Regardless of what you are fishing for, when it comes to the world of bait, the options to choose from are seemingly endless and yet many of us use the same baits as one another. While this can work in our favour, it can also be counter-productive and giving the fish something completely different to what everyone else is using can be a huge edge, particularly on pressured venues!
Shellfish baits are not only packed with fishy attractors that are applied into many of our baits, but they are also available in their purest and most natural form and believe us, fish like tench, carp perch and catfish simply can't get enough of them! In this guide we highlight some of the best you can use and what species you are most likely to catch with them, so what are you waiting for, give them a go now!
Prawns
Prawns are probably the most widely used shellfish bait for coarse fishing there is, and for good reason, specimen fish seem unable to resist them. Raw prawns are best for this, but if you have to use cooked ones they can be just as effective at times too and you can pick up a bag from most supermarkets.
Due to their soft nature they don't cast well so close rage work is best and they can be hair rigged or side hooked depending on your preference. They are simply superb for using under a float in the margins for big perch and carp. Chopping a few up and introducing them into your groundbait when feeder fishing or chucking a few bits into the swim can be deadly as can dying them, with red or yellow always a good bet!
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Mussels
Mussels, as well as good eating for us, make fantasticbaits for species like carp and tench, they love slurping them down. In the past certain venues that saw mussels used in matches would see very angler using them for big weights of carp as they couldn't compete with more typical baits and while they have fallen off in popularity, they are still excellent baits. They make for really good barbel baits too, especially on low, clear rivers in summer.
Mussels are slightly tougher than some other shellfish baits, allowing them to be cast decent distances whether that be with a float, leger or feeder. If you are fishing on a tench water and bites are hard to come by, consider slipping on a mussel or two and you might be surprised with the results. They also make a great addition to a spod mix if you want a little fishy kick.
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Cockles
Cockles are probably the most underused shellfish bait for coarse fishing but they shouldn't be as these tough little morsels will catch just about anything that swims! From bream to eels, cockles are ideal for hair rigging and you can make a decent sized bait out of them, they also dye really well to so get creative and see what works for you! With them all being a similar size, they can be catapulted into the swim to create an area for fish to graze over too. Just try to find unprocessed versions that haven't been pickled as the sour nature tends to put fish off.
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Squid
While you may be more familiar with squid being battered in rings or used for sea fishing, it can actually make a great bait for coarse species. For decades, squid has been included in boilies for carp fishing, with some of the most successful recipes in history including squid in some form or another, so why not try the real thing? It is great chopped up in spod mixes when targeting carp and a whole squid or two on the hook is an outstanding bait for catfish, and thanks to its tough nature it can be left in the lake for long periods.
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Clams
Clams are very soft in nature and while that can make them tricky to present, they are well worth persevering with as not only do fish love them, you can almost guarantee nobody else on the lake is using them, giving you an edge! They are also quite expensive so it is best use them as a stand alone hookbait for picking out the bigger fish.
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