it out on a board, cut into 3/16 or so by 3/8 long pieces. The more fish it catches, the more alive it will look when jigged. When the fish are snappin....it's nice not to have to waste time rebaiting all the time.

ficious

[Skeeter]

Good Question, a lot of us sit in the shanty eating chips and anything else we can munch on. I suppose if we were using chicken skin on our hooks then eat without washing with soap and hot water we might be in trouble and thats NO joke. Skeeter

[Connor4501]

Used chicken skin with great success at Selfridge and Cotton road on early ice last year. That jigging motion with the flashiness must be the reason. We'll see what happens this year. Those wigglers are pretty costly!!!

[kbkrause]

Connor4501, Welcome to the site.

I've used chicken skin in the past, but not since I've rediscoverd ice fishging, may have to give it a try this year.

[ficious]

I have never had a problem with it. Did you ever consider where mousies come from?? How about spikes(maggots)? Do you eat without washing your hands after handling those?

Some days, that's all I can get them going on. I get tired of them just looking at the bait and drifting away.

Welcome to the site Connor4501! Sorry Didn't notice on you first post, sharp eyes kbkrause.

[hoffie1]

Thanks for the tip ficoius.I think I will keep a couple of peices in script bottle in a bucket to try on a day when they will not hit.

hoffie

[Swamp Monster]

Skeeter is correct though. And it only takes once to get salmonella and you won't want it again. Doesn't mean you shouldn't use it, just take some precautions. And PLEASE don't let the kids do this! Their immune system is not nearly as strong as ours and the consequences could very well be life threatening.

[Gone Fishing]

Definitely catches fish. I'm not much of an ice fisherman but I know some old timers that swear by it. I wonder how people figure that kind of stuff out. Last summer we were cleaning up the boat in the harbor on Lake Erie and my son wanted to fish while we did the work. He asked for a rod and some bait. I gave him a rod but we only had spoons and cranks so I told him to try some chicken skin that we had left over form lunch. You should of seen some of the hog gills he caught! :)

[timberdoodle528]

Never heard of using that before. But it makes sense that it works. I'll have to give it a try this year.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

John, you calling me an old timer? I have used "skin" for along time. Will put a few precut pieces in a little tuna fish juice(water or oil). Somedays it works, some days it don't. One thing for sure it's durable as hell.

[Gillgitter]

How do you hold the chicken down while you get some skin ??:eek: :D :D

[awfulpotent]

chicken skin works great for walleyes on a jigging sinker while drifting in august in the st clair river mouth

[WDGibby]

Anyone seen a skinless chicken walking across the ice? It's worth a try, thanks for the tip.

Gibby:)

[patcheroo]

Has anyone used Turkey Skin? My wife is cooking one as we speak. I may have to do a little filleting before it gets done. LOL!.....Patch

[Connor4501]

I appreciate the welcome mat guys!!! Anyone ever try chicken skin in the open water for perch? A chop on the water would give it a great jigging motion...

[ficious]

patcheroo,

It works best raw, I've tried it cooked(all I could get, short notice), it's just not as "alive" looking. I'm sure turkey skin would work though. Some days they like it, others they don't. A light jig and it looks kinda like a jellyfish swimming.

[PoleHolder]

I was going to suggest boiling or nuking the skin to kill bacteria before use. If it works that much better raw, I wonder if soaking it in alcohol then washing it good might not be sufficient to kill the bacteria before using it.

[UNCLE AL]

I still like to use perch eyes for bait. Load up the hooks with the next days bait when you're done fishing, and you're ready to go. They'll stay on the hook for a long time.

[Gillgitter]

I would never waist perfectly good booze on the bait!!:eek: :D

[Skeeter]

I have been thinking a lot about this because I want to try chicken skin but do NOT want to get sick from it. I snack to much in my shanty to mess with it. Call me chicken yes I am. I have seen people sick from it. Here is what I am going to do. Sounds stupit but am going to use rubber gloves. Very simple, cheap, and above all safe. So next trip will have cut up little pieces of chicken skin along with a few pairs of rubber gloves to use to put them on the hook. Would YOU go to the hassle to use chicken skin??? Just wondering. Nels

[Young Steve]

If your not getting any action should you choke your chicken??:eek: :D

[Sib]

I aways keep some antibacterial baby wipes in my gear. You should be fine if you use them after handling the skin. If you're worried about the scent of the baby wipes, gloves can be used when you handle the stuff.

[Skeeter]

Thats a great idea also! I hate to sound like a stickler about this but hey I don't want to get sick and even miss one day of icefishing! ha Nels

[Gone Fishing]

Hey Skeeter, if you don't get any action on the chicken skin, try your gloves. I caught fish with small strips of latex gloves. Flutters similar to the skin, very cheap bait and really stays on the hook. :)

[Skeeter]

Thats funny! But am sure it works. Another great idea. Will try it. Wondering if it would work for walleye or pike? Never know until you tried it.

[Burksee]

I keep a small bottle of the pull out anti-septic wipes in my bucket. They're cheap insurance and cheap to buy! Usually carry them hunting, fishing, camping, in the car, ect.

