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In reply to Post #1145
The Herb is the one for me,my mate is more for the skipjack squid.We both catch well on either baits but Herb with a super squid wafter or dark sting wafter just does the business for me
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In reply to Post #1145
I’d have to say herb
Works for the masses
Proven results
Just adapt how much you use when the cold weather comes but it does work well in winter!
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In reply to Post #1145
I hate it when that happens 
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Just taken delivery of some sample baits; was hoping this would help me make my mind up, but it doesn't as they all look good. Any advice / suggestions for something I can use all year round - cheers.
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In reply to Post #1143
Glad you lads like it. Lots of messages at handcraft this week regarding new items which I have tried to answer. We have been very busy for February and I have already seen some huge orders come in so apologies if you have been calling this week and I didn’t answer. I’ll get back to you when I can as I’m on my own again for a few days 😩😩
I have landed some lovely carp this winter up 49lb but I haven’t actually done lots of fishing again due to work and shooting etc.
the good times are just around the corner 😉
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Just had a look at the latest Vlog Gav . Even went back and had a look at some of your earlier vids A very honest account of the bait game. Reminded me again to take a look at the baits you have on offer. Sample order incoming. 
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In reply to Post #1131
superb vid from HC
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In reply to Post #1140
Well ideally 20kg but I can often piggyback orders onto other orders if our timing is right
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In reply to Post #1139
What’s the minimum order for the nutriplex Gav?
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In reply to Post #1137
Nutriplex is still Pre order only for the simple reason that we have to hold so much of the herb and skipjack and Tricknut during peak season.
I will start making more Nutriplex in November and we are taking some plex with us on our next trip away.
Nutriplex has great winter form and is a very old proven recipe, it has a low fat content and an all round basemix like the other baits so it will work well in cold water.
Are the primers pva friendly? You can dunk a pva mesh bag in them but I don’t pour them into solid bags!
Mega things those primers, I wouldnt fish without them
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Are the 'Primers' pva friendly?
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In reply to Post #1135
When are you starting producing the Nutriplex again? Am i correct in thinking this is the bait you suggest for winter use?
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In reply to Post #1135
Quite a cold day yestrday with that wind and the water, much colder than I expected but it gets a good wind all day, even so at over 15' you'd think it wouldn't cool off that fast (note to self, get a new thermometer!) In any case, white Trick Nut pop up producing a fish this time and a lost fish on a bottom bait, still doing the do. Those bottom baits are nice and soft but it still held on a rig screw for 90mins until the take.
EDITED, not a white wafter, a pop up! thanks Braders 
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In reply to Post #1134
The media thing will have to be sorted one day buddy. I have had lots of offers to help but like you have just said,I don’t like the idea of pestering people as it makes you seem desperate.
I have always concentrated on the actual products and tried to make things how I want them to be (and Pidge) but there are some clever lads out there who know how take pics and work social media.
Maybe next year I’ll take on someone who can drive that bit for me and take some of the pressure off us.
This year has been an eye opener for us and it’s not all positive, I have been doing far too many hours and two weeks ago I very nearly broke 😂
The company and the lakes take it out of you physically and we have grown so quickly that we need to take the next step and that means more help!!
The blog is a good way to vent and show you guys how we work and how I want it to be!
Haven’t had much chance to film anything for 3 weeks on the bounce now but I will get back on it this week.
God bless the tricknut……..just taken a large shipment of the nuts again and I’ll be back on that mixer by lunchtime 😂😂
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In reply to Post #1133
To be fair Gav, I suppose it depends what you want from your business. You might find bringing someone onboard to do all the social media type crap which is so en vogue these days might pay for itself, and that doesn't mean you don't have to do it your way.
I use another bait firm and I quite often find myself unsubscribing from the e-mails as I simply get too many. I'm sure the youngsters like to be kept in touch but good god, how many times do you need reminders about stuff  ...I can only imagine what their 'feeds' are like, if that's the right word.
I was out on Fri, it was surprisingly tough on a 'easy' water, weather conditions did not help & the water was surprisingly cold. 5 anglers and 2 fish, 1 to me on a Trick Nut wafter. Nothing absolute about that but confidence slowly building in Trick Nut
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In reply to Post #1132
Isn’t it funny, I got told that we must make some sort of videos and improve our media as it’s the “in thing” but I have been buried in a world of work and paying bills and building the business for over 3 years and the whole media thing has just not happened.
