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maple 8 (38 posts / 6,200 views)
Breammagnet Breammagnet
Posts: 655
Post #1 11 Mar 2026 22:11
0
ahhh... the memories, loved that bait

if i were to try and recreate the smell what would you recommend ? mainline no longer make maple ade, so which companies maple comes close ? there was also a back note of something spicy ..fenugreek maybe ?

any ideas please
silverfish silverfish
Posts: 2,662
Post #2 11 Mar 2026 23:24
0
Was thinking the same thing today,
I have two litres of aging Activ-8/Maple-8, sealed and stored out of the light, I mixed the two 3-1..
25% maple-8. was as much of the stuff as I could live with rolling/handling on the bank,
I added 2ml of Maple-ade to 20ml of 8 ball liquid for a while and that was minging in a fishmeal/squid meal.

apparently the BAF Maple plus is very good.- but out of stock.
Minimum quantities and orders over £150 only don't help either.

Nutrabaits don't list a maple anymore
JBs - reassuringly expensive
CC moore? Ultra Maple
Secret Agent? Hunt down the last bottles?

Baitman Baitman
Posts: 5,266
Post #3 12 Mar 2026 00:25
0
In reply to Post #2
The baf maple+ is good, comes through even over the same level of monster crab.

Can't see it on their site, and minimum order means try maybe AA baits option.
scozza
Posts: 18,429
Post #4 12 Mar 2026 07:37
0
In reply to Post #1
Mainline activ maple ade would be a good starter
Breammagnet Breammagnet
Posts: 655
Post #5 12 Mar 2026 08:25
0
In reply to Post #4
Mainline no longer make maple ade or at least i can't find it on any search engine
scozza
Posts: 18,429
Post #6 12 Mar 2026 12:31
0
In reply to Post #5
Interesting, i have some, didn't think it was that long ago when i bought it

Edit - Just had a look at the mainline site, seems they have stopped selling flavors, and the activators?
vossy1 vossy1
MODERATORMOD
Posts: 9,128
Post #7 12 Mar 2026 12:46
0
In reply to Post #6
I've got a strong recollection this was discussed on the forum recently but can't find it.
Something to do with Mainline restricting sales because other bait companies were using those/their products and using the name or capitalising on the products.

I'm sure it was said they are still selling them but only directly.
MrNuvawun MrNuvawun
Posts: 2,462
Post #8 12 Mar 2026 17:09
0
In reply to Post #7
Johnson Ross is the place to look for Mainline basemixes and activators etc. last year I had a very successful and nostalgic year home rolling Activ-8. They did however run out of activator and said they'd be getting the next batch November/December. However, last time I checked a couple of weeks back, they still hadn't got any. It's the home rolling section you have to look in.
scozza
Posts: 18,429
Post #9 12 Mar 2026 17:22
0
In reply to Post #7
Interesting
scozza
Posts: 18,429
Post #10 12 Mar 2026 17:23
0
In reply to Post #8
Just had a look at JR. base mix in foil bags

They are advertising activators but out of stock. Looks like same as the Mainline site for most folks now
MrNuvawun MrNuvawun
Posts: 2,462
Post #11 12 Mar 2026 17:38
1
In reply to Post #10
As much as I enjoyed catching loads on A8 last year, once I started getting supply issues, I had to come up with an alternative for this year. I'm now down to my last 5kg of it from 50kg that I rolled, so will be all gone in a couple of weeks
vossy1 vossy1
MODERATORMOD
Posts: 9,128
Post #12 12 Mar 2026 17:40
1
In reply to Post #8
I had a very successful and nostalgic year home rolling Activ-8.

I bet the smell was amazing

The Johnson Ross things ringing a bell too!

EDIT, Thought so

LINKY POO™ https://www.carpforum.co.uk/Shared/Messages.asp?TopicID=443476
Breammagnet Breammagnet
Posts: 655
Post #13 12 Mar 2026 19:42
0
So for the bait gurus what would be your educated guess as to what goes into the activator ?
I have a hnv fishmeal basemix that im happy with, just the liquid additive im not so sure on thinking

20ml Salmon oil
3ml ultra maple (cc moore)
1ml secret agent (forgotten flavours)

Need a little something extra ? I have powdered glm. Yeast and betain in the mix
Baitman Baitman
Posts: 5,266
Post #14 12 Mar 2026 21:28
0
In reply to Post #13
A bit of garlic eo would add some whoomph.

Do you have any spicy stuff added to boost the taste.
silverfish silverfish
Posts: 2,662
Post #15 12 Mar 2026 22:10
1
In reply to Post #13
I used 20ml cod liver oil c/w 5ml butyric acid per 500ml.

Garlic at your own risk...you're not going to be popular at home anyway but you might want to hang your air dry bag about 10 yards down wind
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