Old Salmo Eggs

Question
QUESTION: I have a tackle box that was just given to me
and it has several unused jars of  salmon eggs in it.
The previous owner hasn't been fishing in 7 or 8 years.
I opened one of the jars, and it didn't stink or anything.
Are these eggs ok, better (aged?), or worse for bait for
trout? The jar is "Pautzke's Green Label" Balls of fire
Salmon Eggs. I am new at this and don't know a lot yet.
Also are # 6 hooks good for Brook trout? Got loads of them.

ANSWER: Hello Bob...
I've never seen a jar of salmon eggs that old so I'm not sure about using them. A good tip off as to their condition would be to squeeze a few individual eggs between your thumb and forefinger. If they split apart easily then I'd toss 'em. Even then it wouldn't hurt to take them along, particularly if you'll be trout fishing a lake or pond. Use them as chum..! If you actually use salmon eggs to fish with, you'll need to buy a package or two of salmon egg hooks. All other hooks are just too big.

#6 hooks are fine for trout, especially if you'll be using worms for bait. Ideal worm hooks have a couple of tiny barbs up towards the eye for helping secure the worm.

Good luck and good fishing..!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: There are also a couple of jars of "Power Bait" in the
box. What is that? And can I make this a two part question?
Here's the second question. There are lakes in the Cascade
Mountains of Oregon that have no trails to them, are rarely
visited by people, yet they are stocked every 2 years by
air drop. Why would that be necessary? Several of these
lakes are over 20 feet deep, so I would really doubt that
they would freeze up solid. It doesn't get all that cold
in Oregon, even in the Cascades at 4500'and over. Here in
the Willamette Valley it hardly ever gets much under freezing anymore. I'd be surprised if these lakes get
down below zero very often. So what's the story?

Answer
Hello again...
I'm familiar with the Cascades and some of the waters up there. I live in Portland..! I prefer stream fishing myself because in my mind at least there's a bit more to it in terms of reading the water and actually hunting for fish. I'll take the good ol' Deschutes :)

I think the "Power Bait" you mention is a kind of doughy stuff that comes in very bright colors. Depending on what mood the trout are in it can be a real killer, especially in streams where you drift-bounce it along the bottom of fishy looking holes. The color attracts the fish and something in the dough itself gets their mouths to watering. Nice thing too is this stuff sticks to your hook really well.

As for stocking those remote high-Cascade lakes I'm just not sure why they'd do that every couple of years. I do know that hatchery fish are far less sturdy, rugged and disease resistant than natives. They will spawn, but not as prolifically, so that could have something to do with it too. Couple all that with predation by ospreys, eagles and herons and a lake's fish population could well fall off considerably in two years.

Stay in touch if you'd like, and don't hesitate to toss more questions my way. No guarantee I'll know the answer, but I'll sure try.