There are several types of bait with different textures and compositions. Learning to differentiate between them and use them appropriately will help you maximise your catch. Here’s some advice about how to bait well and fish effectively.
Throw small pellets which will burst on the surface. They’ll create a visible coloured cloud which will encourage the fish (bleak and summer white fish) to linger.
Bait regularly and rhythmically. For fishing near the bank (in faster water) use damp bait pellets which will burst on contact with the water’s surface.
Measure your bait carefully (consistency, size, density…) to make sure it works at the right depth: too deep and you won’t get many bites, too shallow and you’ll get fry. Throw in soft pellets frequently and regularly. You need to find the depth where the fish are.
Mid-water fishing is difficult in terms of technique because disturbed fish are wary: don’t use large pellets which will scare them off. The fish come back after each throw, and that’s when you’ll get your bites.
Start with a few pellets the size of clementines. Then continue with regular but small amounts of attractor bait (softer pellets).
Refresh with small pellets on the bottom. Wait and see whether the fish are going for the bait. The refresh might put them off. Once you get regular bites, don’t add more attractor bait, which will pull in fry and disturb the good potential catches on the bottom.
Don’t use bait that splashes, the noise will disturb the fish. A few grains of cereal will give just as good results as noisy and ineffective splashing.
The fish are less sensitive to noise. Use firm heavy ground bait which will go to and stay on the bottom.