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Angler’s Mail has been scouring the country for bait companies…

Below are the 122 boilie firms we found. If you know of more, or have a favourite brand, add your comment below or email us to let us know.

And if you have further comments about the bait game, post them too below this long list, where we allow comments.

Or email the magazine direct for our letters pages, by emailing to: jacqueline_grant@ipcmedia.com

Near the top of our A-Z, Ace Baits' latest is called Monkey Nut because of its shape. It can be banded on the hook sideways in what they call propeller style, or lengthwise on the hair as a snowman presentation. Neutrally buoyant and made from high quality ingredients, we were told, in tubs of 25 per pot.

1)         AA Baits, Warrington. E: Gallery@aabaits.co.uk W: http://www.aabaits.co.uk/
2)         Ace Baits, Dartford. T: 07778 503116 E:  info@acebaits.co.uk W: www.acebaits.co.uk
3)         Active Bait Solutions, Kent. T: 01304 620111, E: info@activebaitsolutions.co.uk W:http://www.activebaitsolutions.co.uk
4)         Alien Baits, T: 0845 644 8462 E: info@alienbaits.com W:http://www.alienbaits.com
5)         All Season Bait Developments, Essex. T: 07506733002 E: sales@allseasonsbaits.co.uk W:www.allseasonsbaits.co.uk/
6)         Ant Bait, West Sussex. T: 01403 272923
7)         Aqua Dynamix. T: 0845 652 3307 E: jon.pbuk@live.co.uk W: http://www.aqua-dynamix.com
8)         Bag Up Baits. W:http://www.bagupbaits.co.uk
9)         Bait and Feed Company, Hertfordshire. T: 01920 438338  E:sales@baitandfeedcompany.co.uk W:www.baitfeedonline.co.uk
10)         Bait-Tech, Suffolk. T:(+44) 1473 241811 E:info@bait-tech.com W:www.bait-tech.com
11)         Baitcraft, Middlesex. T: 07540 259095. E:info@baitcraft.com W: www.baitcraft.com
12)         Baitstream, Cambridgeshire. T: 01733 345091  W: www.icambridgeshire.co.uk/profile/208130/Peterborough/Baitstream-Ltd/
13)         Baitworks, Preston, Cirencester T: 07723 060849 E: mark@baitworks.co.uk W: http://www.baitworks.co.uk
14)         Bait Zone, Woodford. T: 07742 348626 E:admin@baitzone.com W:http://www.baitzone.com
15)         Bang On Baits. W:http://www.bangonbaits.net/
16)         Barnsley Bait Company, South Yorkshire. T: 07983 396022 E: glen@barnsleybaitcompany.com W: www.barnsleybaitcompany.com

Berkley Gulp! carp baits are impressive and are in shops all over the country.

17)       Berkley Gulp! W: http://www.gulpcarp.com/
18)         Bevo’s Bait & Bait Rolling, Kent. T: 01474 824600 E:info@bevosbait.com W: http://www.bevosbait.com
19)         BM Baits. T: 07863 288095 E: stu@bmbaits.com W:http://www.bmbaits.com
20)         Bog Baits, Kent. T: +44 (0) 1233 331418 E: product@djstackle.co.uk W: http://www.djstackle.co.uk
21)         Boss Bait, Cheshire T: 01606 841 547 E: sales@bossbait.co.uk W: http://www.bossbait.co.uk
22)         Bristol Bait Supplies. T: 07703 532735  E:orders@bristolbaitsupplies.co.uk W: www.bristolbaitsupplies.co.uk
23)         Brilliant Baits, Hampshire. E:sales@brilliantbaits.com  T: 07746 261632 E: http://www.brilliantbaits.com/
24)         Cambridge Carp Bait, Cambridge. T: 01223 833844 W: http://www.premiumfishing.tv/
25)         Common Catcher Baits. E:stu@commoncatcherbaits.co.uk T: 07872 444075
26)         Carp Bait UK, Norfolk.  T: 01603 879003  E: sales@carpbaituk.com W:www.carpbaituk.com
27)         Carp Company, Surrey. T: 07711 286 758 E: jules@carpcompany.com W:http://www.carpcompany.com
28)         Carp On Baits Ltd. T:07903399419 E:Carponbaits08@tiscali.co.uk W:http://www.carponbaitsltd.co.uk
29)         Carp Vader, Teesside. T: 01642 674443 E:sales@carpvader.co.uk W:http://www.carpvader.co.uk
30)         Carp Balls. E:enquires@carpballs.co.uk T: 01209 715829 W: http://www.carpballs.co.uk
31)         Catcher Baits, Kent. T: 01795 423808 E:catcherbaits@ymail.com W:http://www.catcherbaits.co.uk
32)         Cathedral Baits, Kent. T: 01843 591134 E: info@cathedralbaits.co.uk W:http://www.cathedralbaits.co.uk
33)         CC Moore & Co., Dorset T: 01963 362234 E:mail@ccmoore.net W:http://www.ccmoore.com
34)         Chapel Baits, Lincolnshire. T: 07809119294 W: http:chapelbaitsupplies.co.uk
35)         Chiltern Bait Services, Buckinghamshire. T: 07958 744872 E: chilternbait@easynet.co.uk W:http://www.chilternbait.co.uk
36)         Colne Valley Baits, Middlesex. T: 01895 822900  W:http://www.harefieldtackleonline.co.uk
37)         Cornwall Bait. E: Ian@cornwallbait.co.uk T: 01726 844204
38)         Cotswold Bait Creations, Wiltshire. T:01666 575 330 E: info@cotswoldbaits.com W:http://www.cotswoldbaits.com
39)         Cottage Baits. E:andycottagebaits@yahoo.com W: http://www.cottagebaits.co.uk
40)         Custom Bait Services. T: 07817 963156  E:Mr.Lycettl@ntlworld.com – W:http://www.custombaitservices.com
41)         CW Baits. T: 01255 423943  E:pellets@btinternet.com W:http://www.cwbaits.co.uk
42)         DT Bait Developments. T: 01376 500810  E:sales@dtbait.co.uk W: http://www.dtbait.co.uk
43)         Daluco Baits, Lancashire. T: 01942272345
44)         Darenth Valley Baits. T: 07879 863 445  W:http://www.darenthvalleybaits.com
45)         Destiny Baits, Kent. T: 01304 620111  E:destinybaits.website@googlemail.com W:www.destinybaits.co.uk
46)         Direct Baits, Yorkshire. T: 07957 405 982 W: http://www.directbaitservices.co.uk
47)         DM Baits. E:dmbaits@gmail.com W: www.dmbaits.co.uk
48)         DNA Baits Ltd, Yorkshire. T: 01977 681841  E:sales@dnabaits.com W:www.dnabaits.com
49)         Dynamite Baits, Nottingham. W:http://www.dynamitebaits.com/
50)         East Coast Baits. E:info@eastcoastbaits.co.uk T: 07540434912  W:http://www.eastcoastbaits.co.uk
51)         Eclipse Baits. E: poxon7@aol.com T: 07872449023. W:http://www.eclipse-baits.co.uk/
52)         Elite Baits Direct, Herts. T: 07720 48475 W: http://www.elitebaitsdirect.co.uk
53)         Elusive Baits. T: 07748 948248 E:orders@elusivebaits.co.uk W:http://www.elusivebaits.co.uk
54)         Enterprise Tackle (imitation baits), Bedfordshire. T: 01767 691 231 W:http://www.enterprisetackle.co.uk
55)         Essential Baits, Somerset. T: 01278 450618 E:essentail@baits.freeserve.co.uk W: http://www.essentialbaits.co.uk
56)         Essex Carp Baits, Essex. T: 07905 776607  W:http://www.essexcarpbaits.co.uk
57)         Fishing Wizard, Hertfordshire.  T: 01992 460969 E:info@fishingwizard.co.uk W:www.fishingwizard.co.uk
58)         5 star baits, Bucks. E: bob@fivestarbaits.com. W:http://www.fivestarbaits.com
59)         GB Baits. E:shopkeeper@thinkingcarp.com T: 07738 320215 W:http://www.gb-baits.com
60)         Gel Baits, Cheshire. T: 01625 532 223  E:sales@gelbaits.net W: http://www.gelbaits.net
61)         GOT Baits, Bucks, T: 01296 655 138 W:http://www.gotbaits.com
62)         Haul `em Baits, Essex. T: 07838874057 W:http://www.haulembaits.co.uk/
63)         Heathrow Bait Services, Bedfordshire. T:+44 (0)1767 317156  E:info@heathrowbaitservices.com W:http://www.heathrowbaitservices.com/