I took the camera with me for a few days and turned it into some sort of blog thingy and my phone went mental!!
The orders piled in (they have been steadily rising to a point where I’m struggling to keep on top of it all) and the handcraft files has definitely made a difference already.
But I think that there is so much bull**** in the bait industry that the honest and open type of films will be popular. I’ll do a bit more and there are lots of things to talk about and show you lads as we move forward. I have some large changes coming I just don’t when it will happen and how it will work but I’ll film what I can.
When people make films every day it tells me that they are clearly not very busy as I genuinely don’t get time to drink a hot cup of tea most days 😂
Maybe Hollywood will come calling for me one day 😂😂😂
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Just had a chance to watch your first vlog Gav. Must say some proper sensible bait talk being spoken there. Love how you keep your workspace so clean aswell. You look at a lot of bait company's behind the scene footage and they seem to have more product and mess on the floor then anything. Says a lot about the thought and effort you put into your bait Highly impressed will have to send of for some samples and have a look myself.
But definitely showing your age. Don't think many of the kids these days would even no what an 8th of pot and a blue magazine is these days..  
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In reply to Post #1129
When I have used a liquid the Calanus watered down with hemp oil is a good shout, I just find it unnecessary to be honest if i want more of a spod mix I just add some hemp/water. I also lightly coat the hookbaits in Minamino in the pots. 
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Anyone have a preferred liquid to go with the Herb and generic pellets in a spod mix ?
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In reply to Post #1123
6 months on shelf life’s if kept cool etc.
I constantly test shelf life baits in my office and I have tested them up to a year old! I do think that you should use them way before then though.
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Pepperami flavour boilies on the herb base mix would be great for my Barbel fishing.
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In reply to Post #1123
I had some at the start of this year that was left over and it is still fine after 3 months.
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In reply to Post #1122
Been asking gav for years for a deep c/ crab boilie to match the pop up ..
Was also asking for a squid to match and it came along in end
So still hope for a crab if enough keep on lol
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What is the shelflife of the shelflife bait if kept in the correct condition ?
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In reply to Post #1120
How about a light brown fishmeal with the Deep C attractor package? That would be awesome!
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What’s everyone’s go to boilie from handcraft in winter that tricknut look decent
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In reply to Post #1119
I can’t ever change herb
I’d get shot 😂
Maybe a dark version one day 😂😂
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In reply to Post #1116
He could do them as a special hookbait
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In reply to Post #1116
2nd this, Sting is banging 👌
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In reply to Post #1111
Robin red Fishmeals catcher of big carp since the mid to late 80's
For some reason they do seem to pick out the bigger fish. That's why I think Terry Hearn puts so much faith in them. Arnt Sticky bring out a Robin red Fishmeal?
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In reply to Post #1111
Forget the colour Gav, can you please do the herb with 3ml per kilo of sting flavour ……. 
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In reply to Post #1111
If I could only use one it would be the Herb,had a lovely 17/18lb mirror early hours this morning.The lake has been fishing very badly this year and 12mm herb with a small dumbell wafter has done the business again .
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In reply to Post #1113
Its not specifically the carps reaction to the red bait that i am bothered about more so the coots that are my biggest problem on a specific low stock carp water with a sandy bottom, the red fishmeals stand out so clearly even washed out.
I got some of the skipjack off you last week to see if it will be harder for them to locate, i have thought of trying a nut based bait as that will probably blend even better plus the the head of very big bream may not be as drawn to a nut bait?
The lake i am fishing is a very difficult lake with a few stockies and the very old originals which is what i am fishing for with some success but they will not not pick up a bright hookbait pink, yellow, white, orange etc all my fish are falling to natural subtle coloured hoobaits
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In reply to Post #1112
When we first produced the finished article that is now the herb, we all kind of said the same thing and we watched a lot of carp on two lakes in particular feed on the herb from late winter into early spring.
The carp never showed signs of spooking off the bait, in fact it was the reverse! They homed in on the baited area and when our guys got together to share the early results they all said how good the first ever response was to the bait.
