Create The Ultimate Bait Dip
And it's pretty damn easy too. Here's how it's done...
Most off-the-shelf boilie dips are classically made from glycerine products and the matching flavour(s) used in the boiled bait to match. There are very few exceptions to this and whilst glycerine is chosen for the fact it's miscible in water, carries most solvent-based flavours well (not very good with heavy oils) and is sweetish, doesn't mean that there aren't other alternatives...
Specials
Straight-out-of-the-bottle winter specials have to be DT Bait's Fruit LMPSE and Solar Tackle's Candy Sweetener. Simply leave your hookbaits in these solutions.
Classics
For an all-time classic foodbait dip, opt for Sense Appeal, Liquid Liver or Minamino, or better still, a combination of all three. These additives can be used with any type of flavour and doesn't make one jolt of a difference if the hookbait is fruit or savoury.
Spicy
If you want something hot and spicy (and remember, spice baits work extremely well in cold weather conditions and are a good alternative to fruit flavours) then try CC Moore's Liquid Chilli Extract. It's very hot so don't get it in your eyes!
Natural
Another underrated winter bait soak is tiger nut extract. A nice gloopy liquid that clouds and disperses into the water column, which is very sweet and attractive – and of course totally natural!
What you'll need to make your own
50mls Liquid Betaine (CC Moore, Nashbait)
50mls Liquid Feedstim XP (CC Moore)
10mls Liquid Kelp (CC Moore, Richworth)
15mls Liquid Yeast (CC Moore, Richworth)-5mls Liquid Squid Extract. This is optional but does work well with all flavours (Nashbait)
How to make your own natural bait dip
Pour the measured out liquids into one water bottle and then thoroughly mix and keep refrigerated. If you don't want a dark dip then take out the Kelp Extract, but this is such an underrated liquid product it's not recommended. Incidentally, it's also worth soaking your plastic hookbait in this mixture.
This article was taken from Issue 83 (February 2011) of CARPology magazine. Be the first to read CARPology's articles in print before they're posted on-line, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing on-line.