Making Your Own Groundbait For The Method
Although there are a lot of ready made Method groundbaits on theshelves of tackle shops many people still want to make their own to’give them that edge’ over shop-bought mixes.
Below is a few of the main questions and answers that are askedwhen starting out and you want to make your own mixes.
What is The Method Mix and what is it used for?
The Method Mix is a type of groundbait used with a Method feederthat is designed to hold the groundbait together. It is mainly usedon stillwaters for carp fishing but can be used for most coarsefish.
How do you mix the groundbait?
You mix the groundbait just the same as you would any groundbait,it’s the consistency that is different from other groundbaits.
What consistency does it need to be?
There are 3 main ways to go about this:
- Mix the groundbait a bit on the wet side ( but NOT too wet ) so that it will form a hard ball around the feeder and the fish will have to knock it to break it down.
- Mix the groundbait a little on the dry side so that it will, when squeezed, hold together, but when cast will start to break up when it hits the bottom.
- Mix on the dry side then take about 2/3 of the groundbait out and add more water to the remaining 1/3. Now cover the feeder with the wetter mix, then add some of the dryer mix over the wet.
What happens here is that when cast out the dry mix will start tobreak up, sending a scent trail leading the fish to your bait. Thewet mix will stay on the feeder and keep the fish in the area untilyour hook bait is found.
What can I use to make my own mix?
The list of what you can use is endless, here are some of theingredients that can be used in the Method mix:
Bread crumb (you can now get coloured crumb, ie red)
Crushed trout pellets
Whole trout/carp pellets
Baby milk powder
Custard powder
Sweetcorn (crushed and whole)
Flake maize
Chopped boilies
Dead maggots
Corn flour
Hemp (crushed and whole)
Vitalin (Dog food)
Fishmeal
Can I use live maggots or chopped worms in the mix?
Yes you can, BUT, the maggots especially will break the groundbaitup fast, chopped worm would be okay though.
Can I use flavours in the mix like they use in makingboilies?
Yes you can, and what flavour or attracter you use will depend onthe time of year and what you are fishing for. One of the mostpopular is Liquid Molasess which is added to the water beforemixing.
How many freebies do I put in the mix?
You don’t want too many freebies, the idea like in most tactics isto get the fish to take your hookbait, so just add enough to keepthem interested and looking for your hookbait.
What would be a good mix to start with that I could later adaptto suit my fishing?
- 4lb Red bread crumb
- 2lb Crushed trout pellets
- 2 tins of sweetcorn, liquidized
- 1 cup of Flake maize
- 1 cup of Baby milk
- 1 Bag of crushed hemp.
After mixing you can add your freebies.
