This brine has worked well for springers and falls 1qt water,1 cup brineing salt,2tblsp anise oil,2tblsp fennel seed. Take 2 cups of the water as hot as to melt the salt then add the other 2 cups as cold as you can get mix in the fennel seed and anise. Make sure the brine is cold before you add the herring,it will work best if you cut the plugs while the bait is still frozen.I got this from a oldtimer that fished Cedar creek and he would
out fish all the guides!!!!!!