Hookbaits?

[Gaffer]

Just out of interest, if boilies were your first choice hookbait, what would your second choice hookbait be?

All the best,

<font color=blue>Gaffer</font color=blue>

[Derby_Neil]

Tigers every timeas a second option, and sometimes as a first. Always have been an awesome carp catcher, and always will be. I've fished waters where you can really struggle on boilies, but put a tiger nut on and results improve no end.

Neil

[Luke]

Its got to be tigers mate, very carp selective and full of natural sugars and attraction!

[dolly]

Again it has to be tigers superb bait, "when boilies are a blanking, put on a tiger and your start catching".
Another is Maples, a very underestimated bait if its not being used by other anglers then it could suprise!
one other choice alarge ball of maggots, can`t beat it.

Dave

[sam]

hello gaffer mate!

lobworms. nuff said.

3rd place would be sweetcorn.

**sam**

[alex]

Everyone seems to have picked bottom baits so I'll go with surface baits chum mixers or floating trout pellet work for me every time a boilie fails.
Alex.

[SAMR]

I like those hookbait pellets by Heathrow Bait Services
2nd place would be halibut pellets
and 3rd would be maize
Keeping it real
Sam

[scorpio]

Casters, loads of them on a size 8 hook, or a massive bunch of maggots.... winter of course. In summer it has to be surface baits

Tony

[Rivercarper]

If it was to fish for all species it would be bread flake/lobworm very close between the two.

[alex]

have you tried a madusa rig Tony?
I was told they were ment to be the next big thing I know Dave Harman uses them at Papercourt he had loads of tench and carp when I was fishing there on the rig.
Alex.

[scorpio]

Madusa? I thought that was a bird with snakes in her hair? What is it like Alex?

Tony

[Paulm]

It consits of Maggots glued to a cork ball, poped up of the bottom (normaly) - hence the name of the rig.
Though i've found that other baits work well like this, ie...casters, hemp.

Paulm /images/forum/icons/wink.gif

[Yappi]

I was thinking of trying the medusa over at Yately next time Im there(spring), it could give you a good edge, but the only problem with it is it will probably attract loads of bream, roach etc. This makes it even more of a problem for me there because a lot of fishing situations there are very tight casts where you dont want to be casting and reeling in every 2 minutes. Still I can only find out if I try it out and try them I wil!
I too am a massive fan of floating baits, anything I can get to float will do me. I love floating pellets, they are pukka. Alex have you ever fished them with mini floating pellets to? I found the carp went totaly nuts over them this summer, and it was much easier to get them frenzying over smaller baits.
Ive had more 20s on the surface this year than on the bottom.
I like the Ian Russel pellets too but I havent yet used any of my pot full. I can see them being useful in the summer when Im stalking.

Lately Ive been experimenting with boilies cut into funny shapes and I have had a bit of success on them (I know we werent supposed to talk about boilies but I couldnt help myself!)

[alex]

I have used pond pellets which are used for Koi in ponds they work a treat on waters where the fish have become shy of surface baits they also give the fish every thing they need for a healthy diet.
If you use a madusa at Yateley try a bigger cork ball somthing like a 16mm that should cut down on the smaller fish.
Alex.

[scorpio]

How the hell could you glue maggots to a cork ball? I think I am going to work on a design for an easier way to use a medusa. As for the hemp and other baits I have been using popups like that for years /images/forum/icons/smile.gif

Tony

[Boo]

Superglue to the blunt end so to speak! Works a treat on a hair rig. Just keep it clear of your fingers or you become part of the rig!!!!

[Paulm]

'Superglue to the blunt end'

There heads i think you mean!!!!!!!

Paulm /images/forum/icons/wink.gif

[scorpio]

Have maggots got heads? They eat from the thin end and I don't think they crap neither. I still think maggots are the best winter bait for all species including carp, you just have to fish diferently using them opposed to boilies or particles.... this is where the experience of being brought through the ranks comes in when fishing.... no disrespect to anyone of course.

Why bother superglueing maggots to a cork ball when you can get them to float without glueing them to anything? I would prefer a plastizote ball to a cork ball you can actually have it on the hook then. Instead of popping it up maybe under a float would be better? I honestly can't see myself sticking maggots to a cork ball to be honest /images/forum/icons/smile.gif

Tony

[Paulm]

You can also make maggots float by placing a few of them in a container (maggot box) and pouring a small ammount of water into it so it covers the maggots halfway.
What this does is makes the maggots swell up and haypresto - floating maggots

an awsome surface bait

Paulm /images/forum/icons/wink.gif