Some anglers claim that a perfectly refined groundbait is a guarantee of success. Preparation of fishing bait Of course, a properly built and presented groundbait is a key issue, but fishing is a sport where a number of different factors affect the final result to a similar extent. So you can’t say that the groundbait is the most important link… but it is definitely one of the most important!
A good groundbait is designed to create the right climate under water to stimulate the fish to feed. It must give them a sense of self-confidence, increase their appetite, but it must not be too filling. It has to work properly, dissolving evenly over a period of time, releasing individual ingredients. Remember that the ingredients of the groundbait determine its work!
Preparation of fishing bait
If you have problems with choosing an effective groundbait, ask yourself these questions:
1. What size of fish are most often caught?
This relates to the nutritional value of the groundbait and the texture of the ingredients. How rich or how lean is enough to keep the fish? For example, if there are only small roaches and whitetails in the fishery, and in small quantities, then prepare a groundbait with heavily mixed ingredients and low nutritional value. By small amounts of fish, I mean results not exceeding 3 kilograms per competitor. However, if there are more of these small fish (the results may exceed, for example, 5 kg), then you can afford a slightly richer, more nutritious bait, but still with a fine texture. Generally, the bigger the fish and the more of them, the bigger, richer ingredients and more of the groundbait.
2. What is the current speed and water depth?
This is another important issue that we must take into account when composing the groundbait. When you throw bait balls into the water, you have to be sure that it will fall where you want it to fall. This means that the ball must have the right weight, cohesiveness and size. Weight can be added to the groundbait by adding soil, clay or gravel. Each of these ingredients also gives different characteristics. For example, in the case of clay, the cohesiveness increases, but after adding the wrong (too much) amount of gravel, this cohesiveness decreases! You can even be sure that the balls will disintegrate quickly. I also warn against adding excessive amounts of adhesive ingredients, because the competition lasts only 3 hours, and if instead of a well-working bait, “concrete balls” are made, which will dissolve in 3 days, the effect will be the same as if we did not bait at all …
In summary, the faster the current and the greater the depth, the more sticky and heavier the bait must be.
3. What action do I want to give the groundbait?
This refers to the work of the groundbait in the fishery. As difficult as this element of bait making is to understand, it is important. The action of the groundbait determines how the fish come and then feed. The action can be distinguished in two directions – vertical and horizontal.
The horizontal action refers to the way the balls break up on the bottom. Here we also have to assume what behavior of the groundbait in water will be the most appropriate. Is the ball supposed to reach the bottom in its entirety, and when hitting it break up forming a pile?
Or is it supposed to reach the bottom in its entirety and gradually dissolve? How long is it supposed to last? The vertical action refers to the behavior of the groundbait through the horizontal layers of water. A falling ball creating a cloud through layers of water is an example of vertical work. Again, ask yourself: how does the groundbait work? Do I want the groundbait to fall apart a bit, or do I want to cause a cloud from the water to the bottom…etc.
Vertical work doesn’t necessarily have to end in an up-down direction! You can try to choose the ingredients so that they float from the bottom to the top! Active molecules such as roasted hemp or slightly drier (less drenched) ingredients are great for this.
Remember the basic way to test groundbait work: drop a small ball into the water shallow enough so that you can see the effects of your work with the groundbait. If the water near the shore is too deep (or too dirty :P), then check it in the bucket.
4.What color?
Most groundbaits turn brown after soaking. You can easily change the color by adding a certain amount of coloring substances to the groundbait in powder (for wet groundbait) or liquid (in water, which we soak the groundbait). The reason why the color of the groundbait changes is obvious…
1. Matching the groundbait to the bottom of the tank – usually dark brown or black.
2. Making groundbait “more visible” to fish – red, orange, yellow and sometimes even white.
Generally, the colder and more transparent the water, the darker and more “bottom-like” the colors. In the case of dirtier -less transparent- water, the color is not so important, however, I still suggest matching the groundbait to the color of the bottom. With more “exotic” colors (point 2) one has to be careful, and secondly, they can be successfully used after checking (in training) their effectiveness. It may be that the yellow color will select only large bream, scaring smaller fish – then we will get, for example, two bites for three hours – or it may be that small fish interested in the yellow spot on the bottom will quickly come and start to take … Possibilities of reaction of these , sometimes unpredictable, creatures are really a lot!
5. Extras?
Remember to never throw in the “naked” fodder alone! The key thing is to add the right amount of “meat” depending on the intensity of feeding – pinka, white worms, bloodworm, red worms are additives that in most cases must be included in the groundbait! However, there are waters where throwing a joker is the first step to failure. Such waters abound in small (undersized) perch or even smaller roach, which simply like little willingness, and will effectively lead us to defeat. Then you need to add vegetable baits, such as pearl barley or corn, to the groundbait.
Knowing the preferences of fish in a particular fishery is a key element of success! So first of all training and more training!
Finally, one more piece of advice. Try to keep your mixture logically arranged into a single whole. The best players use groundbaits widely available, adding only a few ingredients to get the right work for the given conditions. Therefore, do not mix three other groundbaits with ten other additives and two attractors! Think logically!