I actually think that 99 percent of what we throw into a lake is hi viz.
Most boilies are pale
Pellets go pale
Corn is bright yellow
Particles are bright
Therefore another bright boilie makes no difference to the carp. If they like eating something then they will stay and feed regardless of colour.
The birds however are a different matter.
Skipjack is reverse engineered from herb but with different additives, liquids and of course tuna fish but the colour was tweaked to avoid bloody coots!!
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In reply to Post #1111
I think a brown version of the herb would have done very well, The red herb obviously catches a lot of fish and is very successful but i personally think the red stands out to much over most of the bottoms i fish, i always seem to do better on brown baits
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In reply to Post #1110
I think the 3 main baits we sell will find a place in many of you guys angling at some point. I have worked my way through dozens and dozens of recipes over the years and most of them have something in common.
If you are going to try them then start with the herb! That one is just so effective. Today I have opened my social media (sorry to mention Facebook 😂  and the messages and catch reports on it are like nothing I have seen before. Shelf life herb is very good too.
It’s got a huge following and we could just make that one bait and survive now.
When I made it I was tempted to make it brown/ natural colour but l love the haiths robin red and I have seen how good those proper red fishmeals can be.
I do wonder what the brown version would have taken off like!
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In reply to Post #1109
I use both, S7 & Tricknut, going to be hard for me to stop using S7!
@Gav
Hope you had a good break
I keep meaning to come on here and share some mega carp but I guess you can see them on our social media if you want to. I don’t look here as much as I used to
Honestly, sort your s**t out.
Even for you  there's no way I'm ever going on social media voluntarily , especially to look at pictures of other people ( who I don't aspire to be like, and am not envious of) fishy pictures (that on the whole I wouldn't want to fish for and would probably never get the opportunity to anyway )
I was forced to twice, once by a syndi that only communicated by FB (if you call a lot of the scribblings communication, could be another language for all I know), and once by a club because I was fishing and unbeknown to me there was a work party slated and they only told people by FB 
Ramblings over, go and slag me off on social medial folks fill your boots ...and that was all said in jest to a point, FB can kiss my a***.
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In reply to Post #1108
Yes,switched from dna to handcraft and won't be going back
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Herb shelflife, as good as the frozen version? On a par with DNA for instance?
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In reply to Post #1106
Evening everyone.
We are just about to embark on a 10 day shutdown.
It has been a very busy two months and we all need a break so the whole factory is closing down for a short while. If you were thinking about placing an order it will have to wait for early September and I have no doubt that the first week back is going to be nothing short of more chaos 😂
But we will do our best and get lots more bait ready as soon as we can.
I keep meaning to come on here and share some mega carp but I guess you can see them on our social media if you want to.
I don’t look here as much as I used to but I will keep replying to your messages when I see them.
Tight lines for now 😉
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In reply to Post #1105
Very well spotted or sniffed
Your nose will get tuna
Squid
And the spice comes from a bird food that not many will have put in a large scale bait 😉
One of my favourite ingredients!!
Interestingly those little 12mm pop ups are working for a huge amount of anglers out there.
They are made with the basemix in them which for me is a huge edge!
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Properly used the skipjack for the first time today.
One rod on a popup one on a bottom bait.
Fished 2 quite different swims and had 7 runs in 8 hours, 5 landed all on the matching popup. No muck or glugs just around freebies.
The stuff proper stinks after being out of the freezer for a bit I swear there's a low level of an oriental spice in there, but none of that matters really because on this water today, it's really done the job. I'm one happy new handcraft customer 👍
Just hoping for one more run before home time 🙂
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In reply to Post #1103
Well done lads and glad the service was spot on!
We have sent out a lot of bait and hookbaits this week and I hope it all arrived safely!
Even managed a few carp myself today….. little herb Wafters, royal supremes and a mix of herb and skipjack 12mm produced two corkers!
Loads of carp coming out again this week 😉
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In reply to Post #1102
More to the point then will catch fish. Just had a great session on my syndicate that is fishing hard, Deep C and Almond wafters with small pva mesh bags of pellets did the job for me when most people on the lake were struggling
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Ordered 3 tubs of hookbaits a couple of days ago. Delivered next day. All 3 smell right, look right and all I need to do is put em in the right place. Great service and quality gear.
