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Groundbait is put into the swim to attract and hold fish and is very useful, if not essential, in producing results in most kinds of coarse fishing. Made up groundbaits range from heavy mixtures, which sink to the bottom rapidly in a fast current, to 'cloudbait', which hangs in the water to attract fish and are used in slow currents or stillwater. More simply, groundbait can be samples of the hookbait thrown in loose.
MAKE YOUR OWN GROUNDBAIT
Bags of dry groundbait, mixed and ready for use can be bought from tackle dealers, but, unless you buy in bulk, it is generally cheaper to make your own. You can then make up groundbait to suit differing water conditions and your own personal preferences.
The basis of most groundbait mixtures is stale bread, prepared by cutting the crust off some slices of bread. Place the slices on a baking sheet and putting in a 'cool' oven to dry out, making sure it doesn't burn or go brown. When it is hard, it can be crushed or put into a blender until it is in tiny pieces, rolling it with a rolling pin may reduce it further. Numerous other ingredients can be added to it in different ratios, to suit many different water conditions. For example, bran, semolina, sausage rusk, mashed potatoe, clay, peat, samples of the hookbait etc.
REMEMBER groundbait can include loose feeding of loose hookbait samples like maggots
CLOUDBAIT
In a slow flowing water, or a stillwater, light groundbait can prove very effective. As it sinks slowly it will break up and form a cloud in the water. This effect can be heightened by using milk instead of water. The addition of semolina will improve the mix and bind it for lobbing to a distant swim. It is well worth experiment with flavouring and colouring groundbaits.
LIQUID GROUNDBAIT
A liquid groundbait is unusual, but is sometimes effesctive when fishing floating crust in lake margins. It can be made from well soaked bread mashed and mixed with water or milk. It is dilute enough to simply pout it into the water.
Trout pellets which are used to feed and fatten fishery bred trout are rich in protein. Most fish will take them, but crushed and mixed with breadcrumbs makes an excellent high protein groundbait that has been successful for tench and carp.
DOUBLE GROUNDBAITING
Most anglers only bait one area from any one bank area, but baiting two separate areas, one close in and one far out (or even as many as four in a diamond shape), is an interesting and effective method of hedging your bets when fishing larger waters. This method is almost essential when fishing in competitions. You can fish each spot in turn, letting the other(s) rest for a while, but never neglect to feed any of the spots.
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