One thing I have always found to be a pain both in my fishing and when out practicing my bushcraft is carrying around bottles and jars of seasoning, etc. Thankfully there is a solution to this in the form of the humble drinking straw.
You can create yourself little packets of spices, sauces, etc that are not only small but waterproof too by cutting and sealing a drinking straw and although a little time consuming it is a very easy to do.
Okay so what are you going to need to make these packets
1. Small Container (to store your packets in)
2. Drinking Straws (obviously)
3. Pair of Scissors
4. Lighter
5. Pliers
6. Spices/Liquids you want to use
7. Labels (optional)
The first thing you need to do is cut the straw to the length of the container you are going to put them in. (notice I said the length of the container)
Next using the pliers, hold one end of the straw leaving just enough room to melt the end of the straw by holding the flame from the lighter near enough to the straw to melt it but not burn it.
Once the end of the straw is melt release it from the pliers and quickly turn the melted end back into the pliers and crimp to seal it completely.
Fill your straw with your chosen powder/liquid, if you look in the photo I have fashioned a small funnel out of a scrap piece of paper to help me fill the straw. If you are using a liquid a small syringe works perfectly. Make sure to leave a space so that when you seal it you don’t crush your contents.
Seal the open end of your straw exactly the same as before and you now have a sealed, waterproof container of your chosen liquid/powder.
If you are labelling it, I always wrap a bit of Sellotape around the straw to help keep the label on.
Finally put your straw in to the container you are using, along with any others you have prepared. As you can see there is plenty of room to prepare several straws.
As a last tip, if you are going to regularly use a particular spice such as salt and pepper you can create a multi use container. (only works with powders)
To do this simply cut another small section of straw maybe 3 centimetres in length. Seal one end of this the same as you did the larger pieces of straw.
Now the difference is here, fill your larger straw with your chosen powder but instead of sealing the end, create an indent in the open end with your fingernail and push it into the open end of the small piece. If you push it up far enough it will seal the end and you now have a multi use container.
Well I hope you found this helpful and have fun making your own little packs up.
Anthony’s Angling Corner 