How to tweak your baits to give them an edge this spring

Question

Do you tweak your bait now the weather is warming up, and if so any edges?

Nick Burrage

“In the coming month or so, I start mixing in a few summer baits to give them a taste of what’s ahead. Thanks to rolling my own baits, I’m able to take a winter base mix and split it with the matching summer mix, gently increasing the fishmeal content as the water warms.”

Calum Kletta

“My hookbaits will be tweaked to have as much attraction as possible, using the matching flavour boosters that CC Moore supply. These will ensure that the hookbait is pumping out attractors for the duration that it is in the water, drawing the attention of the carp as they start looking for food. For my foodbaits, I will start adding more liquid flavourings and oils. These will be more effective as the water warms and they become more soluble and therefore detectable for the fish. A mix of Feedstim XP and Chilli Hemp Oil have always done me well in a boilie in a hemp spod mix.”

Lewis Read

“Every winter I still end up doing the same bloody thing: poncing around with smelly bright singles with no confidence and (more importantly, no bites). Hell no – not anymore! I’ve finally learnt my lesson and just stick with the Carp Company Nut Mix boilies I have been using all year and all I realistically do is reduce the level I feed during cold-water conditions. This isn’t the days of high oil, crude fishmeals you know! Most baits will work in the cold, it’s just down to us as anglers to adjust how we apply it to best effect. When it comes to boilies, a few chops (to increase leakage) and smaller baits would be the most extravagant thing I think is meaningful now. At least you can be assured they have seen your normal year round bait regularly and this can only be a good thing. That or going onto maggots if the venue is largely weed free.”

Rick Golder

“Spring is the best time to boost baits, and whilst B5 is an instant one, the addition of salt is without doubt my favourite springtime edge. Carp crave salt more now than any other time, and with warmer water temperatures any enhancements are dispersed far better. I like glugging my frozen baits in GLM Liquid with Squid and a good amount of rock salt thrown in and then allowing them to thaw with that coating them. This draws the flavours in and slicks off long-term attraction, as well as preserving them, and enhancing their attraction. I also add a small spodful of salt onto the baited spot every 5hrs over my free offerings.”