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Advantages:
The plain stuff is very cheap . As a whole, this is a brilliant bait ! ! ! ! !
Disadvantages:
Fattens fish so they look funny sometimes, can get overfed which fishery owners don't like . In fact they are banned on a fair few venues these days .
Pellet huh?? The best bait in the world (only on Mondays), but banned on many fisheries. Why’s that then?? To be honest I don’t really know. I’ve seen it done in a few places but have only really heard the gossipy reasons (from the owners, sisters, brothers, friends, nephew who got it off his dog etc. etc.). One was that it just caught too many fish. Anglers were catching too much, and to compete with each other they were introducing vast amounts of the stuff to keep the fish to themselves. I won’t go on though, it’s the bait I’m here for.
I suppose they’re more commonly known as ‘Trout Pellets’ (that’s what many of them are, but there are some specially manufactured ones around now that are supposed to be more friendly to fisheries and fish). Named, I think after their use as a feed for the fish at the large commercial ‘eating fish’ places, to fatten the fish up and grow quickly so that they could be sold and EATEN (ah ha ha ha evil laugh!!!). They are actually used in this way for every type of fish that is too later be sold on to a fishery or wherever (even some ones pond). Packs on the pounds, therefore, making the companies doing it lots of money.
I think this is where the fishes love for the stuff starts. It is noticeable when fishing a lake where the fish in it have been fed on the pellet
before they arrived there. Pellet has quite a distinct sound when it hits the water, and the fish really can pick up on it, and remember it as being food. So that’s one advantage to using it (in some places).
Once in the water, it lets of a noticeable little oil slick. Not much, but the pellet is full of oils which are supposed to be good for the fish. They spread quickly through the water and attract the fish quickly.
Most of you are probably still thinking about what I’m on about. I’ll start again, but in the middle. A pellet, is just that. A small pellet of protein packed oily ‘stuff’. They’re normally dark brown in colour and can be bought in many different sizes. Hey range from those of about 1mm across, up to about 12mm I think. The 1mm ones are best used for adding to groundbait, or as a feed for small fish, while the bigger ones are best for Carp etc.
The good thing about pellet is that is probably one of the few baits that is actually best as a feed rather than a hook bait. When feeding it you can use any bait you want with it. It really never seems to matter. I’m not saying that it doesn’t make a good hook bait though. Some people I know have really perfected ways of attaching them to the hook (difficult considering they’re solid as ‘tough stuff’!!! Although you can now buy SOFT PELLET which is expensive, but works VERY VERY well!!!! You can hook it straight on). Well, you don’t actually attach them to the hook (apart from the expensive soft ones). It is quite common to see in fishing shops these days, little plastic rings. With the right size pellet placed inside, they provide a perfect hold on it, while the hook is passed through a little hole on the outside of the ring. You can also make these yourself actually with a thin bit of silicone tubing.
The size of pellet you use on the hook, I would say its generally best if it’s a little bigger than the pellet you’re feeding with it. It’ll then stand out a bit and hopefully attract more fish. Actually, just about the only fish you’ll really be after with it on the hook, is the Carp. For these, I’d recommend the 8mm size for the hook, with maybe 5mm as feed. That’d be for anything under about 10lb anyway. For anything over, the 12mm size are good for the hook (you could even use 2 (try hair-rigging them)), with 8 or 12mm as feed.
It depends on what you’re fishing for on how you feed this stuff.
I use it mostly for Carp, Bream and I’ve also found that big Roach love the small pellet too. Its really best used as a summer bait, unless you’re fishing a well established fishery that continues to produce a number of fish all year round.
I’ve already mentioned quite a lot about the ways of feeding them in previous ops (you know how I like to stray off topic), so I won’t repeat myself too much again.
Basically though, if you’re fishing the pole, introduce a couple of big catapult of polepot (I don’t recommend the polepot for feeding pellet when you’re after Bream. They seem to get too concentrated and you’ll foul-hook loads) fulls at the start, and then maybe another 20 every 2 or 3 minutes.
If you’re after bigger Carp on float tackle (remember the waggler Moose??), I’d do pretty much the same. If ledgering for the bigger carp though, I’d recommend using a PVA bag and holding a fair amount of pellet in that, to keep the feed tight around the bait.
It can be added to any groundbait, especially the smaller sizes, anything up to 8mm. Even if you’re fishing for Roach (as long as there aren’t too many Carp around), the pellet is a great attracter.
Before I sign-off. Companies like Sensas have been producing flavoured pellet for the last few years. DEFINITELY TRY THESE, even if you don’t want them, get them just to smell them. Strawberry…..yummy!!! The Prawn And Shrimp is the best though (by miles). They all work brilliantly and definitely give you an advantage over the ordinary ones. You can normally buy them in packs of about 800g I think which cost about £2 from what I can remember. The normal ones are much cheaper and normally still do a good job though.
I should have turned this in to a story about a guy called Mr Pellethead shouldn't I?!?! Oh well nevermind. Bye bye
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
(+) Cheap to do when done correctly, good results. (-) FEAR FACTOR - You will look silly if you do it without results. Difficult to carry a large amount.
For some reason, I get the feeling that you don't mind fishing Ben?? :) I'm not a fisherman myself but I used to go with one of my mates a lot and recognise all the stuff you are talking about. I think it's all really interesting stuff, and you explain it well, as always! Thanks mate, Mike.
Advantages: cheaper and more effective than commercial groundbaits. Disadvantages: The only disadvantage I find, is that you have to make it your self.
casterman 10.03.2001 ·
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