FISHING SCIENCE EXPERIMENT: Water Beads for Fishing DIY
OVERVIEW:
Note #4: After approx. 4 days in the Garlic, both the minced garlic and the Orbs absorbed quite a bit of solution. Like the Coffee-Orbs, they retained a lot of the garlic solution. They also plumped to a similar size to that of the Control Orbs, as pictured below. On terms of scent, they emit a decent amount of scent.
Note #3: Removing the Orbs from the Captain Morgan after ~4 days revealed interesting results. First, the Orbs absorbed only the water from the Rum. This left a very concentrated form of dark brown alcohol behind. After separating the Orbs from the alcohol, I observed the concentrate. It smelled like moonshine. I did a "pinky test" - I dipped my pinky in the concentrate and then touched it to my tongue. There was a smooth taste to the concentrate, however my tongue went numb after about three seconds and remained numb for ~5 minutes. Pictured below is the Orbs and the Concentrate, along with the control.
Note #4: I put some Orbs in a metal container. I followed proper safety procedures with regards to fire and attempted to use the Rum-Soaked Orbs as a fuel source. This did not work. The Orbs simply burned similar to a piece of plastic, showing a black charred outside. Reference the following video from my YouTube Channel:
I've had this odd thought of using Orbeez or similar Water Beads for Fishing. This odd thought spawned several questions about these little things. For the rest of the documents, I will simply refer to them as Orbs.
I will label this a Fishing Science Experiment - and if all goes well enough, more experiments will happen in the future. Note: this will have a lot of science-like jargon in it, and it may seem a bit dry in its final version.
HYPOTHESIS:
Can Orbs be used for Fishing as an artificial bait?
OTHER RELATED QUESTIONS:
** What is an Orb made of?
** Will they only absorb water? Oils? Juices? Fuel? Urine? - THIS QUESTION WILL DEFINITELY SPAWN INTO OTHER SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
** If the water is infused (such as tea, coffee, etc), will the infusion transfer into the Orbs?
** Will absorbed liquids leech out if placed in water?
** How will the Orbs react when being pierced for an extended period of time (hooking)?
** What size Orbs is best for being pierced in regards to use with fishing - such as threaded onto lines, put on hooks, put in egg sacks, etc?
** How will the Orbs react to being exposed to a more natural water source, such as being soaked in lake/river water?
** Will the absorbed liquid dissipate into the lake/river water or retain in the Orb?
** Package says "non-toxic" - what is the extent of this? if they are infused with consumable solutions, are they safe to eat? (this is a follow-up question on what Orbs are made of?)
** Do Orbs float or sink - Buoyancy Test ?
MATERIALS GATHERING:
** Orbs of different FINAL sizes. I say FINAL as Orbs have two different sizes according to most sellers: a dehydrated size and a final/absorbed/'plump' size.
** Small Mason Jars with lids, 8-12 x 4-6 ounce jars
** Fishing Oils/Gels/Lure Scents that are applied to lures
** Tap Water/Filtered Water/Bottled Water aka "normal water"
** Lake/River Water aka "natural water"
** Garlic Powder
** Fish Oil
** Small Urine Sample
** Lamp Oil / Kerosine
RESEARCH AND TESTING:
What are Orbs made of?
What are Orbs made out of is the first question. Knowing what these little spheres are made of will lead me down a correct path of discovery on several practical applications involving these.
According to several websites on the subject, Orbs have three ingredients. It is unknown if they have more or less. As research continues, this will be discovered.
Sodium Acrylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Absorbent Polymers, Color Pigments
This leads to the questions of consume-ability.
At first glance, according to the (original creators), these are "non-toxic to children and pets" and will "degenerate as they pass through the body" (Motherhood HQ site).
However, as indicated when I search for "orbeez" on NIH.gov, I find several articles (one linked below) regarding consumption of Orbs is not safe.
In particular, a similar experiment to what I am attempting to document was conducted by a Pediatric Dept. and published their findings on the NIH.gov site. These are the links below. The problem with consumption is the absorbency of the materials and the potential of lodging in the intestines.
My takeaway reading this is swallowing an Orb will absorb little gastric acid as it sits in your intestines, but absorb and expand as you consume other things. Also, from what I know and what they mention, the intestines have ribs in it, and there is a good chance that Orbs could get lodged in your intestines.
