6 top tips to get the most out of your throwing stick

Wet all your bait

It’s a common known fact that if your boilies start splitting as they come out of your throwing stick, it’s advisable to simply dunk the end of the stick into the margins to wet the inside of the tube. This then creates less friction which stops the baits from splitting as they roll up the stick and out the end. However, there’s a better way which saves time and any split bait. Instead of just wetting the tube, take your boilies which you intend to put out and place them in a tub of water.

Harden your baits

If you’re having problems with your boilies splitting as they exit the throwing stick and you’ve tried both methods of (a) wetting the inside of the throwing stick and (b) wetting all your boilies, then you might need to harden your boilies. The best way of doing this is to soak them in L030. This fish protein liquid (CC Moore sell it) will not only harden your boilies but will also increase their attraction tenfold.

Spread them around

Unlike fishing a tight spodded area of particles and pellets, with boilies you want to spread them over a large area to encourage the fish to move around. However, where the ‘accuracy’ bit comes in, is with the baiting pattern you’re trying to achieve. Ideally, you’re looking to bait in nice large arc pattern and then position two hookbaits at either end, at the front of the pattern.

More than one

This one’s not only for speed but to create a more scattered baiting pattern. Instead of putting one boilie into the tube, try putting in five or six, as this will (a) mean you get your bait out quicker and (b) you’ll have a lovely random baiting pattern on the lakebed.

Don't mix them

The same could be said for when you’re using a catapult. Don’t, under any circumstances, mix your boilies up as they’ll all fly out at different distances, the same as mixing hemp, pellets and boilies and catapulting them out: the hemp lands 5yds out, the pellets 10yds and the boilies 20yds. So whenever you want to use different sized baits, make sure you put them out individually.

Keep the gulls away

Having a problem with the dreaded gulls (air rats) grabbing every boilie as it hits the surface? The answer is to cast a ‘black’ coned (N.B. not any other colour) spod to your spot and then bait around it with the throwing stick. The gulls will then not swoop on the baits as they are afraid of the bobbing spod.