64) Hinders of Swindon, Wilts. T: 01793 333 900. W: http://www.hinders.co.uk/
65)         Hookers Bait. T: 01707 323 311
66)         Hush Hush Baits, Warks. E: 07535295134
67)         Individual Baits. T: 07907033744 E:steamies@hotmail.co.uk W:http://www.steamies.co.uk
68)         Innovate Baits. T: 07878330297 E:innovatebait@btinternet.com W:http://www.innovatebaits.co.uk
69)         John Baker Baits, Berkshire. E:john@johnbakerbaits.com T:0118 940 4943 W:http://www.johnbakerbaits.com
70)         Kent Particles, Dorset. T: 01202 487922  E:support@kentparticles.co.uk W:http://www.kentparticles.co.uk
71)         Magnum Baits, Herts. T:+44 01992 462044 E: info@bulkboilies.co.uk W:http://www.bulkboilies.co.uk
72)         Mainline Baits, Essex. T: +44 (0)1268 541006  E:mainlinebaits@aol.com W:http://www.mainline-baits.com
73)         Marukyu, Carmarthenshire T: 03003 03 1012 W:http://www.marukyu.co.uk
74)         MB Baits, T:07790 032946  W:http://www.mbbaits.co.uk
75)         Mistral Baits, Northamptonshire  +44 (0)1933 44 24 04 – http://www.mistralbaits.co.uk/
76)         Munch Baits. E:munchbaits@hotmail.co.uk W:http://www.munchbaits.co.uk
77)         Mr. Baits. T:01634 716 066 E:info@mrbaitsboilies.co.uk W:http://www.mrbaitsboilies.co.uk
78)         Nashbaits, Essex  T: 01702 233232 E: info@nashtackle.co.uk W:http://www.nashtackle.co.uk
79)         Nutrabaits, South Yorkshire. T: +44 (0)1709 37099 E:Nutrabaits@aol.com W:http://www.nutrabaits.net
80)         Ocean Fresh UK, Berkshire. T: (+44) 01189 449077 E:info@carp-bait.net W:http://www.carp-bait.net
81)         Oracle Baits, Lincs. E:email@oraclebaits.com T:01724277777  W:http://www.fishing-boilies.co.uk
82)         Pallatrax, Devon. T: 01409 240042 E:info@pallatrax.co.uk W:http://www.pallatrax.co.uk
83)         Perfection Groundbaits. T: 01256 760645 E: bait@perfectiongroundbaits.co.uk W:www.perfectiongroundbaits.co.uk
84)         Poacher Baits. T:+44 (0)1322 863713 E:gary@poacherbaits.co.uk W:www.poacherbaits.co.uk
85)         Premier Baits, Kent. T: 01843 260276 E:info@premierbaits.net W:http://www.premierbaits.net
86)         Primary Baits. T: 07774057168 E:info@primarybaits.co.uk W:http://www.primarybaits.co.uk
87)         Pro line Baits. T: 0044-(0)121 5057036  E: contact@proline-products.co.uk W:http://www.proline-products.co.uk
88)         Propa Job Baits, East Sussex. W: http://www.propajobbait.co.uk/
89)         Pure Hemp Bait Co, Devon. T: 01487 711 317 E: info@purehempbait.co.uk W:http://www.purehempbait.co.uk/
90)         Pure Lake Baits. T: 07974756426  W:http://www.purelakebaits.com
91)         Pursuit Baits. T: 07900 922769 E:info@pursuitbait.co.uk W:http://www.pursuitbait.co.uk/
92)         Pyramid Baits, Warwickshire. T: 07775 653540 W:http://www.pyramidbaits.co.uk
93)         Quality Baits, Birmingham. T: 01675 481 726  E:enquiries@qualitybaits.co.uk W: http://www.qualitybaits.co.uk/
94)         Quest Baits, Nottingham T: 08448 000345 E:info@questbaits.com W:http://www.questbaits.com/
95)         Responsive Baits. T: 07540 262217 E:sales@responsivebaits.co.uk W:www.responsivebaits.co.uk
96)         Richworth, Surrey. W:www.richworth.com
97)         SBS Baits, Worcestershire. T: 01562 754172  E:sales@sbsbaits.com W:http://www.sbsbaits.com
98)         Scattered Baits. T: 07740306514  W:http://www.scatteredbaits.co.uk
99)         Screamer Baits. W: http://www.screamerbaits.co.uk/
100)         Smartbait, Leics. T: 0845 644 5414 W:http://www.smartbait.co.uk
101)         Solar Tackle, Kent.  T: +44 (0) 1689 827489 E: Info@solartackle.com W: http://www.solartackle.co.uk
102)         Sonu Baits, Shropshire. T: 01952 210 535 E: enquiries@slpp.com W: http://www.sonubaits.com
103)         South London Pellet & Particle. T: 07798 528447  W:http://www.slpp.com
104)         Spa Baits, Worcestershire. 07752 920661 E:webmaster@spabaits.co.uk W:http://www.spabaits.co.uk
105)         Splash Baits, Somerset. T: 07746255399 E: splashbaits@splashbaits.vpweb.co.uk W: www.splashbaits.vpweb.co.uk
106)         Starmer Baits, Essex. T:0044 (0) 1268 690300 E:starmerbaits@aol.com W: http://web.me.com/starmerbaits/Starmer_Baits/
107) Starbaits. W: http://www.starbaits.com
108) Sticky Baits, East Yorkshire. T: 01430 448322  W:http://www.stickybaits.com
109)         Strike One Bait, Milton Keynes. T:07950 033276 W: http://www.strikeonebait.net/
110) Tails Up Bait, Suffolk. T: 01449 672 673 E: info@tailsupbait.co.uk W:http://www.tailsup.co.uk
111) Tasty Baits. T:07947013719 E:alan@tastybaits.co.uk W:http://www.tastybaits.co.uk/
112) Teme Severn, West Mids T: 01384 77756 – info@teme-severn.co.uk – http://www.temesevern.co.uk
113) The Kernow Bait Company. T: 07411750535 W:http://www.thekernowbaitco.com
114) Therapy Baits, Essex. T: 07756507046  W:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Therapy-Baits/291300445596?V=info
115) TJM Baits. T: 07976842362 E:tony-campbell@btconnect.com w:http://www.tjmbaits.co.uk
116) Trent Baits, Derbyshire. T: 0115 9441010 E:info@trentbaits.com W: http://www.trentbaits.com
117) Ultimate Carp Nutrition. T: 07737912789 E:carp2bait@yahoo.co.uk W:http://www.ultimatecarpnutrition.co.uk
118) Unity Baits, Kent. T: 01795 520887 W:http://www.unitybaits.com
119)         Velocity Baits, Smerset. T: 07789760213 E:info@velobaits.co.uk W: http://www.velobaits.co.uk
120)         Vision Baits International, Shropshire. T: 01691 659859 W: http://www.visionbaitsinternational.com
121)         Vortex Baits, Nottinghamshire E: info@vortexbaits.co.uk T: 07704299404 W:http://www.vortex-baits.co.uk
122)         Yum Yum Baits. E:gofish@yumyumbaits.com W:http://yumyumbaits.com

