It's a Balancing Act!         
by Tony Welch

So why use slow sinker or critically balanced hook baits. Why not just use a bait direct from the bag? Well you can do, if you want to, no problem with that, hook baits used straight out the bag WILL work and work well. BUT... if you want a little edge and the chance of converting more pick up's into fish on the bank then a 'slow sinker' or ‘balanced bait’ may well be your way forward.

What is the object of having a slow sinking hook bait? As the carp sucks in the bait, a balanced bait is far more likely to fly further back into the carp’s mouth and increase the chance of the hook taking hold. The main reason for balancing a bait is to counteract the weight of the hook and hook link and in doing so make the hook bait act more like a free offering. This has advantages and disadvantages. If the balanced bait is to light it could fly up off the bottom and waft around, totally giving the game away as Mr. Carp investigates the swim. If it’s almost as heavy as a free bait there would be next to no advantage in using it. Also the vast majority of anglers out there like to use a bait straight from the bag therefore by using a balanced hook bait you are being different and may well give yourself a good edge over others.

Another important factor when the autumn and winter kick in there is extra debris strewn over the bottom, leaves, twigs, dead weed etc. Also when fishing over soft silt to have a hook bait just slowly settle on top of it is confidence boosting to say the least.

I used to play around drilling baits out and inserting cork or foam which is all well and good but sometimes the bait cracks when drilling and the cork and foam only comes in one size therefore if you wanted to balance say a 22mm hook bait it just wouldn’t work, or if you wanted to balance a 12milly the drill would split it every time.

This is how I make my balanced hook baits. It’s really easy and saves all the drilling on the bank! I use the Cell…

The kit required for the job – Cell basemix, Polaris pop up mix, Cell activator.

Next crack an egg into a bowl and add 15 ml of Cell activator.. now whisk!

When the egg and activator are mixed in nicely get a table spoon and add 3 spoonfuls of Cell basemix and 1 spoonful of Polaris.

 
Get a fork and really work the mix together.

By adding a little more Cell basemix and a little more Polaris to firm things up you should reach a nice consistency where the mix is moist but not sticky.

Roll the baits out on a towel, either lovingly by hand or with a Gardner rolling table.

 
Into the boiling  lake water for 2 minutes.

When the baits are all rolled out get some lake water on the boil. When I walk the dog I grab a tub of lake water to be used on that same day when im rolling my hook baits. I never use water from the tap and I always use pans that have never seen a squirt of fairy! Gently add the baits to the boiling water and time 2 minutes.

When the 2 minutes are up drain off the excess water and place the baits on a kitchen towel to cool.

There’s only an Ooo in Typhoo!

Next, make yourself a deserved cup of tea, stand back safe in the knowledge that you have just made your own balanced hook baits and now have the advantage over the carp and your mates! With a rig attached the baits will just sink slowly and nestle on the bottom.

When the baits have cooled off add some pellet to them and leave for a further 48 hours. The pellet will suck out any further moisture still inside the baits.

After drying - soak in a little Activator or hookbait enhancement system.

After the 48 hrs put the baits and pellet into a tub and trickle a little activator over them. Stick the lid on, good shake and put them in your bait bag ready to go. The baits will suck in the activator and then continue to dry in the tub with the pellet. They won’t go off and within a week will be like bullets!

Don’t forget to get the wife or your mum to do the washing up! No fairy!

A little PVA bag with some whole and chops, a few response pellet and a balanced hook bait is a lethal package. When you catch your first carp on a hookbait you rolled yourself it really does feel extra special.

Try it and reap the rewards!

Mid twenty…Nailed on a homemade balanced Cell hook bait.

Take care,

Tony Welch