Probably the cheapest and most widely available bait there is, it’s right now that the humble loaf hits centre stage on rivers, canals and commercials.
There are loads of products out there to help you get the very best out of this uniquely versatile bait, and these are our particular favourites.
Hooks
Korum Quick Stop Hair Rigs 15ins
What’s in the packet: Strong Supersteel all-rounder hooks tied to strong and durable line, with a good length hair with a quickstop on the end. Available barbed too.
Why we love them: Perfect for hair rigging multiple discs of bread for big carp on bomb tactics. Simply use a Quickstop Needle to push the plastic spike through the bread.
Price: £2.99 for eight, www.korum.co.uk
Preston N20
What’s in the packet: A wide gape black nickel hook with a spade end and a barb. Also available in a pre-tied version.
Why we love them: This pattern is a medium strength hook with a good wide gape, making it perfect for a big fluffed-up punched bread bait for use on natural waters.
Price: £1.99, www.prestoninnovations.com
Feeders
Drennan Gripmesh Feeders
What are they: A standard plastic cage feeder with small internal spikes to grip softer baits. Available in four sizes from Mini to Large and weights of 15g to 30g.
Why we love them: Be it liquidised or mashed, these are great for holding your soft or sloppy bread feed in during the cast.
Price: £1.99, www.drennantackle.com
Drennan Groundbait Feeders
What are they: A solid design feeder, perfect for deep and faster flowing waters. Available in five sizes, Small to X-Large, each with a standard or heavyweight version.
Why we love them: The river angler’s favourite, these hold the bait in well in deep water.
Price: £1.85, www.drennantackle.com
Bread Punches
Matrix Bread Punches
What are they: A set of five high quality brass punches with sharp cutting edges for producing 4mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm hookbaits.
Why we love them: A simple set of tough, quality punches. Easy to use and produce a perfect punch every time.
Price: £5.99 per set, www.fishmatrix.co.uk
Drennan Flake Punch
What are they: A tapered punch set with six heads and two handles. The bread is heavily compressed at the slotted end for hooking, while lightly pressed and cut at the other for perfect flake.
Why we love them: These cheap punches make fishing flake quicker and easier, especially with cold hands! As well as chub, these have been the downfall of many winter carp and bream too!
Price: £3.99 per set, www.drennantackle.com
Punch boxes
Guru Punch Box
What is it: A tinted lidded box with a sliding cover to protect bread and other baits from drying out in the sun or getting wet in the rain. It doubles up as a place to store the Guru Punches which come with the box, supplied in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm, also including an integral plunger to push the bait out.
Why we love it: Bait and punches all in one place, ensuring that not only your baits, but your punches, needle and stops, are all kept together.
Price: £21.99, www.tackleguru.com
Baits
Sensas Punch Crumb
What’s in the bag: The finest quality pure white bread from French company Sensas.
Why we love it: The French know a thing or two about fine bread, and this is as good as it gets. A little stickier and heavier than standard liquidised, it makes a great additional or alternative feed in deep or flowing water for roach.
Price: £3.69, www.sensas.com
Hinders Polly’s Punch Crumb
What’s in the bag: A ground white bread feed with a hint of aniseed, as prescribed by roach fishing legend Mark Pollard.
Why we love it: An easy to mix feed with a definite spicy kick that really makes your bread stand out!
Price: £3.50, www.hinders.co.uk
Sonu Toasty Brown
What’s in the bag: A chunky bread mix ideal for skimmers on lakes or bigger fish on rivers. Great when used on its own or for adding food content to other groundbaits.
Why we love it: Instant mashed bread – just add water. It’s the perfect accompaniment to a big chunk of breadflake.
Price: £2.99, www.sonubaits.com
Star Baits Add It Bait Dye
What’s in the tub: A powdered fluorescent bait dye supplied in yellow, pink, white, orange and purple.
Why we love it: Nothing ruins a bread session quicker than a muddy, murky mess of a river! These coloured dyes add a great level of visibility to your feed. If you don’t fancy the colour, you can brighten up bread while keeping its natural colour with the white dye.
Price: £6.99 - £7.99, www.sensas.com
Fjuka Baits
What it is: A tough yet soft hookable bait infused with unique attractors.
Why we love it: Smaller fish can sometimes be a real problem when fishing bread. The white versions of these long-life baits are durable and stay on the hook exceptionally well, making them an ideal change bait during your bread session.
Price: From £1.99, www.fjukastore.com