TESCO ROUSSAS BARREL AGED FETA

£2.18 for 200 gr
A three-month matured Greek cheese made from goats and sheep’s milk. Almost white in appearance and leaking a milky white juice. More pliable than at first thought and can be cut into pieces and hair-rigged, but can only be fished at close quarters. The texture does allow it to be made into a paste but the addition of breadcrumbs would help firm it up. It has a fresh but very salty taste that would appeal to most species. A very visible bait too.
SCORE: 24/30

BOURSIN

£1.91 for 150 gr
This soft cheese processed from full fat pasteurised milk is available with two additions, Garlic and Herbs or Black Pepper – great fish attractors. Very pale in colour with speckles of green created from the herbs it has a rich, sweet flavour with a hint of acidity. Creates almost the perfect paste which can be moulded around a paste cage but needs a little breadcrumb added to firm up to prolong its life. It’s firm enough to be placed directly on the hook but will not withstand a long cast.
SCORE: 25/30

BUTLERS FARMHOUSE RED LEICESTER

£2.50 for 250 gr
This creamy hard cheese has a distinctive deep orange colour and although it has a flaky nature it’s still firm enough to be carefully cut and mounted on a hair. It has a relatively high fat content which allows you to mould it into a nice paste ball. It has a delicate, sweet, full flavour which leaves a serious aftertaste. Like cheddar, younger, cheaper cheeses are often smoother and firmer making them more versatile for bait.
Well worth a look for most cheese eaters.
SCORE: 26/30

BLACKSTICKS BLUE

£1.88 for 150 gr
This blue cheese is a deep orange colour, which is created by the natural colour Annatto. It’s seriously strong having a huge amount of blue moulded veins. It’s a hard cheese with a sticky feel created by the ageing mould, and it’s slightly crumbly. However, it’s firm enough for pieces to be hair-rigged. It can also be easily moulded into a paste and has a tangy, spicy yet peppery flavour, which can only be great to entice fish, especially barbel. Mixed with cheddar it creates the ultimate paste.
SCORE: 27/30

