I'd consider myself a novice when it comes to making bait. Having made a few batches of boilies around 10 years ago, kids came along and I stopped. Fast forward to now and I'm giving it another go. Trying to make boilies as active as possible.
Anyway, my problem. The baits I made were fairly soft to start with. Having belachan paste and nothing really much to harden the baits. It's a 6 egg mix and I boiled for around 45 secs. Air dried for 48hrs, baits are still soft. No problem, I want them to be breaking down when they go in the lake fast. Anyway, I put these air dried baits into an enzyme soak for about an hour. Started air drying again and they just seemed to be getting softer and softer. Panic set in and I bagged the lot up and stuck it in the freezer. They seem to be all stuck together now and I reckon when I thaw them out they're just gonna be a big mass of paste. Any ideas of what I can do to help them separate again when thawing? I don't want to be lobbing them with a stick and a catapult might just reach the distance I want to fish. Just don't really fancy picking bits off this solid mass to bait up. Take the piss, I don't mind. I'm a bait nod
Anyway, my problem. The baits I made were fairly soft to start with. Having belachan paste and nothing really much to harden the baits. It's a 6 egg mix and I boiled for around 45 secs. Air dried for 48hrs, baits are still soft. No problem, I want them to be breaking down when they go in the lake fast. Anyway, I put these air dried baits into an enzyme soak for about an hour. Started air drying again and they just seemed to be getting softer and softer. Panic set in and I bagged the lot up and stuck it in the freezer. They seem to be all stuck together now and I reckon when I thaw them out they're just gonna be a big mass of paste. Any ideas of what I can do to help them separate again when thawing? I don't want to be lobbing them with a stick and a catapult might just reach the distance I want to fish. Just don't really fancy picking bits off this solid mass to bait up. Take the piss, I don't mind. I'm a bait nod
In reply to Post #1
The enzymes are 'eating' the baits, they will eventually turn to mush. Good, if expensive groundbait though.
The enzymes are 'eating' the baits, they will eventually turn to mush. Good, if expensive groundbait though.
In reply to Post #2
Yeah. I think i should've put more thought into how to dry them quickly to stop this happening.
Yeah. I think i should've put more thought into how to dry them quickly to stop this happening.
Add whatever you're adding just before use. Don't add it then re air dry
In reply to Post #2
spot on
if there were enzymes in ther mix, no turning back now.
they'll be super attractive though
if you make them again, consider using a little blood powder in your mix - has some gelling properties & doesn't make the baits too hard when used in smaller amounts, allowing them to break down easily once submerged.
spot on
if there were enzymes in ther mix, no turning back now.
they'll be super attractive though
if you make them again, consider using a little blood powder in your mix - has some gelling properties & doesn't make the baits too hard when used in smaller amounts, allowing them to break down easily once submerged.
Thanks for the tips, appreciate it. Think I'll use a bit of blood powder next time then and do the enzyme soak bankside 
In reply to Post #3
I'd suggest reading up on the enzyme your using to see what might restrict its action, that's not a bad idea anyway, it'll give you a much better knowledge to use going forward.
I'd suggest reading up on the enzyme your using to see what might restrict its action, that's not a bad idea anyway, it'll give you a much better knowledge to use going forward.
In reply to Post #1
Out of interest are you using the feed stim enzyme? If you want to stop the baits from completely breaking down, heat is probably the only answer but tbh I think I'd be a bit confident using them live.
Out of interest are you using the feed stim enzyme? If you want to stop the baits from completely breaking down, heat is probably the only answer but tbh I think I'd be a bit confident using them live.
In reply to Post #8
No it's bromelain which i had from years ago plus some zygest, so it's likely breaking everything down. I think I will just take them out the freezer just before going. Didn't really want to heat them again and kill off any of the bacteria. Might try and smash it up a bit while still frozen so I've got some more manageable bits to chuck out. Hopefully the experimentation pays off.
No it's bromelain which i had from years ago plus some zygest, so it's likely breaking everything down. I think I will just take them out the freezer just before going. Didn't really want to heat them again and kill off any of the bacteria. Might try and smash it up a bit while still frozen so I've got some more manageable bits to chuck out. Hopefully the experimentation pays off.
In reply to Post #1
I'd admit defeat - defrost and knead into luncheon meat size blocks, defrost what is needed the night before, cube, shake in a dry powder (liver) and use. Not round balls, but super attractive winter morsels by the sound of it.
I'd admit defeat - defrost and knead into luncheon meat size blocks, defrost what is needed the night before, cube, shake in a dry powder (liver) and use. Not round balls, but super attractive winter morsels by the sound of it.
In reply to Post #1
Without another hardener boiling for 45 seconds won't help, it's going to be a soft bait.
Also belachan is salty which reduces the binding of the the egg ablumen,
Depending on the binders (not additional hardeners) in the main ingredients blood powder will give a harder/drier more soluable bait.
Yes it cooks faster with less of a skin than egg.although it sounds like you're trying for too much soluable content.
Mignt not help if you're going to soak it in an enzyme that will break down the little bond you have.
As you're trying for a soluable winter bait ..less egg is one way but perhaps some coarser ingredients, SG60, maize meal to create a firmer carrier matrix instead of something that won't stay on the hair..
Without another hardener boiling for 45 seconds won't help, it's going to be a soft bait.
Also belachan is salty which reduces the binding of the the egg ablumen,
Depending on the binders (not additional hardeners) in the main ingredients blood powder will give a harder/drier more soluable bait.
Yes it cooks faster with less of a skin than egg.although it sounds like you're trying for too much soluable content.
Mignt not help if you're going to soak it in an enzyme that will break down the little bond you have.
As you're trying for a soluable winter bait ..less egg is one way but perhaps some coarser ingredients, SG60, maize meal to create a firmer carrier matrix instead of something that won't stay on the hair..