Testing new Baits?

[will this name be ok]

Hi peeps

 

I was wondering how you test your new bait concoctions to see if they work or not. Please don't reply with the obvious "you fish with it" I was wondering if there are any other things you take into consideration.

 

some things came to mind and don't know if they apply or not but i don't get to go fishing loads like some so it might just be a bad day regardless of bait used.

 

1: fish a water with plenty of fish in it.

2: fish a regular bait with exact same setup to compare against.

3:ok i've only got 2

 

look forward to some replies i hope

 

Richard

[John S]

You've just about answered your own question there WTNBO I go to a venue where I'm almost guaranteed to catch, and start off with my regular bait before changing to the new one and seeing if the bites increase/decrease/die off completely. If it's the latter two, I'll change back to the regular bait and see if the fishing picks up again. The only time I've put out two rods to compare baits is when carping.

[will this name be ok]

Also are there any ingredients you would recommend and any you would stay away from. I would like to use stuff i have around the house rather than mixing the ready to use groundbaits and things from tackle shops

 

Thanks for any info

 

Richard

[John S]

I tend to stick with tried-and-trusted baits anyway, maggots, worms etc. With the exception of dog biccies, bread, luncheon meat/pepperami I very seldom fish with things I find in the cupboard. Cat or dog meat (tinned that is, I don't mean chunks of cat or dog ) is supposed to be a good bait for carp and a few other species but I've never really tried it.

 

Perhaps others on here could give you a few tips on things to try (I'm surprised no-one else has posted on this thread to be honest, they're usually a really helpful bunch on here ).

[John S]

WTNBO, if you look through this week's Angling Times, they have an article on 'household' baits - not exactly groundbaits but certainly food for thought....

[will this name be ok]

Thanks John

 

I've found a few recipes for things online which i might dabble with and i'll certainly take a look at AT also

 

Richard

[shadowplay]

I have ground vitalin dog food up in a food processor to use as a groundbait base before, sticks together well, think you could use as a method mix if mixed with hot/warm water, flavours ok too. Had a nice carp the day i used it but that could have been coincidence.

 

Bob

[Andy Macfarlane]

I tend to find you can turn fish onto almost anything new, if you give them a couple of weeks of groundbaiting, with the new bait added to the mix. I've turned fish onto some really bizarre baits that wouldn't have worked if I simply stuck some onto the hook, in the hope that the fish will tune into it immediately. Fish often need a little time to learn that this new substance is food.

I turned the roach at my local ressie onto tinned carrot. It didn't get so much as a sniff when I tried it on a whim one day but I was fairly certain that it was simply a case of 'teaching' them to eat it. I decided to keep adding some to my groundbait mix for a few weeks, without actually fishing for them. When it actually came round to putting the stuff on the hook, they had 'tuned' into it and it became a favourite for a good while afterwards.