TESCO TRADITIONALLY SMOKED CHEESE

81p for 125 gr
An Austrian processed cheese that comes in a sausage shaped package. With a rubbery texture and pale, creamy appearance. It has a very high fat content, and when moulded creates a very good paste. It has a rich, woody taste and is versatile as it can easily be cut into small shapes for hair rigging or used as a single larger bait. It can also be fished directly on the hook, and will resist a short cast.
SCORE: 27/30

TESCO LONG CLAWSON MATURE BLUE STILTON

£1.80 for 215 gr
Matured for 12 weeks this semi-hard cheese has a creamy yellow appearance with an abundance of narrow blue veins running throughout. It has a really light, digestible tangy, rich taste with a hint of a piquant aftertaste. It’s crumbly, yet firm enough to cut into larger pieces and hair-rigged but it will not withstand a firm cast. When it comes to creating a paste it’s fat content allows it to be easily moulded. A great all-round species catcher.
SCORE: 28/30

MCLELLAND SERIOUSLY STRONG CHEDDAR

£1.95 for 200 gr
This extra-matured cheddar has a spongy, pliable texture and is creamy yellow in appearance. It has a very strong taste, which set the taste buds off immediately. It’s very versatile as it can be placed directly onto the hook, hair-rigged or moulded effortlessly into a firm paste. Many properly cured cheddar cheeses are crumbly so younger smoother cheddars are often better. Mixed with a good quality blue it creates the ultimate paste.
SCORE: 29/30

BEST BUY

ILCHESTER MEXICANA

£2.08 for 260 gr
This cheese does exactly what is says on the package – bites back. A deep orange and yellow colour, it also includes red and green hot pepper pieces to create a tangy powerful taste, great for carp and barbel. Being tough to cut indicates it hasn’t been cured properly but this creates a very versatile bait as it can be cut into very small pieces allowing more than one piece to be hair-rigged as well as being easily moulded into a paste. A fantastic bait for all cheese eaters, including chub.
SCORE: 30/30

NOTE: All products tested August 2010. All prices correct at the time of going to Press. Angler’s Mail do not take responsibility for price or product changes or current availability.

COOKED COCKLES

£5 for 268 gr
A well established tough sea food bait that can be fished directly on the hook. You need to be careful buying your cockles though, as most jars on sale in supermarkets contain pickled cockles making them very acidic and not so attractive to fish. Fresh or frozen are far better and work for most species. I once float fished with them over a bed of hemp on a local water and caught nine species including roach, rudd, bream, tench, carp, perch, eel, barbel and a crucian carp. They are such a tough bait that they can be legered either hair-rigged or directly on the hook at a good range.
SCORE: 22/30

ANCHOVY FILLETS IN OLIVE OIL

74p for 30 gr
Carp in particular find these distinctive smelling fillets very appealing. Although small pieces of these fillets could be fished directly on the hook under a float, they are too soft to be cast any distance. However, they can be used to make a nicely textured boilie. Put them in a liquidiser and mix with eggs, then add a 50:50 Soya flour: semolina mix to produce a stiff paste. Roll the paste into balls and place in boiling water for up to three minutes and let them dry on a tea towel. The boilies are best fished hair-rigged. They work well for carp but unfortunately have the habit of attracting pike, often resulting in bite-offs.
SCORE: 22/30

SARDINES IN TOMATO SAUCE

62p for 95 gr
All forms of sardine work. Frozen sardines are a well known pike bait but over the years I have seen carp and the odd big tench pick up sardines on a wire trace intended for pike. I like the extra attraction of the tomato sauce in this bait, which is made into boilies by liquidising the sardines in tomato sauce with eggs and adding a 50:50 base mix. I found that the tomato sauce made the boilie less attractive to pike as I once had four pike using the ordinary sardine in my boilie with several bite-offs. The tomato sauce version works well mainly for carp but also attracts a few other species.
SCORE: 22/30

COOKED CRAYFISH TAILS

£2.99 for 150 gr
Although technically not a sea food bait, these are my wild card, which I have been buying from Sainsbury’s. They actually come from China. They are a good sized bait and fairly tough making them ideal for mounting directly on the hook. So far I’ve found them good either trotted or legered for chub. They have also accounted for the odd nice perch and barbel. In stillwaters to date I have caught some carp to upper- doubles plus the odd chub and a few 1 lb-plus roach. The bait looks a winner but it’s early days.
SCORE: 23/30

TUNA IN SUNFLOWER OIL

£1.09 for 200 gr
Tuna can be bought in brine, water or sunflower oil. All three work but at this time of the year, I prefer the oil product as it’s given me better results. The chunks make a brilliant additive to groundbait to increase their pulling power. Just push the chunks through and add the sieved pieces to the groundbait. The chunks can actually be fished directly on the hook and it makes a good stalking bait for most species, particularly when fished over groundbait containing small pieces of tuna steak or ground up tuna cupped-in. Like most sea foods they can be liquidised and added to a boilie base mix to make a good boilie.
SCORE: 23/30

COOKED SEA MUSSELS

£1.06 for 180 gr
A good sized tough salty bait. They can be fished directly on the hook or hair-rigged and cast out at long range. They are also a very useful stalking bait and work well in the margins under a float. When Virginia and I have used them beneath a float, in the edge, even on commercials we have found we were catching a much better stamp of carp with a few very big tench. Being so tough they tend to be small fish proof and because of their size more attractive to larger species particularly carp, tench, chub and barbel. Naturally catfish love them too.
SCORE: 24/30