[UncleD]

All the things I learn here! Chicken skin. . .who woulda thunk it!

Well, admit it - how many times have we put a hook through a wax worm, night crawler, or a minnow and have gotten "juice" on our hands? I've done it more times than I can count.

And what do we do? Wipe our paws off on our jeans and go back to fishing and snacking on our junkfood, right? Well, the "juice" will contain intestinal contents and all the pathogens (stuff that'll make you sick) that go along with it. It normally doesn't make us sick.

In reality the chances of contracting salmonella are probably pretty small, but the chance still exists. How about cutting the skin at home and putting it into a little plastic container before you leave home. When it is time to bait your hook on the ice, you can use your needlenose or hemos to put the skin on the hook. You'll never have to touch the stuff. The antibacterial wipes are also a good idea, as are the latex gloves.

D-

[Frantz]

I've gotta jump in here. I go with the idea that hey, we touch all these bugs and worms and maggots and even ripping or pinching minnows heads off and then we go back to the sandamawitch or Fritos and live through it so why would this be any different? They all have the same possible problems so the sam precautions should be taken with all of them. If you are not worried about eating the maggot dripp'ns, then don't worry about the chicken. ;)

[FishTales]

Fear Factor Fishing -------- Don't Eat the Bait !!:eek: :D

[Skeeter]

You dang sure do have a point there, hahaha darn, I do that??? I do! You didn't have to remind me did you?

[hypox]

Not to mention that if you are ice fishing....It's COLD out... I know you could keep it in your coat or whatever, but even in a coat pocket is alot colder than the kitchen counter! It's like already having it in the fridge.

[AJ Peacock]

What about using thin pork rind (like we use bass fishing)

Anybody use that? if you take it and thin it with a blade, it should have the same action. You can also trim it to whatever shape you want etc. And choose colors.

Later,

[ficious]

AJ,

I think they would still be too stiff to move like chicken/turkey skin.
Next time you go out try a piece, you'll see what I mean.

ficious

[AJ Peacock]

We always thinned the pork we used. We would scrape it with a knife until it was almost see through. I agree that the way it comes, it is too stiff.

I don't think most folks prepare the rind that way though.

don

[jstfish48162]

AJ, what about using chicken skin strips for bass fishing? cheaper, you can color it with food coloring (theres an idea) and it lasts pretty good as well. im gonna try it next bass trip myself!!!!

also, what if you were to get some chicken skin right now, cut it into strips and freeze it until you plan to use it? wouldn't freezing it kill the harmful bacteria? just a thought from the good half of my brain.

Young Steve, funny as heck, about choking the chicken.....LOLOL!!!! don't think a shanty partner would be a welcome audience. still very funny....can not stop laughing!!!!

[Bucktail Butch]

Try cutting regular latex party balloons in thin strips. They really have some fantastic action when jigged, and they come in all different colors. Be sure to cut them short enough, it's hard to get the proper action if they're too long.

[AJ Peacock]

Jstfish,

That pork rind lasts soooooo looooong, that it is cheap. $1.50 for a jar that should last forever, until you break the jig off and lose a piece of it. When done fishing, just put it back in the jar.

Might have to worry about freezing/breaking the jar though. The water is real salty, so that might not be a problem as long as you don't leave it outside.

Later,

[DetroitIron]

When I was a kid, my brother and I used to use pieces of hard salami on gold hooks and fish on the end of the dock. I remember catching a lot of panfish this way!

[jstfish48162]

AJ, just a thought is all. i alone have 1/2 gallon of black pork, as well as 1/2 gallon of brown. it does last forever, if treated properly.

i was referring to freezing the chicken skin......get it now, cut it into pieces, and thaw it out the day before you plan on fishing with it.

ballons are a great idea...choice of colors, cheap and who cares if you screw a couple up while cutting.....just throw them out and grab another one.

this is why i am addicted to this site.......soooo many different ideas and tips.thanks guys.

[niner93]

And yet more stuff to take out onto the ice. I really like this one though. And I would imagine that a little food coloring would even add to this trick even more. Did great last year on the red Euro-larva. Can't hurt to try

Great Tip guys!!!!!

[SPORTSMAN]

Myself, I prefer to use perch belly fat or lakeherring bellyfat. the more the fish bite on it the better it looks.

[jstfish48162]

i should have saved the silverskin from the tenderloins off of my deer this year.....i bet that would work pretty good.

[Ruler]

Call me chicken yes I am.

LOL... VERY bad pun dude. :rolleyes: :D




I think I'm gonna try this. Seems like I haven't been able to keep up with the rest of the guys on the ice catching perch so far this winter. :(

[Ralph Smith]

I've got to give this a try. My buddy says his relatives in the U.P. on kewanaw bay swear by it for lake herring through the ice. They did real good a few years back. He told me to try it and I haven't. Now that I've heard more about, I'll give it try and post how it worked.

[UncleD]

This chicken skin thing has got my brain going.

How about cutting it up to resemble a wiggler or some other little creature?


