With the Shredder now “firing on all cylinders” (http://fishwrecked.com/forum/shredder-ultimate-burley-machine) (http://fishwrecked.com/forum/shredder-mk-2), and the number of requests from FW Members for the burley it produces it is time to start to determine the appropriate recipe.
My observations are that the time the burley takes to dissolve in the water column varies considerably based upon the mix of fish flesh/frames to pellets/pollard, the number of times the burley is minced and the water content of the burley as it is used frozen – assuming tuna oil as a constant. If we are ultimately going to offer the burley commercially then the mix ratio has to be right. You want something that produces a steady stream of appropriately sized particles, but will last for a reasonable period of time.
As a scientist by training (I have never really admitted my geek like behaviour from the 80’s), it was time to conduct an experiment. A multi factorial analysis of variance, with the dependent variable being the burley dissolution in sea water in grams per minute, seems like the go. Independent variables of mix ratio, mince events and water content is the starting point, which can be refined once the initial results are known. Replicates of 4 is appropriate but if you are to test for the dependent variable in “real life” conditions the actual trip with different wind, wave and current observations is likely to confound results – use this as a factor as well. Blah, blah, blah. My family and friends always sledge me for over analysing things!
Anyway, I spent the day making up 750g (measured accurately) bags of burley with 2 different mix ratios, 3 different mince techniques and 2 different water contents. 2 x 3 x 2 and 4 replicates = 48 bags of 750g mass each.
Yes, it was tedious but research and development is important. I can now go fishing with randomised 4 x 750g burley logs in the water at a time and see how they each behave, and this is the best part of the whole deal. I know my burley works but the experiment is to evaluate what should actually be made in the future considering all of the factors.
I still aim to have the Shore Catch burley available for purchase, in various forms (1kg, 2kg, 5kg), by the end of the year and this is all part of the process. I look forward to reporting on results of the experiment.
My observations are that the time the burley takes to dissolve in the water column varies considerably based upon the mix of fish flesh/frames to pellets/pollard, the number of times the burley is minced and the water content of the burley as it is used frozen – assuming tuna oil as a constant. If we are ultimately going to offer the burley commercially then the mix ratio has to be right. You want something that produces a steady stream of appropriately sized particles, but will last for a reasonable period of time.
As a scientist by training (I have never really admitted my geek like behaviour from the 80’s), it was time to conduct an experiment. A multi factorial analysis of variance, with the dependent variable being the burley dissolution in sea water in grams per minute, seems like the go. Independent variables of mix ratio, mince events and water content is the starting point, which can be refined once the initial results are known. Replicates of 4 is appropriate but if you are to test for the dependent variable in “real life” conditions the actual trip with different wind, wave and current observations is likely to confound results – use this as a factor as well. Blah, blah, blah. My family and friends always sledge me for over analysing things!
Anyway, I spent the day making up 750g (measured accurately) bags of burley with 2 different mix ratios, 3 different mince techniques and 2 different water contents. 2 x 3 x 2 and 4 replicates = 48 bags of 750g mass each.
Yes, it was tedious but research and development is important. I can now go fishing with randomised 4 x 750g burley logs in the water at a time and see how they each behave, and this is the best part of the whole deal. I know my burley works but the experiment is to evaluate what should actually be made in the future considering all of the factors.
I still aim to have the Shore Catch burley available for purchase, in various forms (1kg, 2kg, 5kg), by the end of the year and this is all part of the process. I look forward to reporting on results of the experiment.
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