COOKED AND PEELED PRAWNS

£2 for 215 gr
Possibly the softest prawns, they tend to be best fished under a float. Most fish species take them, they are particularly deadly for big perch and carp. I often fish small sections of these prawns on a size 12 hook, feeding in quarter sections for big roach and rudd. They work well and at times are without equal for redfins particularly for bigger rudd, certainly out performing more traditional and expensive roach baits such as caster on many waters. They are good as feed when using King Prawns too. In the summer you need to keep them cool as they quickly go off.
SCORE: 26/30

BEST BUY

COOKED AND PEELED KING PRAWNS

£3 for 215 gr
I first used King prawns in the early 1970s on the Hampshire Avon catching loads of big chub along with the odd salmon, sea trout and barbel. There are disadvantages in using king prawns. They are tough and big, making them attractive to larger species at the expense of their ‘redfin’ appeal. Deadly for carp, tench, barbel, big perch and chub, I have even caught big bream and the odd catfish. They work directly on the hook or hair-rigged, and take the strain of casting better than smaller prawns.
SCORE: 27/30

NOTE: All products tested July 2010. All prices correct at the time of going to Press. Angler’s Mail do not take responsibility for price or product changes or current availability.

SAINSBURY’S PORK SAUSAGE MEAT

£2 for 500 gr
Sausage meat is more like a base mix in that you need to add additives and process (cook) it before use. Just mix the sausage meat with curry powder, the amount added is a matter of individual choice. Then roll into sausages and cook in an oven on a medium heat for 20 minutes plus. The result is a very tough highly textured bait that has good pulling power and when hair-rigged can be cast long distances. Big pieces tend to be most effective. Can be very effective as a change bait, it’s generally fished as single bait. Works well for most species particularly carp and barbel.
SCORE: 23/30

FRAY BENTOS MEAT BALLS

79p for 410 gr
Just open the can and you’ll see it comes complete with gravy as a glug. You fish it directly on a big hook possibly a size 2 or alternatively fish them hair-rigged. Both the in gravy form or in tomato source, they work well. Not a particularly tough bait and problems can rise with small fish continually nibbling the bait away. Although better known as a barbel bait, these meat balls work very well in the margins or stalking. You can push a few balls through the mesh of a sieve to produce a feed. Some anglers use the sieved meat with a fishmeal groundbait to good effect.
SCORE: 23/30

FRAY BENTOS CORNED BEEF

£2.14 for 340 gr
Being soft in texture, this is a bait that is not easily fished with, from a can, however all you need to do is add bread crumb and mix it into a stiff ‘paste’ that stays on the hook. It can be fished directly on the hook or moulded onto a hair rigged cork ball. Reddish in colour it’s visible and has a fairly strong smell. Years ago this ‘secret’ bait took the Royalty Fishery on the Hampshire Avon and others apart for big barbel. It also works well for carp, but most species will accept it.
SCORE: 24/30

GARLIC SAUSAGE MEAT

£9.50 a kilo
Normally available on the meat counter this relatively dense meat has a light speckled appearance and is well textured, with a strong garlic odour. It therefore has a strong scent for the fish to follow whilst also being very visible. Both these factors contribute to its effectiveness, but due to its texture it cannot be cast any great distance. I used this bait originally legering hair-rigged samples on the Royalty Fishery of the Hampshire Avon. I’ve also float trotted with it, directly on the hook for both chub and barbel to good effect. A good all round bait.
SCORE: 26/30

LIDL CHIRA BACON GRILL

£1.09 for 300 gr
Good old bacon grill, has been a top bait for years and this version from Lidl called Chira Bacon Grill is one of the best. It has a fairly high fat content and salt content –and fish love it. It’s pretty tough and can be fished directly from the tin. It’s far spicier than most other bacon grills making it in my opinion far more attractive. It certainly cuts easily and is very versatile bait appealing to most species. I’ve used this bait a lot with success.
SCORE: 26/30

FRANKFURTER

£2 for £10
Not a particularly well known bait, but one that really works. This is best fished cooked which is easy. Just place it in simmering hot water for five or six minutes and allow to cool. A relatively soft bait that cannot be cast with force great distances. Can easily be fished directly on the hook or hair-rigged. It has a light reddish brown colour that makes it very visible with a lovely smell. Tasting it, proved it was fairly spicy yet rather salty which should appeal to fish. In practice, a very good margin bait for both carp and tench and for trotting for barbel. It can also be legered.
SCORE: 26/30

PEPERAMI

£1.18 or five for £4
Dark red in colour and available in convenient ‘bait sticks’ there are three flavours offering varying degrees of hotness. They all catch plenty of fish on still and flowing water. And the bait could not be easier to prepare you just cut the amount you need from the stick supplied. Amongst the toughest baits in this selection, it’s best fished hair-rigged, and it can easily be fished at range. Variations on a theme in use are to either pierce it several times with a baiting needle, or skin it to get the flavour out quickly. From my Where To Fish research it comes out as one of the most consistent baits for most species across my region
SCORE: 28/30

BEST BUY

BOUNCE DOG FOOD

£1.25 for 1,200 gr
This was my wild card in this section and one I have seen and used with devastating results. The beef flavour comes in large rubbery lumps in gravy that can be fished directly on a large hook. This is really a margin bait best fished on a large hook and under a pole float over a groundbait made by pushing lumps of Bounce through a riddle then mixed with a fishmeal groundbait plus a few pellets. When Virginia used it ‘up north’ against some class match anglers I could not believe the result. The pole anglers were fishing tight to an island using soft pellet catching mainly mid single-figure carp whilst Virginia was not only catching lots more fish, the average size was almost double! Virginia bagged about 140 lb and has had plenty of big carp on this bait.
SCORE: 29/30

NOTE: All products tested August 2010. All prices correct at the time of going to Press. Angler’s Mail do not take responsibility for price or product changes or current availability.