<> (Head - diamond shaped)
<>
|| (Body Section)
< > (Legs - long & thin so they flutter)
||
< >
V (Tail)

Boy, it looks a hell of a lot better on paper. I'm thinking maybe 3/4" long and 1/4" wide.

Thought #2 is laying the skin flat in the freezer for a while to firm it up, so it would be easier to cut - maybe small scissors or an xacto knife.

Thought #3 is to let the skin air dry for a while and then soak it in food coloring (the food coloring would probably absorb deeper if the skin were a little dry first).

Thought #4 - it would be a lot easier to buy waxies, but what am I going to do to pass time till the water firms up?

I think they'd freeze and keep well all season.

Any other suggestions?

D-

[Skeeter]

Darn it you guys are getting me excited about ice fishing. I can't hardly stand it. I am going to go in the freezer and clean all the skin of any turkey or chicken in there and get to cutting. Wife will be surprised to find skinless stuff in frig. I'll just have to tell her I have decided to GO HEALTHY. Wouldn't dare tell her what I am doing, might end up in Counseling.

[niner93]

I'm thinking about how easy it would be to store them in the fridge. I get the dirtiest look when she ask what these little containers are, and I tell her maggots for fishing. She threw out 4 dozen last year on me.

If I can get her accustomed to it just being chicken skin then she won't look into it and I can keep everything in there.

:D ;)

[ficious]

Don't skin everything, it only takes a few small pieces. Yes, they do get torn off sometimes, but they stay on real well. The BIGGEST problem with skin is forgetting it in you snow suit or bucket!! You will only do that once!! Before I come in for the day, the leftover chicken skin gets donated to the fish, saves alot of explainations later.

As for coloring the skin, I doubt that it will take color well, it's just too oily. But if anyone does manage, please post what you used, I'm definately interested.

ficious

[Lunker]

I bet you could color it with soft plastic dye. It takes any oily power bait and colors it in seconds. Then soak it in your favorite scent .....

[ice fishin nut]

is squid!!!! I've tried the chicken skin, and it works but I prefer the squid. I buy tubes and tentacles at Meijers, and cut it into small pieces. Tough as nails and has great action, plus a package only costs about $3.00 and will last all season!!!!!;)

[Gillgitter]

:eek: :eek: :eek: Oh, sorry, just re-read IFN and relized it said squid TENTACLES. Boy, was worried there for a minute. I was woundering how you got the name Ice Fishing NUT for a second there :D

[Hamilton Reef]

Chicken skin? Hmm, This summer we processed nearly a thousand chickens and about three hundred turkeys. We've got 60 turkeys to do Sun & Mon for the Christmas holidays. Unfortunately we pluck and leave the skin on, but we did do a few hundred pounds of turkeys skinless when processed as turkey burger. I forgot all about saving the turkey skins. We used the skins years ago for perch off the piers, but I found it easier to use chamois. Today we have more options for coloring than we did years ago which should be fun.

[jstfish48162]

i have some chartreuse dye i use for bass fishing, so i will give it a try this weekend and post the results.

im so excited about ice fishing i could just s$*t!!!!!

[Lunker]

For those wondering, plastic dye is found at Bass Pro, Netcraft and Cabelas as well as any good bass fishing store. I wouldnt be afraid to try Ritz dye with vinegar solution either if you cant find "wiggler brown".

[Ruler]

Originally posted by niner93
I'm thinking about how easy it would be to store them in the fridge. I get the dirtiest look when she ask what these little containers are, and I tell her maggots for fishing. She threw out 4 dozen last year on me.


ROTFLMFAO! I can just imagine the look you got when you answered 'maggots'. :D Actually, I don't have to imagine... ;)

[Burksee]

As I'm looking at trying this out I've got to ask, What size and shape do you cut your pieces? If I'm getting to particular please advise.

Example: 1/4" wide, 1" long, diamond shape, hooked at wide end letting about 3/4" flutter.

Do you put it on plain wire hook?, gold? ice jig? lead head jig?

If on a jig head: size, weight and colors?

Thanks in advance! :D

[ficious]

Burksee,

Others may use different sizes, but strips about 3/16 x 3/8(waxworm sized) seem to work best for me. I use them on ice jigs, but I'm sure they would work on any of the things you mentioned. Think of it as a bug substitute(spike, waxie, or mousie). The action it has is the draw, plus when they hit it, they come back because it taste's real.

ficious

[Skeeter]

Well, I am at it! Just got home from the dollar store bought some party ballons in different colors. Going to cut up some small pieces of different colors to try. Things I don't run across on this site.

[Hamilton Reef]

Skeeter, You may as well invite the fish to a ballon party. They already enjoy the the streamers used to make flash flies.

[Lunker]

Ok I took a few brown Pork frogs and fille'd the chunk part into thin wax worm shaped slices. Then I had the dark brown paper thin porks skin left. This I made into a wiggler shape about 3/4 inch long with my fly tying scissors. I was very impressed with the results.

[AJ Peacock]

Lunker,

We always pre-made the holes for the hooks, so the pork shapes are easier to put on hooks. Just a small poke will make the thin wire hooks go through easier.

Good Luck,

[Lunker]

Yea thats a good idea thanks.