In both freshwater and saltwater fishing, groundbait is defined as the nutrients put into the water to bait fish and keep them there.
Ingredients as in a real recipe
A good groundbait should be fine, supple and contain few large elements. By adding a little water, it binds together to form more or less dense balls to attract fish.
Commercial groundbaits are available, but are often expensive for some anglers. Making your own groundbait is not at all complicated. By following this article, you'll be able to concoct enough before the start of the fishing season and for a relatively low price.
Not all flours used for priming have the same properties. There are dispersing flours, neutral flours, sticky flours, aromatic flours, very sticky flours and flours that form a cloud. They are also used in different proportions, depending on the fish required.
Although there are many different types with different textures and compositions, here's a simple recipe to get you started.
In river
These ingredients can be replaced as you wish, depending on what you're looking for.
2 kilos hard bread, 50 grams vanilla, 100 grams powdered sugar, 350 grams wheat flour, 150 g corn flour, 250 grams roasted peanuts, 150 grams ground hemp seeds.
All these ingredients need to be ground and mixed. You can add additives to this mixture depending on the desired result or the type of fish you wish to bait.
Just add 3-5% garlic as a stimulant if you're fishing for the big fish found on the bottom. If you're interested in both bottom-feeding and surface fish, add 5% green anise for its stimulating effect.
Oats can be added up to 10% for their nourishing action to lure large fish. Other additives include seaweed, almonds, coconut, cocoa and cinnamon.
Various colorants can be added, such as yellow for bream and bleak, or red for roach.
If you're looking for large river fish, I recommend mixing 3 parts blond breadcrumbs, 1 part yellow breadcrumbs, 2 parts pv1 and 1 part coarse baked semolina.
In pond
For large pond roach, for example, choose 3 parts red breadcrumbs, 1 part ground poppy seed, 1 part fat cookie, 1 part Dutch yolk and 1 part fat peanut.
For baiting carp or tench, you'd rather use 3 parts blond breadcrumbs, 1 part fatty peanuts, 1 part fatty cookie, 1 part corn gluten and 1 part ground fatty hemp seeds.
Assembly
Gather all the ingredients together in a large plastic tub. Start by pouring in the flour. Gradually add each component, mixing to evenly distribute the bait elements. Don't add water, as this will be added in ideal proportions when you're fishing. This way, you can keep the mixture longer without losing any of its qualities.
Keep the tray in a cool, dry place, but don't keep your groundbait in the open air for too long, as insect parasites will attack it and the flavours will disappear, rendering it unusable. For optimum preservation, vacuum-pack in sachets.
