This is intended as a rough guide to the suitable baits used for the
different species
normally found in the Bristol Channel.
The mainstays are worm and fish baits.
Generally the fresher the bait as possible. Fish bait needs to be as fresh as you
can get it,
it does make a difference (except to the LSD's). Mackerel, Herring, Sprat need
to have
as much scent coming form them as possible. The fast flowing tides will wash out
the bait of
all its appeal very quickly. The only big exception to the fresh bait is frozen
Sandeel or Launce,
these are much better used from frozen, the Rays love them. If you want to use
live ones,
especially for Bass, then you have to get the equipment to keep them alive in a
tank of
some sort, with an air pump......much harder than frozen!
Mackerel is probably the most versatile bait going. You can use fillets,
strips, chunks, flappers etc
Large baits or small depending on the species you are looking for. In general
terms it's a good
bait to use to see what's down there. Most hungry fish will take a nice piece of
Mackerel.
Herring and Sprats can be used in much the same way.
Ragworm
are the mainstay bait from both boat and
shore and can be relied on to catch fish.
Most species will take Rag, which can be tipped with other baits to make up a
cocktail.
Small white rag can be used as can the huge King Rag, but something in the
middle is
usually what you will get from your local tackle/bait shop.
Lugworm, either blow lug, which are watery and a
brown colour and Black lug
which are
as the name suggests black or a very dark brown, and are much larger and are
more solid
than blow lug, are very useful baits.
Black Lug is probably the most used bait for Cod, especially in the winter
season. Again
both worm baits can be tipped of with another bait, to make it more "appealing".
Squid
is used as a tipping bait for Rag and Lug
worm, and can be mounted whole on
a large pennell rig for Cod and Bass particularly.
Squid is usually prepared as follows,
remove head and tentacles by cutting where they join the body, insert your sharp
filleting knife up into the body and cut open with one slice. Spread open the
body on a
chopping board and remove the contents, including the backbone which looks like
a
piece of clear plastic. You are then left with an open single piece of Squid
flesh.
This can then be sliced easily to the size needed to tip off your hooks.
Some people prefer to remove the speckled outside layer of the Squid to leave
just the clean white flesh, the choice is yours.
Sandeel
is a deadly bait for most of the Ray
species. Frozen are by far the easiest to get
hold of, nearly all tackle shops sell them.
You need to be able to keep them frozen during your trip and thaw them in your
hand
one at a time as you use them. If the Sandeels are allowed to thaw out they will
split open
when you try to use them. Not helpful when they fly off the hook on casting.
There are several ways to hook the Sandeels, one favourite is as follows.....
Cut of the tail fins ( this helps stop the eel spinning in the water and
tangling
you snood) and thread the hook point into the flesh. Continue to thread the hook
through
the body carefully bending the body to match the curve of the hook as you pass
it
through. Allow the hook point to emerge through the gill cover of the Sandeel,
this
is a strong point to secure the hook, and let the point and barb to stand proud
from the body.
Form two loops or half hitches in the line coming out of the tail end and slip
them over
the tail pulling them tight gently. You now have a perfectly presented Sandeel
for casting.
Peeler Crab are used especially for Smoothound.
Every sea angling magazine has probably
shown how to present crab on a hook at some stage, and will do so in the future.
Either use the crab whole or in half, remove the shell and legs and thread the
body onto
the hook shaft, having removed the grey/brown finger like gills first. Get some
bait elastic
and start to wind the elastic tightly around the crab meat. Tying it off so it
won't unwind
when you finish. Bingo ready to cast.
These are most of the usual baits commonly used in the Bristol Channel, unless you know different?
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