I use about a gallon of salt water, 3 or 4 cups of fine rock salt and stir till salt is well dissolved. I like to brine my herring overnight and usually whole but not always, if I have left over cut bait at the end of the day, they'll end up in the brine as well. I know I have the mixture right if I drop a herring in the bucket and it floats, if not, add more salt.