Paul Garner Why bright baits and strong flavours will work now
Why bright baits and strong flavours will work best right now
AT THIS time of the year my bait tray is a kaleidoscope of gaudy colours as I ring the changes in search of carp. Going bold can really make a difference to your catches, especially when the water starts to clear.
Some scientific evidence suggests that a carp’s senses of sight and smell are less acute in winter, so that they need a stronger ‘signal’ to attract them. Brighter baits with more smell than you would normally use in the warmer months really come into their own when the water temperature is in single digits.
You can buy brightly coloured hookbaits in just about every colour imaginable, but what about your feed? This, too, can be made to stand out by using a few simple tactics.
BOILIE CRUMB
Why not make up a batch of boilie crumb that is identical to the boilies that you are using?
Most boilies can be easily crumbled between your fingers, but for larger batches it makes sense to use a liquidiser to smash up the baits. A pint of boilie crumb is enough for a day session, as
I will only be feeding it in tiny amounts. Fill marble-sized
PVA sticks with boilie crumb to massively increase the attraction of your hookbait. These break down in a minute or two, leaving a tiny pile of bait around your hookbait that quickly leaks off flavour, drawing attention.
I also like to add a small amount of PVA-friendly Boilie Syrup to give off a haze of liquid. Add just enough to dampen the boilie crumb without making it too sticky. It should break down quickly and not bind together. The liquid must be PVA-friendly to stop it from damaging the mesh.
You can bulk out any stick mix with ground pellets, crushed hemp, fishmeal or brown crumb – another useful addition that helps keep the cost down. When kept dry, it explodes out of the stick on contact with water, encouraging the contents to break up.
SUPER SOAKERS
ON VENUES that don’t allow boilies, what about flavouring micro pellets? As long as you use PVA-friendly liquids you can still make up sticks without them melting down. You can even dip the whole stick in the liquid just before casting out to give it the maximum boost.
I like to use small rough-textured leads. These can be dipped in the liquid attractant to give even more of a boost. Try dipping the lead in liquid and then in a powdered additive for a double-whammy.
FLUORO BREAD BOMBS
A cheap alternative to boilie crumb is to stuff PVA sticks with liquidised bread. This light, fluffy bait creates a lovely carpet on the bottom that explodes as a carp moves past it. Liquidised bread is easy to colour, too. Add a teaspoonful of powdered dye to a plastic bag containing a few slices of liquidised bread, shake well, and leave overnight. Next morning the bread will have taken on the colour perfectly.
Natural white is a great starting point, but try pink and yellow too. They score well in winter, when often a change of colour will bring a bite from a curious fish that has shown no previous interest.
Fast breakdown pellets are another option. These maize-based pellets are convenient to use, very attractive to carp, and break down in just a few minutes, making them ideal for use in the cold. You can find them in a wide variety of flavours and colours.