pellets

[Richard Sylvester 3]

does anybody know how to avoid pellets from splitting in two when drilling them,i have been using dynamite baits 14mm marine halibut ones.are there other makes that dont split as easy?

 

[EC]

I have used the 11mm betains and 18mm halibuts from ccmoores and they both sometimes split Richard.

I think sometimes the way that I drill makes a difference, if I rush the procedure I think the hole can be a little wider and they split.

That said, other factors I think also make a difference such as how old the pellets are and if they have been frozen, glugged etc but, I havent quite sussed out what exactly makes a difference, as yet.

I tend to drill a load at once and put these in a separate container so as I always have drilled hookbaits to hand.

 

[Dave Burr]

The pellets tend to split if they are dry either through being old or of poor quality, good, fresh, oily pellets will drill easlily and attract more fish.

 

[Phil Heaton]

Try drilling them with a rechargable electric screwdiver and a small pilot drill bit. Because the drill is doing the work it easier to hold everything steady and not flex the drill bit, reducing breakages.

 

[Paul H]

Also remove the bait drill every few turns and unclog the grooves, this does help. Other than that slowly and carefully wins or use bait bands.

 

[Bryan Baron 2]

Also drilling fom the sides as opposed to the ends also helps stop splitting. As Phil says i use a dremmel the speed also helps. Do a tub while watching telly. In a hour you will have enough for the whole season.

 

[Sean Meeghan]

I don't bother drilling them I just use a pellet band. You can attach one to your hair (not the stuff on the top of your head!) or just band the pellet on to the hook.

 

[EC]

You can also get pellets pre drilled now as well Richard.

 

[Paul H]

Here's a thing Sean, I use pellet bands, or rather I've tried them. The pellet stays on ok but how can you prevent it from moving round the shank and possibly obscuring the point?

 

[Sean Meeghan]

It doesn't in my experience Paul. I use a 3mm band on an 8mm pellet and it generally stays on the shank of the hook. It does tend to slide down on to the bend as the pellet softens or if you cast it a fair distance (most of my Barbel fishing is done at short range). I've used Pellet a fair bit over the last 5 years and I can't remember an occasion where I missed a take on one.

 

[Dave Burr]

Of course you can always split the pellet and glue it to the hair.

 

[Paul H]

Hmm, fair enough, I've not had it happen but from the movement possible I wondered if it may be an occasional problem.

Cheers.

 

[Lewis Duffy]

i use halibut pellets and just a normal drill, they usually dont split when theye are frshly opened or sealed well. But i find they split when you havent used them for a couple of days so seal your bag after use.

 

[tom riordan]

I use a flexible drive hobby drill which I got for a tenner from lidls. A lot of pellets do break wether fresh or stale, so dont be to worried about it and as said previousley you can glue the broken ones to your hair rig. I have been using pre drilled pellets for hook baits from cotswold baits and have had some nice fish on the monster crab.

 

[john conway]

I now use the latex type of bait bands, which come in different sizes, can?t remember the brand name but they come in see through plastic tubes? For barbel hair rig the band and for chub I whip a band onto my hook and use a second band to stop it twisting. Alan Strickland put me onto this type of band last year.
I use to drill my pellets as and when I needed them, as previously mentions, slow and easy, lifting the drill clear occasionally to clear the drill flutes. With the old bait bands I use to groove the pellet with a knife.

 

[java]

Richard try the halips hallibut pellets from www.barbel.co.uk thay don't split as much as the dynomite ones.The Dynomite ones seem diferent in some way over the last year or so. you will still split the odd one ot two Halips but I think thay are a much better bait. I ordered 10kg of mixed Halips pellets on Thursday at 12.40pm and received them 12.30pm Friday. Thay also have an ovel shape witch I think makes them sit better on the hair. Have a look and let me know what you think. My catch rate went up quite a lot when I made the switch.

 

[chris 2]

I use a sharp 2.5mm drill bit.Start drilling at one end very slowly and like Pikey says clean the grooves on the drill bit often.When the bit just starts popping out the other end remove and drill and start drilling from the other end.

 

[Robert Woods 1]

John,
I use hair bands from Ladies hair shops. Find them stronger than latex and cheaper. But I do get funny looks as only male in there...!!!

 

[Richard Sylvester 3]

just been on that web sight java and il give them a try,they look alright and i like the the website also;www.barbel.co.uk
many thanks java

 

[java]

Richard if you get the mixed Hallips and ask the people at BFW thay will keep the 21mm pellets seperate for use as hook bait and I use the rest in pva mesh I use 2 x 21mm pellets on a hair to a size 9 Drennan super specialist barbel hook.
Java