Needless to say, I will not be swallowing any of these.
References:
Will Orbs absorb things other than water?
As indicated in the "Orbeez NIH.gov" link sourced in the last session, yes it will absorb different liquids. They soaked Orbs in water, milk, vodka, and other solutions and measured the outcome after 24 hours. They found that vodka absorbed the most liquid where their simulated gastric acid absorbed the least.
To answer my question though, yes it will absorb other liquids. Now to figure out the functionality of the absorbed liquids.
Testing the Orbs with various liquids - My Own Test
My solutions that I will test will be as followed:
1. Infused Water Test.
To test the absorption of infused liquids, I will prepare the following solutions and place 2 oz. each into mason jars, followed by 1/2 tsp of Orbs.
** Sink water - this is the constant, as this is the normal use of Orbs.
** Coffee - brew a cup of coffee and allow it to reach room temp.
** Garlic Powder infused water - I will place 1 tbsp of garlic powder in 4 oz of water, shake, and let sit for 24 hours, shaking every 2-4 hours. Strain any remaining powder afterwards through a cheesecloth.
I will let the three infused liquids set in Orbs for one day, three days, and 7 days and record any noticeable effects beyond the already known Orbs effects. I will be testing under the following conditions:
** Human and Dog Scent Reaction. Reaction-able smell?
** Change in density and durability of the Orbs? Does the infusion of coffee or garlic water change the durability of the Orb at all?
** Durability in the liquid over time? By letting the Orbs set in the jars of liquid over time, does the durability/consistency of the Orb degrade over time?
INSERT NOTES, PICS, RECORDINGS, AND MEASURINGS HERE.
Note#1: I found some "water pearls" at JoAnn's in the floral department. They are essentially clear Orbs. Using tap water, I established the "control" of what the Orbs expected. a 1/4 tsp of Orbs plumped to 2/3 full of a 6oz jar. The number of Orbs needs to be adjusted for future testing.
Note #2: a cup of coffee in 1/4 tsp. After approx 14 hours, the Orbs absorbed the water and some of the coffee stain. The Orbs have a slight brown tint to them and have a definite coffee smell to them.
Note #3: I placed 1tbsp of minced garlic (no garlic powder in the cupboard) in a jar with 8oz of hot tap water. I let it sit for 30 minutes, shaking it vigorously for 30 sec ever 5-10ish minutes. After 30 minutes, the water had a yellow color to it and a very strong garlic smell. There was a layer of foam on top and the now re-hydrated minced garlic on the bottom. I decided not to wait to strain, so at this point I added 1/4 tsp of Orbs to the solution to sit. This would be the smaller jar in the picture.
Note #4: After approx. 4 days in the Garlic, both the minced garlic and the Orbs absorbed quite a bit of solution. Like the Coffee-Orbs, they retained a lot of the garlic solution. They also plumped to a similar size to that of the Control Orbs, as pictured below. On terms of scent, they emit a decent amount of scent.
2. Oil Absorption Test.
To test the absorption of oils, I will prepare the following solutions and place ~2 oz. each into mason jars, followed by 1/2 tsp of Orbs
** basic fish oil that I add to the dog's food. I will test both straight solution and a diluted solution with water.
** fishing bait scent oils that I apply to my soft and hard baits. I will test both straight solution and a diluted solution with water.
** tea-infused essential oils - the kinds that you use for perfume sticks and such
Again, I will let the solutions set for one day, three days, and seven days, checking the Orbs along the way for the following:
** absorbency measurements - aka "plumpness check"
** Human and Dog Scent Reaction. Is there a reaction-able smell?
** General durability of each Orb?
INSERT RECORDINGS HERE
Note #1: basic Fish Oil from the pet store and 1/4 tsp of Orbs in a large oil. On initial observation, the Orbs were hard to even detect in the murky oil without serious studying of the jar. There were particulates in the oil. Unsure how the consistency will turn out. More to follow
Note #2: After a full 24 hours, none of the fish oil was absorbed by the Orbs. The Orbs stuck together due to the oil and congealed at the bottom of the jar.
