The Baits & Flavours Column

We are now well into the pike season so I thought this month's flavour column could be based around flavouring and colouring pike baits along with a few bonus tips and hints I use myself.

Coloured deadbaits such as sprats can be devastating in use and can make all the difference to a fishless session.

I always pack a few whenever I go piking then if nothing else is happening I will either try them fished on a leger, under a float or use the sink and draw method. I have lost count of how many times coloured sprats have made all the difference to a session when the pike have not seemed interested.

Although red and yellow are the most common colours, a couple of years ago I tried dying some orange using a powdered boilie dye, instead of being a vivid orange they actually came out a rich golden colour and I had untold success on them, after the success with the sprats I took this a stage further and dyed some roach deadbaits and these were taken with the same enthusiasm by the pike.

As I often pike fish with a partner, especially on the rivers, and we normally fish 'leapfrog' style (each fishing alternate swims) I have often come back through my friends swims that had not produced on the first run through to have the golden deadbaits taken within minutes, so don't be afraid to experiment, there is no wastage with pike baits, any that go wrong can be minced up and used as a groundbait.

Everything you need to dye your baits

There are various ways to dye baits and I'm sure many of you have your own way but I prefer to mix a powdered boilie colour to some cold water in a shallow bowl until the desired colour is reached. I have found that about double the stated amount is normally about right. I then select my fresh baits and lay them in the solution and place them in the fridge for up to 24 hours.

If I am not going to flavour the baits I then wrap each fish individually in clingfilm and place in a freezer bag ready for use.

It is common belief that red coloured baits are ideal for deep or murky swims whilst the yellow is suited to shallower water where the light colour actually reflects light down through the upper layers of water drawing the pike. I can only assume that the orange colour works the same as the yellow if not more effectively in my own case.

I am a great believer in flavouring my deadbaits and if I decided to do this to my newly coloured fish I would normally inject some oil into the flesh before wrapping and freezing. The freezing actually pulls the oil deeper into the fish and this process is repeated as the baits defrost.

The finished product. Notice the deep rich colours What pike could resist that?

Once the bait is cast out and continues to defrost it will literally ooze a carpet of flavour out across the lake or riverbed giving a very effective trail for the pike to home in on. If you want to add even more attraction to your baits you can actually colour the oil before you inject it into the fish, red is especially effective.

A word of advice on oils. Pure oils contain no preservatives so they do not have an unlimited shelf life. I would not advise anyone to use oils that they have left over from the previous year whether for piking or bait making. And also check it carefully if it has done quite a few trips in a pocket of your rucksack too.

Winterised oils contain a kind of emulsifier to stop the oil freezing in very low temperatures, so this is not the one to use if you are going to inject and freeze your baits. These also have a relatively short shelf life and will deteriorate and become rancid over a period of time even if kept in a fridge! So if in doubt throw it out.

Bombs Away!
Another addition to my pike armoury is what I call my bait bombs, this is purely a way of getting minced fish into the swim without spreading it in too wide an area. A lot of pike anglers use chopped fish as a type of groundbait and it is a brilliant way of attracting pike but in a lot of cases, especially when used in fairly shallow water or the margins it is also a perfect attractor for umpteen species of diving birds too. The bombs will go straight to the bottom without leaving the tell tale bits and pieces for the birds to home in on after the splash.

I also find that due to the fact that the bait bomb consists purely of finely minced fish and scales, as it thaws it sends a thick, milky scent trail out that really gets around in the water as well as sending some enticing glittery scales up to catch your quarry's eyes. The effect can be enhanced even more by the addition of an attractor oil such as sardine or mackerel oil. You can add to this again by tipping some of your colour solution you have used to dye your baits to the minced fish so it will leak off colour as well.

This defrosting action holds another bonus to the pike angler, all the little particles suspended in the water attracts little fish! Need I say any more?

Making Up Pike Bombs
First you need a mincer that the wife doesn't need anymore. Even if she does, convince her otherwise as they are very handy to us anglers. If all methods of persuasion fails you can always pick one up at a boot sale for a few bob.

You need some individual pots to freeze the fish mix in. I find yoghurt or mousse pots the best, and my youngsters thought I had them on a health kick by providing a yoghurt each day for their packed lunches, and they were surprised when it suddenly stopped, well you only need a certain amount don't you?

You also need a large stone to place in the pot to make it sink. How many of you have heard about anglers freezing big balls of hemp to save effort only to see them float off!

You need selected fish for mincing, the oils (a note here, don't use winterised oils as they will do their utmost to stop the mix freezing) and colours if you require them, and there you have it the complete bomb making kit.

Simply mince up the fish, it doesn't have to be very fine, so just as you like it, and then I tend to put it all in a bowl and add some oil to the mix and colour if required. Fill your pots approx ¼ full and place the stone in and then pack the mix round it to the brim of the pot. Stand in the freezer and use when required, simple as that!

If you decide to use this method they are literally like a time bomb, you will see at various times oil slicks rising telling you that the bomb is still working.

I often throw a few bombs into the margins just before dawn or if I'm on a pit in the boat and send them out ready to catch the pike's attention as they search out breakfast (see photo).

This kind of baiting is not just restricted to pike fishing either, as I am also a keen eel angler I also use this method to draw them from snaggy areas or onto my rods, all I need to do is change the ingredients to suit my quarry.

As there is a great scent trail and very little substance to chew on it can really get the fish rooting for food.

Groundbaiting - create your own larder! Rather than just relying on your bait to do all the work why not create the perfect situation for the pike by offering them some fresh food to order!

If I don't or can't for whatever reason use the bait bomb idea I always make up a sweetish mix with some red crumb and add some minced fish and scales. This serves two obvious purposes, first it attracts lots of small fish into the swim feeding on the small particles whilst the minced fish and glittery scales along with the feeding of the small fish will pull hunting pike in to see what's going on.

Well I think that about covers this month's article, all that's left is to wish you all good piking and let Graham know how you get on no matter how you catch those pike!