DYNAMITE BAITS THE SOURCE

£3.25
Soft hook pellets flavoured with The Source, which is a popular boilie ingredient for carp. Almost a deep burgundy colour, these dark pellets are available in 4 mm, 6 mm and 10 mm sizes and have an oily aroma. You get a big helping in a pot, easily enough for several hectic sessions, and there are several complementing Source baits that can be used with them. The packaging suggests these moist pellets are suitable for pole, waggler or feeder fishing. Personally I found them okay for shipping out on long pole, but I don’t think their consistency is firm enough for robust casting with waggler or feeder tackle.
SCORE: 25/30

BAIT-TECH X-TREME

£2.49
Darkish brown pellets in popular 6 mm and 11 mm sizes, infused with soluble fishmeal and Betaine. You get a good amount in a 150 gr re-sealable bag – enough for several busy sessions. These soft-consistency pellets give off a strong fishmeal aroma and are designed for direct hooking with pole or waggler tackle, while the packaging suggests hair-rigging for feeder methods. I found these pellets okay for all pole applications, but a tad too soft straight from the bag for waggler or feeder work. The bag contained a mixture of sinkers and floaters, which perform better if left to dry out for a while.
SCORE: 26/30

SONUBAITS COMPETITION

£2.99
Dark brown fishmeal flavoured pellets, available in 4 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm sizes. These are supplied in good-sized 135 gr pots, easily providing enough hook baits for several sessions. The pellets themselves are sinkers, with a soft, spongy consistency, and they’re absolutely oozing with oil. Designed for pole, feeder or waggler fishing, this bait hooks easily and stays on well for all but the most demanding of casting regimes. The pellets gave off an oily aroma with just a hint of fishmeal coming through. I’ll certainly be spending more time experimenting with this above-average bait.
SCORE: 27/30

NUTRABAITS PRO-MATCH

£2.99
Available in 6 mm and 11 mm, this range includes Green Lipped Mussel, Trigga, Caviar, Boosted Betaine, Smoked Salmon and Fruitopia. There’s enough bait in a pot for several sessions, and these soft, spongy, semi-buoyant pellets offer a good range of colours to match their flavourings. The 6 mm size had a robust enough consistency for pole fishing, staying on the hook pretty well, even after missing bites. I particularly liked the Green Lipped Mussel and Smoked Salmon flavours, which had slightly firmer consistencies and were just about strong enough for waggler fishing.
SCORE: 27/30

DRAGON CARP HOOK & FEED

£4.99
Dragon Carp do smaller £2.99 pots of soft hook pellets, but I was more impressed by their larger
520 ml tubs of hook and feed pellets. These are available in Bloodworm, Halibut, Scopex, Strawberry and Tutti-Frutti. The light brown Scopex pellets gave off a fresh seafood aroma similar to cockles, which is a nice change from the stale smell some hook pellets emit! These 6 mm pellets also had a nice spongy consistency and were robust enough for waggler fishing. They’re floaters, but a light squeeze underwater (or the weight of the hook) sinks them. Five mixed pots cost just £10! 
SCORE: 28/30

VAN DEN EYNDE JELLETS

£2.49
Jellets are rubbery sinking pellets, packed in 150 gr re-sealable bags, available in Natural, Strawberry, Green Lipped Mussel, Halibut and Tuna flavours. The dark brown Halibut flavour featured here provides a mix of 4 mm and 6 mm hook offerings. This bait is soft but hooks cleanly without breaking up, being suitable for pole, waggler and all but the most demanding of feeder fishing methods. I’m a big fan of Jellets, particularly the Halibut and lighter orange Tuna options. This brand doesn’t have that nasty pungent smell some prepared pellets give off, and the fish loved them!
SCORE: 29/30

SONUBAITS S-PELLETS

£2.99
Dark brown pellets rich in oil, with a strong fishy smell, offering 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm and 11 mm size options. These sinking pellets are much firmer than most other brands, staying on the hook better with all float and feeder regimes, also being hard enough to hair-rig properly. S-Pellets leak out fish attracting oil and are designed for year-round usage. Probably one of the best choices for direct hooking when employing demanding waggler and feeder methods, although I find it pays not to hook these pellets too deeply, otherwise you risk bumping fish, due to their firmer nature.
SCORE: 29/30

BEST BUY

BAG‘EM TUFFITS

£2.99
Mid-brown 4 mm to 6 mm pellets in round and slightly elongated shapes. These floating pellets have a mild fishmeal aroma and feature toughened skins. This creates a consistency that anchors on the hook brilliantly, but without being too firm to cause bumped fish on the strike. Available in Natural, Strawberry and Halibut flavours, Tuffits are perfect for all forms of presentation. This hook bait stays attached with the most vigorous of casts, while its buoyant nature counters the weight of the hook, which pulls more positive bites. During testing this product was the most effective.
SCORE: 30/30

NOTE: All products tested July 2009. All prices correct at the time of going to Press. Angler’s Mail do not take responsibility for price or product changes or current availability.

NEWGATE PORK AND HAM

Lidl £1.19 for 300 gr
Coming in a 300 gr ring pull can it appears to be fattier than most with a higher jelly content. It was lighter in colour than most and felt softer, which could limit its application to fishing closer in, towards the margins or float fishing in slower moving rivers again at close range. It tasted very salty possibly with a highish salt content. It certainly cubed up easily and was easily punched.
SCORE: 22/30

PRINCES PORK LUNCHEON MEAT

Tesco £1.71 for 300 gr
Sold in a in the familiar 300 gr key wind can, Princes has a low salt content of approximately 1 gr in 100 gr and you can certainly sense this when you eat it. The salt content was below the average of the group and it was one of the darkest coloured samples in the batch. Although fairly tough I felt its applications were somewhat limited compared to other brands, being more suited to close-in work. But it certainly cuts up well with every tool I used.
SCORE: 22/30

YE OLDE OAK PORK LUNCHEON MEAT

Aldi 69 p for 200 gr
The cheapest product tested and coming in a smaller cylindrical tin with no means of opening except with a can opener. Its colour was the second darkest in the range but the texture was very even. With such a different shape it had to be cut up before being placed in a rectangular cuber and because of its initial shape gave very uneven sized cubes. It did not taste too salty but had I believe a fairly high fat content. Being fairly tough it is suitable for most fishing styles.
SCORE: 23/30

