Special Hookbaits For A Special Time

Initially ‘tipped off’ as a mate’s favour by Adam Penning, who was absolutely raving about their Sting pop-ups. However, as soon as we smelt a tub, we decided we just had to tell you guys! Produced by Handcraft Baits, which is owned and run by Buckinghamshire-based angler, Gavin Neal. Gav has been an angler for nearly 40 years and during that time has built up a keen interest in bait-making. He believes in the theory of using the least bait, but the best bait possible—and you’ll certainly see that’s the case when you take the lid off a tub of his finest pop-ups. We managed to grab five minutes of his time to get to know Gav and his products a little bit better… 

What colour/flavour combo have you found to work best in the autumn months?
“By the time autumn has arrived, some venues have been hammered on bright pop-ups so I often revert to matching or dull-coloured hookbaits. On other venues, I still push my favourites, which are the yellow Sting or Super Squid in pale pink!”

Does that differ during the winter months? If so, which colour/flavour combinations do you recommend?
“In winter my default hookbait is Sting! It’s a dull yellow colour that gets paler in water and looks white when viewed from a boat. It’s a blend of alcoholic flavours and strong essential oils which has landed me some huge carp in temperatures down to 4ºc!”

Have you found certain flavours work with certain colours? Adam (Penning) mentioned he loves your Sting pop-ups in a muted brown rather than the yellow. 
“I think there are only a handful of flavours that actually make a real difference and it’s down to their make-up, base liquids and pH. Lots of flavours are just designed to catch humans! Tutti in orange is an old classic and that is high on my winter bright hookbait list! But it has to be the right Tutti and backed up with a great sweetener and some lovely fruit palatants!”

And what about size? Do you prefer a nice 12mm pop-up or have you ever tried something completely different to the norm, such as 20miller?!
“I am a fan of the 12mm pop-ups. I seem to catch way more carp on small, bright pop-ups. The really big 15/16mm baits clearly work but I always think it’s too big and blatant! On some venues they are worked out by the carp far too easily, but on other venues they still take them! A 20mm pop will definitely work but I would want it to be a food-based pop-up rather than neon pink and heavily flavoured!”

How can someone ‘spice up’ a hookbait?
“You can spice up a hookbait in many ways but a pop-up must be buoyant and porous if you are to get any attractors into its core and it still hold up your big size 4! Concentrated shots of pure flavours are one way. Citric acid, Betaine solutions, or something like minamino, calanus, salmon oil and liver extracts are others! The world is your oyster!”

If you had to pick one flavour, colour and size of pop-up from all the ones you roll for this autumn, which would you choose?
“This is a tricky question as no two venues are the same. Judging by everyone else’s results, I’d have to say that the Super Squids seem to keep working for many. On their own or as a snowman, they catch all across Europe every single week. They are a clever little hookbait! Keep an eye out for the Deep C range though, as that one has certain ingredients inside that I don’t think have been combined effectively by anyone before now and it’s catching us all a crazy amount of carp!”