An interesting pattern has developed in these egg curing threads. There are 3 very good fishermen using primarily borax eggs very successfully out on the Oly Pen for salmon. Marty M. has always been a proponent of it's effectiveness and now Rich and Dr. P are also. As Keith mentioned in one of his posts, fish from different regions do definitely vary a little in what they like best; even river to river somewhat. It seems obvious that the 'nooks and silvers like borax cured eggs on the OP. They will take them anywhere, including here in NW Oregon. But in my neck of the woods there the chem cured eggs outfish borax eggs by a significant margin. That's why you read me being a strong proponent of those cures in my posts.

I would just say a couple things about borax cured eggs and newspaper. The first thing I know; they will not preserve as long as chem cured eggs so what you don't expect to use within a few days I would freeze in additional borax and air tight container soon after curing. This one I don't know; but I have a concern about laying moist salmon eggs right on newspaper for concern of the ink scent that likely gets absorbed somewhat. Obviously it doesn't stop fish from biting them, but does it diminish their effectiveness for some of the less aggressive fish? I use non-inked paper towells to put my eggs on, with waxed paper underneath to keep the dye off the counter. Likewise, I have a bit of chlorine concern when using tap water for bait brines; not a big deal, but I prefer using distilled water for the very best results I can get. Every little detail counts and adds up!

The chinook salmon in Oregon coastal and inland rivers do prefer dry chem cured eggs such as Pro Glo, Pro Cure, and Amerman cure. And Keith & James' and my cures also. It preserves and colors eggs better and puts a sodium sulfite scent in them that salmon like - a lot. If you also refrain from draining the juice off and let it reabsorb into the eggs for 3 or 4 days in the fridge they will have more to milk out into the river, and over a longer period of fishing time. Packing them moist also helps prevent freezer burn. Curing and packing them in skein quarters also allows you to cut them into the target fish's proper cluster sizes the night before fishing or out on the river - water clarity and salmon speices both determine best egg cluster size. If you thaw out what you will need for your day's, or week's, fishing needs you can then dry them to your preference the day or night before fishing. The looser ones can be dried harder and then be rolled in
borax to toughen them up if necessary. If you come up with 3 chem cures with significant differnces that are all effective, you can take some of each to find which cure the moody salmon want most; or which they like best in the areas you fish the most. You can lightly add other additives and scent oils if the eggs aren't working by themselves. Be flexible for best river success on Kings (silvers and steelhead too). ...

Hey Matt, if you get good eggs, be sure you are presenting them in the proper ways and depths by watching what the guys catching fish are doing. You may also have a higher degree of L-serine in your skin (it varies quite a bit from person to person, and men have more of it tham women) so be sure to wash your hands in fisherman's soap often; and consider trying baiting up with rubber or vinyl gloves on. If you do all this you are going to start catching fish. Good luck, and let us know how you are doing. Many knowledgable members here can help in other areas if you continue struggling more than you should. Just post away.

RT