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In reply to Post #1099
Cheers gav just made my life harder lol . Just placed a small order for the herb to try next weekend , i already tried and tested for you in the earlie stages tho last year the squid , so i give the herb ago next weekend then make my mind up and place a big order for france next month.
Thanks mate
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In reply to Post #1099
Get on the super squids ……. 
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In reply to Post #1098
Afternoon all!!
Apologies I have been mowing grass round the lakes all day today and sorting out a minor flood in our unit after a storm!
Skipjack or herb?
So so difficult to answer this. I love them both and my customers do too! Skipjack is very different to any other squid/tuna bait that I have ever seen (never seen one with actual tuna in commercially) and it’s already produced some mega fish.
Herb needs no introduction and I guess that if you judge it on results alone then Herb has 3 years of proof behind it whereas skipjack is the new boy with big shoes to fill!
My lads who use and promote it fairly are all blabbering on about the skipjack and how they never thought they would use anything other than herb until I gave them the squid!
Both very good
Both made with really nice different things in compared to a lot of baits out there.
Tricky choice to make isn’t it! Let’s ask this again in a years time 😂
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In reply to Post #1097
I would suggest using messenger as I have had many a conversation with them out of hours via that method of contact
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In reply to Post #1096
You might be better off copying that message and putting it in an email to the Handcraft team. You'll get a reply very quickly there during office hours. Gav doesn't check here consistently as he's usually swamped in tuna fish and other assorted bits and pieces lol.
info@handcraftbaits.co.uk
Good luck on your trip.
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Hows the skip jack comparing to the herb at min catch wise.
Im off to france in a month and fishing a 10 acre lake that only started fishing 2 years back and was untouched for 20 years . Stock been added 2 so there in there and used 2 boiles now but there lot naturals food in there crayfish etc .
Im thinking big c and the squid pop ups but need a a feed bait .
So out of the skip and herb.
Gav lend a hand ?
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In reply to Post #1094
When will skipjack be available in 12mm
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In reply to Post #1093
I do like the smell of the finished bait but my god it stinks when I’m blending the hydros, flavours, tuna fish and garlic…..makes me gag 😂
I’m also not keen on tuna sarnies anymore 😩
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In reply to Post #1090
Skipjack smells more carpy tho 😂😂
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In reply to Post #1090
Better get my order in 
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In reply to Post #1090
It certainly catches fish
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In reply to Post #1089
Nothing like that one buddy
Meaty, spicy lovely smell and taste
Lots of hydro liquids in the makeup
Smells like………well it smells carpy according to the regulars 😂
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In reply to Post #1088
Can anyone confirm what the attractor profile is used in the Herb?
I love the old Shellfish sense appeal / Monster Crab combo and wondered if it is anything like this?
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In reply to Post #1087
Good news buddy
There has been delays for about 20 customers as we tried a new shipping company only for them to fail to turn up and collect 😂
But we are back in business and sent another pallet of stuff out today
Hopefully all orders will arrive by end of play tomorrow!!
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In reply to Post #1086
Still got me delivery of your finest skipjack today mate, cheers. Thought there may have been a day or two delay
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In reply to Post #1084
Yep
Servers are down and it’s caused us a nightmare today
Hopefully get it all back up and running soon!
Sorry lads
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In reply to Post #1084
He knows,it's on the Facebook page
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Looks like your website is broken bud.
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In reply to Post #1082
I bloody hope so, been a tough year so far, only had a couple of decent carp
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In reply to Post #1081
Well done! Lots of nice fish being reported this week.
Maybe spawning is mostly done for the year and they are up for a feed again
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1st outing using Tricknut yesterday, wafters fished with method incorporating the base & liquid, 2 Carp, equalling the 2 on S7, quite happy with that for 1st use and only a few hours fishing
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In reply to Post #1079
How about in a really pale natural fishmeal then, with no robin red or blood plasma etc to darken it up?
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In reply to Post #1078
White baits are a thing of the past buddy
Not allowed to make them anymore but hookbaits are fine
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In reply to Post #1074
White Deep C boilies to go with the wafters would be amazing I reckon!
