bread - punch crumb or liquidised?

[The Flying Tench]

This article

How to catch canal roach on punch | Advice | Angling Times

says that punched crumb is 'too positive' in the cold weather, so use liquidised.  I've no problem with liquidised bread, but in what sense is punched crumb too 'positive'?

[Martin56]

I think it means that punched crumb is too solid (positive) & that Punched, Liquidised bread is softer.

Looks like both are rolled out into a sheet using a rolling pin??

 

[Blackbird]

The aim in winter especially, is not to over feed, if you liquidise the crumb and sieve through 3mm finally 1mm sieve the result will be a fine feed that won't over feed.

However any loose feed will attract smaller fish, just a single hook bait of flake can sort out the bigger fish. Roach in a shoal don't break ranks to feed, they feed together, witness Bob James fantastic catch on Passion, 10 roach over 2lbs, that for me is the most memorable feat in the whole series, all caught on bread small feeder with flake on the hook, incredible.

[The Flying Tench]

So, in the article, what he seems to be saying is that the punched crumb will be more filling, which you don't want in cold weather. But isn't it the other way round? Surely the individual pieces of liquidized bread will be bigger and therefore more filling than the punched crumb, which is why many anglers fish punch on canals in winter?

Neil, I must take another look at the Passion for Angling video. Can you remember which episode it is?

So what do you do when tracking big roach in winter? As you say, Neil, if you put the sliced bread through a fine riddle it'll tend to draw the smaller fish. Maybe not sieve it but put in a limited amount? I've heard of people using a very small 10gm feeder, cast in and see where the current takes it. I plan to give it a try this winter.

[Tigger]

I would prefer to soak a loaf and mash it up with my fingers "bread mash". Put a flake on the hook and either leger or trott amongst it.

[BoldBear]

20 minutes ago, Tigger said:

I would prefer to soak a loaf and mash it up with my fingers "bread mash". Put a flake on the hook and either leger or trott amongst it.

That’s the way I usually use it too.

Keith

Edited November 24, 2021 by BoldBear