Hi all, tuftys are a problem on my lake like they are on many lakes when baiting up. Me and a friend where trying to figure out how many boilies they actually eat before they become full. He thinks if you put a kilo of boiles out, a group of say 4 tuftys would eat up to 80%, which for me seems a lot for a small bird. I personally think they eat about maybe 10 baits each, probably about 30% of your bait . Anyone any thoughts?
In reply to Post #1
Variables, size of boilies, high nutritional bait probably goes through them quickly so they may keep coming back. If others see them they may also join the party.
Variables, size of boilies, high nutritional bait probably goes through them quickly so they may keep coming back. If others see them they may also join the party.
In reply to Post #1
I was watching a pair of tufties in front of me just last night. I saw the female pick up twenty or so 15mm baits within an hour. The male spent most of the time just keeping watch, but also picked up about a dozen.
I was watching a pair of tufties in front of me just last night. I saw the female pick up twenty or so 15mm baits within an hour. The male spent most of the time just keeping watch, but also picked up about a dozen.
In reply to Post #1
Dog mixers are cheaper than boilies
Dog mixers are cheaper than boilies
In reply to Post #1
Lots 😡
Lots 😡
The amount they eat costs lot more than you get for them at the game dealers.. That I can tell you.
Enough to test your patience to it's maximum and to the point of you ending up in a looney bin.
I once fished a lake where they dived for bait, not just during the daylight hours but through the night as well. It used to really annoy me as I got no sleep with all the bleeps and having to recast constantly thinking I had a run when they picked the bait up. It was only by looking through my binoculars in the dark that I saw it was tufties diving on my bait and not bream etc and the odd one that I hooked.
And then when your unhooking them, they give you that stupid look like in a cartoon as if it was not their fault.
Thankfully, it was the only water I ever fished that they did dive all night long.
I once fished a lake where they dived for bait, not just during the daylight hours but through the night as well. It used to really annoy me as I got no sleep with all the bleeps and having to recast constantly thinking I had a run when they picked the bait up. It was only by looking through my binoculars in the dark that I saw it was tufties diving on my bait and not bream etc and the odd one that I hooked.
And then when your unhooking them, they give you that stupid look like in a cartoon as if it was not their fault.
Thankfully, it was the only water I ever fished that they did dive all night long.
In reply to Post #7
Hooked them in the middle of the night on a few waters, and yes, that stupid look.
On releasing them they just fly away to the far side of the lake.
I ended up buying an eBay special green laser pen. At night they spook away easily, as do coots, however, during the day, they only bog off if you can zap them in the face. My effort to do that is hold the laser pen under my binoculars dead centre, look directly at the tuftie, then shine the pen on them. If it's a pair, they both usually get spooked and fly off.
As for how much they can eat, loads.
Hooked them in the middle of the night on a few waters, and yes, that stupid look.
On releasing them they just fly away to the far side of the lake.
I ended up buying an eBay special green laser pen. At night they spook away easily, as do coots, however, during the day, they only bog off if you can zap them in the face. My effort to do that is hold the laser pen under my binoculars dead centre, look directly at the tuftie, then shine the pen on them. If it's a pair, they both usually get spooked and fly off.
As for how much they can eat, loads.
Everything you put out.
Mate - they can **** everything up in seconds. Laser pens (Green), dark colored baits or using loads of maples in your mix will sort them out - working off the the law of averages they will pick up your hook bait.
In reply to Post #10
I read that a normal size chicken needs about 120 grams of grains per day.
When they lay eggs they need more feed for egg production.
Ok, a chicken is not a tufty or a coot, but it gives an idea of what a bird of that size can eat in day.
I read that a normal size chicken needs about 120 grams of grains per day.
When they lay eggs they need more feed for egg production.
Ok, a chicken is not a tufty or a coot, but it gives an idea of what a bird of that size can eat in day.
I've had bites with literally 50 tufties diving over an area with 4-5kg of boilie out there... I liken it to the baitball effect out at sea... Everything getting stuck in and competing...
In reply to Post #1
It doesn't really matter how much they can eat, once they're full they just dive and pick up your hook bait for fun, devious little s**ts.
It doesn't really matter how much they can eat, once they're full they just dive and pick up your hook bait for fun, devious little s**ts.
In reply to Post #11
I read that a normal size chicken needs about 120 grams of grains per day.
An 18mm boilie (mine at any rate) is ~4gms just for information.
I read that a normal size chicken needs about 120 grams of grains per day.
An 18mm boilie (mine at any rate) is ~4gms just for information.
The little buggers are can certainly be a pain.
Have to admit I do quite like watching them in winter, swimming along in a line one behind the other like regimental soldiers! The will they, won't they spot your bait as they go over your spot. Then just when you think you have got away with it the rear guard circles back, hovers then dives. Then the whole blinking lot descend
Have to admit I do quite like watching them in winter, swimming along in a line one behind the other like regimental soldiers! The will they, won't they spot your bait as they go over your spot. Then just when you think you have got away with it the rear guard circles back, hovers then dives. Then the whole blinking lot descend