Note #3: I used some oil-based lure scent in a jar (krill scent). I added ~1/2 tsp of the lure scent to a jar followed by 6 ounces of water. I shook it up to attempt a blend and then added 1/4 tsp of Orbs to the jar. After 24 hours, here are the results. The Orbs absorbed the water from the solution just fine. However, unlike the Infusion testing, the scent was not absorbed. The scent oils that remained were left behind in the jar. They also coated the Orbs and formed a layer of the same scent oil on the bottom of a plastic container that I poured the Orbs into for inspection.
Note #4: I put a small number of Orbs in a egg sack netting and submerged it in water. I let it rest for approx. 10 minutes, then I gave it a few light shakes, removed the egg sack netting and inspected the water. Very little of the scent on the coating of the Orbs transferred to the water.
2.b Pierce Test.
After seven days in the solutions, I will conduct a pierce test on the oil-soaked Orbs. I will do the following tests:
** Pierce test on bait hooks of small and medium sized - the snell hook packs you get at Walmart.
** Pierce test on larger hooks - 4/0 single hook and 2/0 treble hook is what I have available
** Pierce test on bait hooks feeding the Orb up to the line - alt test feeding the leader line itself (with and without a needle) through the Orb.
INSERT RECORDINGS AND YOUTUBE VID LINKS HERE
Note #1: I attempted to take an Orb from the control and pierce it with a 2/0 Gamakatsu baithook. The piercing was not received well, caused observable inner cracks through the Orb, and any further penetration beyond ~1mm by the hook instantly split the Orb in two equal halves. A potential second test with a smaller baithook is needed to confirm piercing by hook is bad.
Note #2: I attempted to pierce 30# test line through an Orb from the control. The line pierced easily and created the same visible inner crack as the line passed through, but the Orb did not initially split. I dropped the Orb on the table from ~12" and the Orb did not split. The Orb finally split when I shook the Orb or applied any bending or stress to the line. A secondary test is needed with a thinner diameter line - i'm thinking either 6# or 8# mono.
Note #3: After observations with the control Orbs, I do not believe further pierce tests will be needed with any salmon rigging. Smaller trout fishing is a possibility.
Note #4: I conducted the same test with 8# monofilament line and received the same results. I attempted with a tiny baithook and received the same splitting through results as with the larger fish hook.
2.C Lake/River Conditions check.
The Lake/River check will be later after the winter melt begins and I have access to rive and lake shorelines. I will do the following experiments.
** Add 1/2 tsp to 2 oz of lake water from a clear-water lake in a mason jar. Allow it to sit for a predetermined amount of time (reference all previous steps for pre-determined time)
** Add 1/2 tsp to 2 oz of lake water from a murky water lake in a mason jar. Allow it to sit for a predetermined amount of time (reference all previous steps for pre-determined time)
** Add plumped Orbs from previous tests to a jar of lake water and allow it to set for one day. This is to test the consistency and durability of a plumped Orb in lake water conditions. There will be one jar for Water Infusion Orbs and one jar for Oil-Based Orbs.
** Repeat the three pierce testing conditions on Oil-Based Orbs under the conditions of the below conditions.
-- Casting a bait-and-bobber setup into lake
-- Casting a dropshot rig setup into a lake
-- Casting a dropshot rig setup into a moving river
The intent here is to check the durability of the Orb during casting and retrieving conditions. It's all well and good to pierce the Orb, but if the Orb cannot withstand casting, impact with the water, or retrieval, then it is no good. This will also test the buoyancy of the Orbs as they are cast and retrieved.
INSERT RECORDINGS HERE
Note #1: Since the Orbs did not stand up to being pierced, this step of testing is no longer needed or feasible.
3. Reverse-Infusion Test.
The purpose of this test is to test the reverse-infusion of the Orbs into water. This is to simulate "bait juices flowing in the river to attract fish."
Reading up on this, apparently salt is needed to make the Orbs release their liquid. This will be included in the test below.
The test will go as followed:
1. Add water to a mason jar
2. Place Oil-Based Orbs in an egg sack and secure it closed. Leave two long tag ends, approx 6" each side, from the tie off.
3. Suspend the egg sack into the water so that only the sack is suspended. The egg sack should be suspended and not anywhere near the bottom. Change to a larger jar as needed.
