Cloud groundbait

[The Flying Tench]

Years ago you could buy brilliant stuff called 'Silver Cloud' which was supposed to (and did) create a cloud of fine bread particles in the water which would attract but not feed the fish. perhaps it was just fine crumb, but it seemed to work better somehow.

 

Nowadays you can get groundbaits with flavouring which should help, but none of the ones I have tried create such a good cloud. Can anyone recommend a flavoured cloud groundbait? I have silvers in mind.

[Vagabond]

Liquidised white bread, with a bit of milk added to the mixing water (not too much - same ratio as in a cup of tea) Very simple, very cheap - and use bread flake on the hook.

 

When I was young and keen, I used to add dried and crushed eggshells, but haven't bothered with that for years.

 

...and a trace of some attractant such as aniseed, or asafoetida, or your favourite brand from the tackle shop......

Edited November 2, 2011 by Vagabond

[Phone]

Tench,

 

Same as Vagabond. However, I like a drop of blue food color.

 

Phone

[Andy Macfarlane]

Blue you say? Well, I suppose SwimStim Betaine Green is a weird colour so maybe there's something in your blue idea.

 

Oddly, blue maggots are the worst colour I'm aware of but that's hardly conclusive.

[Vagabond]

blue maggots are the worst colour I'm aware of but that's hardly conclusive.

 

I've noticed that. Could it be something unpleasant about the "taste" of the blue dye rather than the colour?

 

Teal, blue and silver is one of the best wet flies I know - perch, chub, seatrout, trout, even roach.

[wotnobivvy]

A little digging found this one called Atomic Cloud which seems to do a similar thing to Silver Cloud

 

www.gotbaits.co.uk

[Andy Macfarlane]

I've noticed that. Could it be something unpleasant about the "taste" of the blue dye rather than the colour?

 

Teal, blue and silver is one of the best wet flies I know - perch, chub, seatrout, trout, even roach.

 

That is very true and blue is supposedly the last colour spectrum to disappear at depth, so maybe there's something in your taste theory.

[Anderoo]

A cheap and equally effective alternative is white crumb mixed with water with a little liquid flavour added (add whatever you like). Mix it very carefully though, white crumb is very fine stuff and it's very easy to add a little too much water and end up with stodge. But because it's so fine it's perfect for creating clouds.

[carp-catcha]

I found a good recipe for a cloudy flavoured breadcrumb mix here: Home Made Groundbait cheap and effective.

[Steve Walker]

We used to use this, either on its own or with Supercup.

 

http://www.vandeneyndebaits.com/groundbaits/special.shtml

 

That site brings some memories back - we also used to use Natuur quite successfully in open end feeders for stillwater chub, I wonder if it's worth putting some in for winter chubbing on the rivers?