What's the greatest carp bait of all time? Some will argue that it’s a specific type of boilie, others may reckon it’s particles, while still more will say that bait isn’t important, and that carp will eat anything that they’re given!
I think most anglers reading this will have started fishing in the same way – a simple float set-up and a tub of worms or maggots. Back when I started, I’d target smaller species such as roach, perch and, maybe if I was lucky, I’d catch the odd bream. Carp, on the other hand, eluded me on these tactics, and so I began to use boilies.
This worked and, as time went on, the awareness of how successful natural baits can be started to fade from my memory. However, in recent years I’ve begun to learn just how effective they can be in giving you an edge over others.
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Which wrigglers?
Natural baits come in a wide range of different sizes and shapes – bloodworm, maggots, casters, worms and snails, to name but a few. For years I remember hearing about all the different methods of using maggots, and the numerous ways to present them on your rig. They really are a carp-catching wonder bait!
On the other hand, worms are a natural bait which I believe have only really emerged on the carping scene over the last four or five years. That said, they have the potential to be even better than maggots. Worms aren’t so simple to use, but they can have an even greater effect on carp feeding if applied correctly.
There’s a multitude of different variables that can determine the success of worms. You’ve got to consider the weather conditions – if it’s windy, and there’s a strong undertow, do you want to include the soil in the mix or not? Do you fish worms blended, chopped or whole?
Finally, you’ve got to make sure that they’re kept in great condition, because as soon as they start going off they can be horrific. I’m not a biologist, but it doesn’t take a genius to smell worms going off to realise that the fish aren’t going to eat them.
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Liquid worm
There is a solution to this problem, however, and it goes by the name of Wormcell. This is a liquid additive that I’ve been using for the last 12 months, and it’s basically blended up worms that have been stabilised to stay in prime condition for a prolonged spell.
As I said earlier, the main problem with worms is they need to be kept fresh – once they begin to ‘turn’ and smell iffy, they’ll hinder your fishing and could have the opposite effect to what’s desired. With Wormcell, you can keep the bottle in the van or bag for months before using it, while still retaining the key attractors found in worms that will draw fish to your spot.
With it being a liquid, it’s much more versatile than a bag of worms. You can use it in your spod mix, soak your boilies in it, add the liquid to a stick mix or even dab it on to floating baits. This is something which is quite unique, as it hasn’t been achievable to present natural attraction in this way before. You can also use the liquid as a hookbait dip to make your offering much more attractive by giving off natural amino acids.
It’s more cost-effective than a bag of worms, with the added benefit that nuisance fish won’t consume the bait as much as they would if it was whole and chopped worms. Don’t get me wrong, chopped worms are fantastic, but if there are a few perch or roach in the area, you’re wasting time and money by spodding it out.
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Not just for coldwater
For many years, I believed that naturals were a bait to use only during the colder months of the year. Sure, they are certainly more common in my bait mix when the weather is cooler in late autumn, winter, or early spring, as the carp find natural easier to consume when the mercury plummets.
However, that doesn’t mean I don’t use them all year round. Think of how many anglers you see spodding naturals out in summer... hardly any! Because of this, if you’re the only one on the lake using naturals, my opinion is that your bait mix will be the most attractive by far!
Give your hookbaits a natural kick
If you can’t afford lots of natural bait, try just buying a small amount and using it to tip your hookbaits. A bunch of maggots on top of a zig or pop-up can add all the extra attraction you need to get a bite.
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