4. Observe for 2 hours, checking every 30 minutes for evidence of infusion
5. Steps #1-#4 will be repeated, however 1 tbsp or salt will be added to the water and stirred until dissolved.
INSERT TYPED AND YOUTUBE RECORDINGS HERE
Note#1: As a test, I took approx 20-25 Orbs from the initial control and heavily coated them in table salt to confirm the melt/release of fluids. There is a noticeable change after a few seconds. After 5 minutes, there is noticeable pool of water in the container. I have confirmed that salt makes Orbs release their absorbed water.
References:
4. SIDE TEST: Orbs as a Fuel Source
As a side test, and as more of a curiosity check, I am wondering the absorbency of the Orbs when compared to flammable liquids. Studies I've read show that the Orbs will absorb Vodka (at 40%). The standing questions regarding this side test are:
** Will Orbs absorb a liquid fuel source, like kerosene, butane, or similar flammable liquid?
Assuming the Orb absorbs even a small amount of fluid,
***** What is the flammability of the Orb - Does putting a flame directly to the plump Orb make it burn?
***** What is the vapor point of the Orb? Does the fuel vapor off of the Orb?
***** Does the Orb create any combustibility option?
***** I'm asking this question for the purpose of storage safety. Can they safely be stored in a sealed container?
To test these questions, I will conduct the following experiment. For safety's sake, this will be done after winter in a safe, open-air environment.
1. In a small mason jar, I will add 1/2 tsp of Orbs to 2 oz. of Kerosene or Butane (whatever is readily available at the time). I will not put a lid on this.
2. In a small mason jar, I will only add a small number of Orbs to the jar and only 1 oz. of Kerosene. This jar will be sealed.
3. With both jars set in an open-aired location, out of direct sunlight, I will wait approximately 12 hours and retrieve each jar.
4. From the no-lid jar, I will retrieve an Orb and attempt to light it on fire, recording the results. I will test both direct flame and vapor burn.
5. With proper safety elements in place, I will test the sealed jar in the following manner:
** Drop test - can it be dropped from a height of 4 ft. without a pressure detonating??
** Open test - can the jar be opened without a pressure detonation?
** Burn test on one of the Orbs - both direct flame and vapor
RECORD ALL RESULTS
NOTE: if absorption and storing is successful, a secondary, long-term test will be made for the purpose of camp/survival fuel starter that will cover plastic tubes and several days of storage before repeating the above tests.
INSERT FINDINGS AND RECORDINGS HERE
Note #1: I poured ~4oz of kerosene in a jar and added 1/4 tsp of Orbs. I let it sit for 24 hours. I received the same results as the fish oil. The Orbs did not expand and clumped together on the bottom. The picture is the jar with Orbs after 24 hours, resting on top of the control in the plastic container.
Note #2: As a secondary step, I added 4 oz of Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum to a large jar, followed by 1/4 tsp of Orbs. This is the larger jar in the picture. Now we wait.
Note #3: Removing the Orbs from the Captain Morgan after ~4 days revealed interesting results. First, the Orbs absorbed only the water from the Rum. This left a very concentrated form of dark brown alcohol behind. After separating the Orbs from the alcohol, I observed the concentrate. It smelled like moonshine. I did a "pinky test" - I dipped my pinky in the concentrate and then touched it to my tongue. There was a smooth taste to the concentrate, however my tongue went numb after about three seconds and remained numb for ~5 minutes. Pictured below is the Orbs and the Concentrate, along with the control.
References:
5. SIDE TEST Urine test
As anyone who hunts can attest, urine is a powerful tool for animals. Animals use it to mark territory, leave scent markers for others to follow, and hunters sometimes use it as a scent deterrent or scent blocker. If Orbs could absorb urine, then this would work well for the purpose of scent control.
I will conduct the test in the following manner in this specific order:
1. I will attempt to collect a urine sample from my dogs and place in a small mason jar.
2. I will collect a urine sample from myself and place in a small mason jar.
3. I will add a very small number of Orbs to each jar.
4. I will let each jar set sealed for 24 hours minimum, and record observations.
5. Once the Orbs are plump, I place a small number of Dog-Orbs buried in a shallow hole near the edge of the street and observe reaction from the neighborhood dogs that are walked in my neighborhood.