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In reply to Post #1076
Think that's what going to do,any dark sting wafters in them
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In reply to Post #1075
Why not use the small dumbbell Wafters?? 😂 10x14mm
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In reply to Post #1074
Never mind all that,what about 12mm wafters
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In reply to Post #1073
Afternoon lads
I’m glad the herb is smashing it for you lads and I have to say that the herb is still working for the lads who got on it right back in the beginning.
That one is still handcrafts biggest seller and perhaps always will be!
I have never made any other boilie with such a huge response!
Skipjack, well this one has surprised me.
I have had some amazing captures sent in since its launch and there are a few lads that have some mind bending hauls.
One of my lads Glenn Maulkerson has just had two sessions back to back at a new lake where he has landed an entire seasons worth of carp including the biggest two carp in the lake. He has also been through 30kg of the freezer baits in two trips.
I have been using it on my new lakes and I must admit I bloody love it! No bird issues, and bites on nearly every trip!
My mate dan has taken this one to about 4/5 venues in the last 5 months and I have lost track of the carp he’s caught.
Herb took about 6 months to really get out there and prove itself and the skipjack is doing well on sales and catch reports already.
Making skipjack has proved interesting. Kilos and kilos of tuna fish being rolled into the bait has now become a really messy job. I blitz it into the hydros and the whole factory smells like a fishmongers 😂😉
It’s very different to anything I have seen before commercially (not just cos of the tuna) and I have grown to really like the smell and taste.
Why do some baits not work at some lakes? Hard to say but some lakes don’t respond to particles or to bright hookbaits or to maggots etc and generally I think it’s overuse or other species that’s the problem! Why does one guy not like herb when 9 out of 10 say it’s the best thing ever? We have just gone through a very busy spring and I’m hopeful that I can perhaps make a few of the things that you lads keep asking for. The brand is growing really well and it’s all driven by you guys. I have been sitting on the fence about the next step for handcraft but I have decided to try and take things one step further. I need help though as I can’t keep doing so many hours and being all over the country all the time.
I need people who can film, market some ideas, and help with our media as I haven’t ever actually advertised the business anywhere yet!
This week I’m making loads of tricknut basemix and I want to get that into as many people’s hands as possible. That’s the bait I haven’t pushed enough yet. Hookbait sales are just crazy every month now.
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In reply to Post #1070
I bought a couple of the paste kits to add to my method but I'm going to use some to roll dumbell bottoms. I bought a different sized baitmaster rolling table for it but tbh I think given the amount required I may make them on the smaller single hand table.
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In reply to Post #1071
Not having the skipjack cause you've got them addicted to the Herb
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In reply to Post #1069
No nor me,ended up on 12 fish between two of us 10 fish to herb.I had one on pineapple wafter and my mate had a new pb on the p-rami wafter.This is on a water the bailiff said isn't producing much these days
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In reply to Post #1068
I can't even roll my eyes properly
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In reply to Post #1067
Funny how some waters respond differently to different baits. Never really understood it myself.
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In reply to Post #1065
Might have to roll your own T, I wanted some dumbell bottoms (TN), no joy.
Perhaps if enough people wanted them it'd be worth rolling them, petition Gav time 🤣
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In reply to Post #1066
I don't seem to be catching on the skipjack,could be just the water I'm on but Herb smashes it
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In reply to Post #1063
Hope you're doing well Gav. The skipjack is amazing, not only is it just as good as the herb its also effective at avoiding the coots, am able to fish all the bars i want and laugh at the little ****s who cant find the bait.
Top quality as always. Also love the stick mix, become a staple in my solid bags with the slickers.
Take care
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On the bank now and The Herb is doing the business again,5 fish landed 1 lost.Tried different hookbaits but all have fell to the deadly Herb.Next order will be the dumbell wafters,15mm wafters and a good few kgs of 15mm and 12mm boilie.Can you do 12mm wafters Gav please
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In reply to Post #1063
Good to see you back Gav
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In reply to Post #1062
Evening lads!!
It’s been a while since I have looked in on the forum but I’m waiting for the kettle to boil and I thought I’d see what’s occurring!
I hope you are all well and catching loads!!
