Is there anyway of making shelflifes boilies a bit harder for using as hookbaits straight out the bag ? Just enough to withstand a decent cast . I brought some today and they seem a bit soft and worried they may tear .
In reply to Post #1
Leave some out in the open to dry out
Leave some out in the open to dry out
In reply to Post #2
Air dry & glug
Air dry & glug
Put in small bag of sugar, draws the water out 
In reply to Post #1
Putting some in to a bag of dry carp pellets will pull a lot the moisture out of them and toughen them up.
Carp pellets are very absorbent, halibuts or carp pellets that have had oil added won't work as well.
Putting some in to a bag of dry carp pellets will pull a lot the moisture out of them and toughen them up.
Carp pellets are very absorbent, halibuts or carp pellets that have had oil added won't work as well.
In reply to Post #1
Never seen a ready made that was soft enough out of the bag that it would come off on the cast. Put a sequin/little square of rubber band/fake corn tipper(if allowed) on before the hair stop. Or a bigger hair stop.
Never seen a ready made that was soft enough out of the bag that it would come off on the cast. Put a sequin/little square of rubber band/fake corn tipper(if allowed) on before the hair stop. Or a bigger hair stop.
In reply to Post #1
What shelfies did you buy that were so soft.
Providing its not a 'dodgy batch' then you could air dry them for a week, if we get any dry and warm weather.
Then mix a bit of flavour with some glycerin and give them a light coating and leave to soak in for another week.
Or just get some hard hookers and use the shelfies as feed bait.
What shelfies did you buy that were so soft.
Providing its not a 'dodgy batch' then you could air dry them for a week, if we get any dry and warm weather.
Then mix a bit of flavour with some glycerin and give them a light coating and leave to soak in for another week.
Or just get some hard hookers and use the shelfies as feed bait.
In reply to Post #1
This doesn't always work, it depends on the mix but if its for hookbaits only, just put a few in a saucepan of boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes. If it works then Job done, if not you've just wasted a few boilies.
This doesn't always work, it depends on the mix but if its for hookbaits only, just put a few in a saucepan of boiling water for 3 to 4 minutes. If it works then Job done, if not you've just wasted a few boilies.
In reply to Post #1
Could put a few in a pot with a bit of bait soak as found this tends to harden the baits up a bit, plus a bit of extra attraction. Or failing that most/some companies offer pots of hardened hookbaits
Could put a few in a pot with a bit of bait soak as found this tends to harden the baits up a bit, plus a bit of extra attraction. Or failing that most/some companies offer pots of hardened hookbaits
That's another option baitmans just reminded me of, Glycerine. Couple of quid from boots, put your bait in that it'll soon draw the water out. A lot of commercial bait glugs used to be/probebly still are based on it, one of the reasons the glug will go slack/runny over time as it drawers the water out of the bait. Honey works too.
It's all the same theory, bit like osmosis, water moving from a medium of high water content to a medium of low water content until equilibrium is reached...could use salt too.
It's all the same theory, bit like osmosis, water moving from a medium of high water content to a medium of low water content until equilibrium is reached...could use salt too.
In reply to Post #1
stick them in any dip, and that will harden them up
very rare you'll get a soft shelf life bait. Id be dropping the supplier/manufacture an e-mail. Not to moan, just to query
stick them in any dip, and that will harden them up
very rare you'll get a soft shelf life bait. Id be dropping the supplier/manufacture an e-mail. Not to moan, just to query