CELEBRITY MEAT LOAF

Sainsbury’s £1.29 for 300 gr
Coming in a 300 gr key wind can, this appeared to be the darkest meat tested. It had an exceptionally even texture being fairly rubbery making it suitable for all but exceptional range fishing, and safe up to three rod lengths out or legering in hot conditions in fast flowing water where the hook could pull through. Strong flavour with a lower than average salt content. It was easy to cube up with cutters giving possibly the sharpest cleanest meat cubes in the range. Even with punches the results were impressive.
SCORE: 24/30

SPAM

Aldi £1.59, Tesco £1.64, Sainsbury’s £1.65, Somerfield £2.07
for 340 gr
Sold in a ring pull 340 gr can, SPAM is a well established favourite of many anglers. It tasted very salty, had a medium fat content and more texture than most with a good colour easily visible to fish. About average for toughness in the group tested which limits its use, ruling out fishing at extreme range. Despite its more rugged texture it cubed very well with the cutter and also worked well with the punches. It tears well too giving some interesting shapes on the hook.
SCORE: 24/30

SAINSBURY’S PORK AND HAM

Sainsbury’s £1.39 for 340 gr
Coming in a 340 gr key wind can, this meat boasted the highest stated salt and fat content with fat at 25.2 gr per 100 gr and salt at 2.8 gr per 100 gr. The flavour was not over powering and with the extra salt could be appealing to carp. The colour was fairly light giving good visibility and the texture very even. It was also fairly tough allowing it to stay firmly on the hook in all but extreme conditions. It cubed up well with the cutters and gave a good result with the punch too.
SCORE: 25/30

MORRISONS PREMIUM PORK LUNCHEON MEAT

Morrisons £1.39 for 300 gr
Sold in a 300 gr key wind key tin with a highish salt content at 2.3 gr per 100 gr in the range tested which is somewhat evident when you taste it. Salt in these proportions can be a very powerful attractant particularly to carp. The colour is fairly light making it one of the most visible tested. It cut easily with both the cutters and punch giving well defined baits. It felt very tough making it suitable for most applications including longer range fishing and fast water work.
SCORE: 25/30

BEST BUY

CHIRA BACON GRILL

Lidl £1.09 for 300 gr
This had a fairly high fat content and tasted as if the salt content was also above average. The colour was fairly light adding visibility. It also had a rather interesting spicy taste that could be appealing to many species of fish, making it a bit of a wild card. It was relatively tough which is essential for casting to prevent the hook pulling through, giving it a full range of applications. It again cuts and shapes very well with both cutters and punches.
SCORE: 27/30

NOTE: All products tested August 2009. All prices correct at the time of going to Press. Angler’s Mail do not take responsibility for price or product changes or current availability.

DYNAMITE BAITS THE SOURCE

£3.95 (900 gr)

Fine consistency groundbait made from Dynamite’s popular ‘The Source’ boilie ingredients. It’s a dark reddish brown in colour with a slightly sweet fishmeal aroma. This rich groundbait absorbs lots of moisture and requires at least two applications of water, swelling up quite considerably. Despite vigorous stirring a few lumps persisted, which had to be eliminated by riddling. This created a fluffy, airy mix, perfect for fast release with open-end feeders, or softer balls of feed. A third dose of water stiffened this groundbait up enough for Method and paste usage, where it breaks down quickly.

SCORE: 26/30

BAIT-TECH KARMA

£3.40 (1 kg)

Medium brown groundbait flecked with green particles and smelling strongly of fishmeal. Packaging classes Karma as a meaty recipe with a fast breakdown. This fine consistency groundbait mixes easily into a fluffy texture with just one helping of water, while vigorous stirring irons out any lumps. At this stage the mix is perfect for open-end and cage feeders, also for feeding soft balls of cloudy feed. Adding more water creates a slightly firmer mix that can be balled in hard or moulded around Method feeders, although once in the water the groundbait still breaks down fast.

SCORE: 26/30

SENSAS CRAZY BAIT IM5

£3.75 (1 kg)

This Betaine green groundbait contains an IM5 stimulant and is advertised as being super soft and easy to mix. It’s finely textured and went a bit lumpy after initial wetting, requiring a second dose of moisture, swelling up quite considerably. A few lumps still persisted due to the fine nature of this feed, but once riddled or whisked with a groundbait drill it offers a soft texture for standard open-end feeders or cloudy presentation. Adding a third dose of water stiffens this medium green coloured recipe up enough for Method feeder and paste work, giving a reasonably fast breakdown.

SCORE: 26/30

BAIT-TECH SPECIAL ‘G’ GOLD

£3.40 (1 kg)

Packaging boasts this groundbait contains ‘the most powerful super-soluble fishmeal’. This golden brown feed certainly had a strong fishmeal aroma and it turned a nice golden brown colour after mixing with water. The first mix resulted in a soft, fluffy, lump free texture, ideal for creating a fish attracting cloud when float fishing – or for forming fast breakdown harder balls. Adding extra water, after letting the feed stand for a few minutes, created a much firmer consistency. This was perfect for the Method feeder, also for forming harder balls of feed, and of course paste hook baits.

SCORE: 27/30

MISTRAL BAITS HALIBUT

£3.49 (1 kg)

Contains crushed high oil halibut pellets, combined with milled crumb, seeds and attractors. This dark brown groundbait is very easy to mix into a soft, fluffy consistency, revealing odd larger particles. It gives off a sweet fishmeal/pellet aroma and after initial treatment is spot on for fast breakdown feeding modes. Adding extra water still doesn’t bind this recipe. It needs some extra pellet powder to make it into a slow breakdown Method mix, or paste for the hook. I found this to be a very good fish attractor and holding feed, either used on its own or bulked out with brown crumb.

