Page 26 - RIFFLE4-flip

P a g e | 25 Digestibility dramatically improve the digestibility of the mix and can even elevate the protein level which will Regardless of the type of bait you are using, this be no bad thing. Digestibility is always is probably the most important factor in a bait important, but especially if you are fishing short whether using it in Summer or Winter. In my sessions and much more so in winter. Once view, it is another reason why the proprietary temperatures get very low I use only paste for baits often fail to deliver the goods for many, freebies. Hard bait (I mean shop bought boilie even the better ones, and it is simply because of type) is always bad in my opinion. In very cold their hard texture. Anglers frequently put in far water it can be, and many is the time I am sure too much of this type of hard, proprietary bait, is, the kiss of death. usually boilies, not realising that even in summer temperatures they will take far longer Conclusion to digest than they have time on the bank to So what makes a good barbel bait? Well there is fish. no magic bait in my view, some are better than Possibly, where (rarely these days) there are others for certain applications, but to re-cap I large numbers of fish present to eat the excess will list in a few lines what I consider to be the put in you will get away with it and have a essentials. barbel or two. Where there are more probably Fat - Baits containing a reasonable level only a few barbel present, even thirty or forty baits can see one, two, possibly even three will have an instant appeal because of its barbel full before they find the hookbait. Yes, vital energy giving properties. possibly a barbel may find the hookbait before it Protein - Has a long-term appeal, simply is full but it will be a lottery and I am sure will dramatically increase your blanks and very often because of its value to the barbel as a be the sole reason for them. primary life-sustaining ingredient of food. If you do use these proprietary baits then use Baits that contain either, or both, in levels them very sparingly, I would suggest using no higher than can be found in their natural more than three in a session, and rely on some food may often be eaten in preference to kind of mushy loose feed as an attractant. its natural options and improve the baits’ Though these baits are primarily designed for the carp angler, they can and do catch barbel, long term appeal, certainly more so than though as barbel have a much smaller digestive other bait containing cheap bulks. capacity than carp I would recommend extreme Labels - Are essential for the recognition of your caution with the amount you introduce into a bait, and will ensure the individuality of your swim unless you plan staying on for many bait, but when changed slightly over a period hours…and just how many are you willing to will help avoid your bait becoming a danger spend on the bank? signal when applying long term. Obviously, Without even considering the ingredients of a these flavours should be palatable to the barbel mix, just keeping the bait soft will dramatically as they are a recognition aid only, not the long- improve its digestibility and so load the odds of term attractant in my opinion. that take in your favour. Further inclusion of Digestibility - Probably the most important digestible ingredients to the bait such as wheat factor in all good bait at any time, but especially germ, pre-digested fishmeal, hydrolysed fish protein, soluble milks and so on, will