Graham Whatmore
Senior Member
- 10 large dried cloves garlic, skinned and halved
- 1 pint (570 ml) olive oil (preferably extra-virgin) or sunflower oil
- Put the garlic into a warm, sterilized jar.
- Heat the oil to around 180ºC/350ºF and then pour it over the garlic in the bottle/jar and cover tightly.
- Leave to stand in a sunny place for 1 to 2 weeks and then strain through 2 thicknesses of muslin.
- Pour into a sterilized bottle and seal with a sterilized cork or screw-top.
I am a great fan of garlic added to bait and groundbait, it works simple as that, the problem is it isn't always available in tackle shops and they do charge a premium for it. You can grow garlic in your garden it is simple and it is hardy and the oil bought at places like Liddl is very cheap and its only there as a carrier anyway.
Okay its a bit smelly but I am prepared to put up with that if it helps me catch fish and I believe it does, better than most additives summer or winter. Pellets both feed and hookers benefit from a soaking/coating in garlic oil as does luncheon meat, sweetcorn, paste and especially cheese but never attempt to put it on maggots it will make them float.
Garlic powder/granules/salt is good as a dry additive especially for maggots but I haven't got a DIY recipe for that it has to be bought from the supermarket and it is a bit pricey because of the quantity needed. I keep meaning to try putting crushed cloves in things like maggots to see if they take on the flavours overnight but the road is paved with good intentions isn't it. I would imagine cubed up meat in a plastic bag with crushed cloves and placed in the fridge might work as well, more good intentions but I don't use meat very often so I forget.