SCORE: 27/30

BAG ‘EM PRO-COMPETITION KRILL SEEKER

£3.99 (1 kg)

An orange brown recipe, endorsed by top commercial match angler Neil Machin. Apparently it’s the high krill content that gives this feed its orangey brown colour. Just one mix with water and minimal stirring creates a lovely fluffy, lump free consistency, perfect for a quick breakdown in open-end feeders or for introducing the groundbait in cloudy form. Adding more water makes this feed swell up even more and improves binding for Method feeder or paste fishing. It gives off a strong fishy aroma and continues to break down quite quickly, even when compressed hard.

SCORE: 27/30

DYNAMITE BAITS SWIM STIM GREEN

£3.40 (900 gr)

Incredibly popular dark green groundbait, classed as a Betaine green koi mix. It absorbs lots of water so the first mixing takes a little longer, pumping the fine particles up quite dramatically. This gives a loose consistency and it’s easy to iron out any lumps with vigorous stirring. At this stage you have a soft, strong fishmeal smelling groundbait for cloudy feeding and fast breakdown from open-end or cage feeders. This feed takes on a lot more water in order to get a firmer, binding mix, which is lethal for Method feeder and hook paste. Very versatile and not just for carp!

SCORE: 28/30

BEST BUY

SONUBAITS SUPERCRUSH GREEN

£5.49 (2 kg)

This crushed koi pellet groundbait has a fluorescent green tinge after mixing with water, requiring very little stirring to create a soft, airy feed – without having to riddle or whisk it with a groundbait drill. In this state you have a strong fishmeal smelling groundbait, ideal for open-end or cage feeders, also for regular feeding in cloudy form. Secondary mixing turns it into a more binding Method feeder, or hard balling groundbait. The breakdown rate can be regulated, depending on how hard this versatile feed is compressed. Best all-rounder, great value and easiest to mix.

SCORE: 30/30

NOTE: All products tested August 2009. All prices correct at the time of going to Press. Angler’s Mail do not take responsibility for price or product changes or current availability.

LIDL FRESHONA SWEETCORN

39p

Kernels in water with sugar and salt added, sold in 340 gr ringpull tin (drained 285 gr). A dark, unwelcoming yellow colour. Sizes vary from being very small to medium with a vast amount having holes within the kernels. Very soft in texture with a lot of waste pieces and skins. Sweet to taste and strong to smell, it’s slightly different from all the others tested. The soft, small nature of this corn lends itself to pole and close-in float fishing. Another ringpull tin does offer anglers convenience.

Score: 19/30

GREEN GIANT ORIGINAL

Tesco 66p, Sainsbury’s 67p, Asda 66p, Somerfield 77p

Original sweet niblets, sold in 340 gr ringpull tin (drained 285 gr). Irregular sizes and shapes with tiny kernels to medium kernels, far from the largest available. Lots of broken, part and skins within tin. Niblets are dark yellow with a crunchy texture and very sweet to taste. Soft nature lends itself more for the pole angler or for close-in float fishing. Ring pull tin makes for a useful back-up bait supply.
Score: 20/30

MARKS & SPENCER SWEETCORN

59p

Kernels in water with salt added, sold in
340 gr tin (drained 275 gr). A crunchy, firm texture makes this corn very versatile. One of the brightest colours tested, and an inconsistent size variation; however, all the kernels were complete, with very little waste. Another good commercial water option where a number of tactics may be employed.
Score: 20/30

SOMERFIELD SIMPLY VALUE SWEETCORN

37p

Kernels in sweetened salted water, sold in 326 gr tin (drained 285 gr). Bright and fresh looking colour. Size again is inconsistent and bordering on small to medium, and badly cut. A lot of skin and broken pieces, and being very soft in texture it’s more suited to pole use, or for close-in float fishing, as it will not withstand forceful casting. Very sweet to taste and smell.

Score: 23/30

WAITROSE SWEETCORN

47p

Kernels ‘naturally sweet’, no added salt, sold in 330 gr ringpull tin (drained 260 gr). Bright in colour with a firm, crunchy texture. Size is fairly consistent – medium to large. Unsweetened to the taste, having no sugar or salt added, as well as there being very little waste. The size lends itself to the specialist angler needing good, firm hooking properties for casting further on a leger rig or waggler fishing at range. Ringpull tin offers angler convenience.
Score: 25/30

ASDA SMART PRICE SWEETCORN

34p

Kernels in water, sold in 326 gr tin (drained 260 gr). Darker in colour than some of the other corns with a consistent medium size throughout. Not the sweetest or strongest in smell, having little salt and sugar added, but that isn’t a bad thing. A firm texture allows for good hooking potential, so will withstand a firm cast on lead or float. The size makes it good for accurate catapulting, which is useful when fishing a waggler.
Score: 25/30

BEST BUY

SAINSBURY’S BASICS SWEETCORN

34p

Kernels in water with sugar and salt added, sold in 325 gr tin (drained 260 gr). A crunchy, bright-coloured corn with a mixture of sizes, as stated on the tin. Very little waste, and the majority of pieces are complete. A nice, sweet taste as well as a fresh and pleasant smell. The size variation and firm texture would make this a great commercial fishery corn for pole, feeder or running line float work.
Score: 27/30

BEST BUY

TESCO VALUE SWEETCORN

34p

Kernels in sugared salt water sold in 325 gr tin (drained 260 gr). A crunchy, bright-coloured corn with a mixture of sizes from medium to large, including some of the biggest kernels found. Very little waste and the majority of pieces are complete. A nice, sweet taste as well as a fresh and pleasant smell. The size variation and firmness would make a great commercial fishery corn, suitable for a number of different methods.
Score: 27/30

NOTE: All products tested September 2009. All prices correct at the time of going to Press. Angler’s Mail do not take responsibility for price or product changes or current availability.