Just wondering what techniques people are using to harden up hookbaits . I'm looking to use baits straight out of the bag on the hook but would like them a little harder . I don't really want to air dry them to rock hard bullets . I wondered whether perhaps putting a few in a pop up pot along with some rock salt might have the desired effect , thanks .
In reply to Post #1
I have never tried this with shop bought baits but with my own freezer baits I have found that if you take a handful of finished boilies and boil them again for a prolonged period, 3 to 4 minutes, more often than not you get good hard hookbaits. I do dry them then glug them and freeze them. You will need to try this on your bait because sometimes it doesn't work, not sure why.
I have never tried this with shop bought baits but with my own freezer baits I have found that if you take a handful of finished boilies and boil them again for a prolonged period, 3 to 4 minutes, more often than not you get good hard hookbaits. I do dry them then glug them and freeze them. You will need to try this on your bait because sometimes it doesn't work, not sure why.
In reply to Post #1
I would have thought salt would make them harder than air dried to be honest or at least the same.
I would air dry them and keep checking them daily until you are happy with how hard they are.
I would have thought salt would make them harder than air dried to be honest or at least the same.
I would air dry them and keep checking them daily until you are happy with how hard they are.
I add some pickling/rock salt to a maggot box (Ventilated) and a hand full of baits.
Ill leave them a couple of weeks in the salt and then rehydrate in a pot of liquids for a few days and then back to the salt.
Ill leave them a couple of weeks in the salt and then rehydrate in a pot of liquids for a few days and then back to the salt.
Make a glug with 20ml glycerine, 3ml flavour, 1ml sweetener.
Put about 5ml in a pop up pot and add some boilies that you have air dried for a week.
Give them a shake every couple of days and they will absorb the glug and after a week they will be perfect.
Put about 5ml in a pop up pot and add some boilies that you have air dried for a week.
Give them a shake every couple of days and they will absorb the glug and after a week they will be perfect.
In reply to Post #1
Always dried out some freezer bait for a couple of days,*drilled*a hole through each one then put in a boilie pot and added some bait soak
Leave for a day then turn the pot 180*
Keep turning for a couple of weeks and the bait should be nice and hard
Perfect for fishing with crays or for long soaks
Don't forget to drill first as you will struggle to get a needle through afterwards
Always dried out some freezer bait for a couple of days,*drilled*a hole through each one then put in a boilie pot and added some bait soak
Leave for a day then turn the pot 180*
Keep turning for a couple of weeks and the bait should be nice and hard
Perfect for fishing with crays or for long soaks
Don't forget to drill first as you will struggle to get a needle through afterwards
Glycerine is a hookbait hardener, so give them a roll in Glycerine, then store them. I'd drill them first before leaving in a tub.
Then as Baitman has said, if you want a dose of extra attraction, glug them in glycerine, flavour and sweetener.
On my 'straight out of the bag' hookbaits, I don't bother glugging hookbaits, nor hardening them, although I do mesh them in tights or stocking.
Meshing them prevents the ducks or swans nicking hookbaits.
Then as Baitman has said, if you want a dose of extra attraction, glug them in glycerine, flavour and sweetener.
On my 'straight out of the bag' hookbaits, I don't bother glugging hookbaits, nor hardening them, although I do mesh them in tights or stocking.
Meshing them prevents the ducks or swans nicking hookbaits.
In reply to Post #7
Thanks for the replies . There's a few things to experiment with . I'm guessing that I'm just looking to make them a little firmer without going rock hard so I'll probably experiment with the amount of air dry time with some rehydration, thanks .
Thanks for the replies . There's a few things to experiment with . I'm guessing that I'm just looking to make them a little firmer without going rock hard so I'll probably experiment with the amount of air dry time with some rehydration, thanks .
I usually do a few batches of out the bag boilies in glycerin for the river, but if I've forgotten, trout pellets do the trick too.
In reply to Post #9
Moved to right section
Moved to right section
In reply to Post #1
L030 used to be the best for this. The other fish hydros don't seem to work as well so use salt nowadays. Never been a fan of glycerin in a bait
L030 used to be the best for this. The other fish hydros don't seem to work as well so use salt nowadays. Never been a fan of glycerin in a bait
In reply to Post #11
I've got a feeling that glycerine may be an attractor in its own right.
I know it's the base solvent on many flavours, but are Carp attracted to the flavour or the solvent?
discuss...
Also shelf life boilies that are the same as a freezer version, the main preservative is often glycerine, and the shelfie often provokes an instant response where the freezer version may take longer
I've got a feeling that glycerine may be an attractor in its own right.
I know it's the base solvent on many flavours, but are Carp attracted to the flavour or the solvent?
discuss...
Also shelf life boilies that are the same as a freezer version, the main preservative is often glycerine, and the shelfie often provokes an instant response where the freezer version may take longer
In reply to Post #12
I use pellets to dry and absorb the moisture and harden then liven with a glug if needed.
Salt does same.
Maybe better for pop ups to not alter bouyancy (ie not a soak)but will reduce size a bit?
I use pellets to dry and absorb the moisture and harden then liven with a glug if needed.
Salt does same.
Maybe better for pop ups to not alter bouyancy (ie not a soak)but will reduce size a bit?
Two methods that I've used. Add 10% egg powder to the base mix and then make the hookbaits as normal 90s boiling time, dry for a day or so, light coating of glycerine turn it over for a few days until dried and store in pots.
Second method was to lightly coat in a thin glug, allow to dry and then repeat 3 or 4 times until dried in well. Hardens hookbaits up well.
I've found that drying them out alone for a few days is not enough as they still then go soft quick, dry them for weeks and it's a different matter but how to get a needle through when their rock hard...
Second method was to lightly coat in a thin glug, allow to dry and then repeat 3 or 4 times until dried in well. Hardens hookbaits up well.
I've found that drying them out alone for a few days is not enough as they still then go soft quick, dry them for weeks and it's a different matter but how to get a needle through when their rock hard...
In reply to Post #14
Glycerine worked for me
When I was fishing a lot, I went through a stage of making my own glugs up using glycerine as the base and various flavours in a 60/40 split
Made the soaked baits rockhard and I should've drilled before soaking as they were a nightmare to penetrate.
After a fair few years away from the bank, I'm finally getting out again soon and found some of these baits in a container I'd long forgotten about, soaking for 10+ years. I could probably use them a decorative stones now, still smell amazing but I have no chance of drilling them. They'd probably take a few smacks with a hammer and survive!!!
Glycerine worked for me
When I was fishing a lot, I went through a stage of making my own glugs up using glycerine as the base and various flavours in a 60/40 split
Made the soaked baits rockhard and I should've drilled before soaking as they were a nightmare to penetrate.
After a fair few years away from the bank, I'm finally getting out again soon and found some of these baits in a container I'd long forgotten about, soaking for 10+ years. I could probably use them a decorative stones now, still smell amazing but I have no chance of drilling them. They'd probably take a few smacks with a hammer and survive!!!