6. I will repeat step 5 in a controlled area in my yard and record observations from my dogs.
7. I will repeat step 5 using Human-Orbs along the road.
8. I will repeat step 5 using Human-Orbs in a controlled space in my yard.
By observing how the Dog-Orbs and Human-Orbs have reaction on the neighborhood dogs, I can gauge how well similarly matched and not-matched urine would react in the wild.
Examples that come to mind is purchasing "Deer Scent Attractants" and "Predator Scent Blockers" - both have animal urine in them - and using Orbs to better maintain and control said Scent Management items, easier deployment, and possibly easier to wear (hang from an incense bag or egg sack or chesecloth pouch instead of applying directly to clothing).
I know this stuff is expensive to purchase, so perhaps the possible use of Orbs could extend the use life of the scent....? I believe that the Urine Test will determine that.
INSERT TYPED AND VIDEO FINDINGS HERE
Note #1: I have added ~4 oz of my own urine to a jar with 1/4 tsp of Orbs. Now we wait.
Note #2: After ~4 days in the jar, I removed and strained the Orbs. I noticed there wasn't much plumpness to them when compared with the Control. The odor though was horrendous, as expected for urine in a jar on the table for 4 days. What surprised me though is how much actually transferred to the strained Orbs, despite their lack of plumpness. Bleow are some pictures comparing the Urine-Orbs to the Control.
References:
Final Test - Testing the Hypothesis: Can Orbs be used as Artificial Bait?
Once the testing of the Orbs itself is complete, and assuming there is some success in either the Infusion-Orbs in Test #1 or the Oil-Orbs in Test #2, then the final testing would commence. Can the Orbs in question be used as an artificial bait to catch fish?
To test this final piece, I will take some of each successful type of Orbs in a small sealed jar (probably a recycled Powerbait-style or similar tiny jar) and go fishing. I will wait until one or more of the following conditions present itself:
** 24-48 hours after a local lake is stocked
** A known location of schooling is located via other fishing techniques
** Going to a location with a known "hot-spot" for fishing
I will attempt this bait in multiple ways:
*** One Orb directly onto the hook, or onto the line of the hook, with the technique either being bobber-and-bait or dropshot method, depending on location
*** Placing an Orb on the end of a treble of a spinner, spoon, swimbait, or crankbait
*** Placing an Orb onto a hook, or on the line of the hook, of a trolling or river-dropshot-rigging.
*** Attempting to place a small collection into an egg sack and fish it while using a river-dropshot-rigging from an egg sack loop (salmon rigging technique)
RECORD ALL OBSERVATIONS HERE.
INSERT YOUTUBE VIDEO LINKS HERE
Note #1: After observing the Pierce Testing, placing the Orbs directly onto the hook or line is not a viable option. The Orbs will need to be placed in a delivery system of some sort, such as an egg sack netting used with Roe for Salmon Fishing. This will be the only rigging test done.
Note #2: After observing the Oil Absorption Testing, it is better to coat the Orbs in the scent solution rather than letting them soak in a bait/water solution. Placing the plumped Orbs in a small jar, adding a small amount of scent attractant, shaking it up, then adding to the egg sack netting and fishing via egg loop knot or similar rigging. See Note #1 in this section.
CONCLUSIONS
I've come to the following conclusions regarding this very lengthy experiment:
** Orbs absorb water and water-based liquids, water-infused liquids, and similar solutions. If there is water in it, they will absorb. They will not absorb solutions that do not have water in it - fuel, oils, etc.
** Orbs that absorb water-based solutions could be used as bait, so long as you use them similar to a more fragile roe or a chum. You cannot use any salt based bait scents, though. You can coat the already plump Orbs in bait-like solutions and they will be effective in egg-sack netting and pouches or chum bags, assuming the mesh is tight enough that the Orbs don't fall out.
** Orbs will work for scent lures and scent deterrents, since urine is water-based. Applications include letting the Orbs absorb the urine, place the Scent-Orbs in said attractant/deterrent locations when outdoors hunting. Rain won't wash it away. It has applications.
** Due to the nature of Orbs being water-based, using it as a fuel source or a firestarter is not possible.
** You cannot eat Orbs, no matter if they are plumped up or not. Despite companies say that they will pass, several health organizations disagree and recommend not consuming Orbs at all.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
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