I’ll try and and answer some of your questions but I can see some nice feedback on the thread so I assume all is well! Good luck to all of you new customers and yes the skipjack is very popular right now. I always knew this one was another big fish bait but I’m already bored of dealing with tuna fish in brine 😂😂😂😂😂
I watched a guy catch 3 big U.K. 40s on the bounce this weekend on it and I’ll share some more captures next time I’m on here hopefully!
Tight lines
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In reply to Post #1059
I thought the same regarding the Herb and Sting fishmeal........Smells divine and certainly catches its fair share of fish!
The Sting and Super squid HBs are my go to hookbaits.......
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In reply to Post #1059
I've always fished with sting wafters over the herb and done well
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In reply to Post #1059
Only problem I now have is what hookbaits to use with it. I’ll get the matching hard hookers and wafters obviously, but in my parcel today I also got wafters in Sting, Squid, MMT and Deep-C and they all smell amazing lol
Come to me little fishy...Gavs freebie plan working
In all honesty I put a hook bait list together at Xmas, it was ridiculously long, I'm amazed at my self restraint just ordering the matching 1's for the Tricknut (I'll tell the Mrs that...maybe leave out the DNA and AA bait order)
TBF to me I did order her a Solar Sofa Chair and today the Korum anychair table turned up for it...there's still got to be some good will mileage left...surely 
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In reply to Post #1058
Cheers for replies. My samples arrived today too. The Herb smells incredible, reminds me of the Sting Fishmeal shelflifes I did really well on years ago if I shut my eyes and inhale! Pretty sure I’m going to place and order for that next week. Only problem I now have is what hookbaits to use with it. I’ll get the matching hard hookers and wafters obviously, but in my parcel today I also got wafters in Sting, Squid, MMT and Deep-C and they all smell amazing lol
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freezer bait it's turned up frozen in a polystyrene box (Inside a cardboard box)still frozen,
Same here today
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In reply to Post #1050
Every time I've ordered freezer bait it's turned up frozen in a polystyrene box (Inside a cardboard box)still frozen, then goes straight into the freezer at work no problems at all 👍
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In reply to Post #1050
Every time I've ordered freezer bait it's turned up frozen in a polystyrene box (Inside a cardboard box)still frozen, then goes straight into the freezer at work no problems at all 👍
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My order arrived today, very happy bunny, I hope Gavs not offended when I say the Tricknut smell reminds me of the old Cherry Carp CNC
Ians usually on the phone even if Gavs not about
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In reply to Post #1050
As Wayne said FB Messenger is your best bet (I've always had replies within an hour so so of asking the questions).
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In reply to Post #1050
If you have FB it would be better to message Gav questions on there as he dont come on here much now due to the normal bait shenanigans that go on.........
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In reply to Post #1049
Ordered some wafters and samples this morning, then found some wafters I’d missed and ordered some more lol.
Not used Handcraft before, so a quick question for Gav or anyone else who can answer it… if I was to order freezer bait, is it rolled fresh and sent out before freezing, or is it sent already frozen?
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In reply to Post #1048
Looking on social media it’s catching it’s fair share……
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Hows the new bait holding up gav
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New uk PB on the Super squids.........
Must give them MMT a try too.......
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In reply to Post #1044
You won't regret it,best bait I've ever used
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In reply to Post #1044
Happy new year buddy!
Yeah we had a long Xmas this year and bloody hell I needed it!
Came back to a busy old day today.
So much going on already and lots of nice new things to come out.
Soon be Christmas 😂😂
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In reply to Post #1043
Happy New Year to you too Keeperboy. I'm looking forward to a full year on your bait, (as always thanks to Braders for putting me onto Handcraft).
Definately looking forward to getting some of those Marmite wafters they sound great. Hope you had a nice break.
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In reply to Post #1042
Happy new year to you all! I hope you all caught shed loads of carp over the Xmas period and drank far too much ale 😂
We will be back to the grindstone this week and sorting out lots of orders but I just wanted to let you know that the mega little marmite based Wafters we were working on last year will be released in January.
I think some of you will really like these 😉
Based on the new test bait basemix but with marmite, yeasts, and a few secret little things that we really like, I have no doubt these will be up there with the squids, and herb products.
How much food can you cram in a 15mm wafter? Lots!!
Even bagged some nice carp myself in recent weeks but I’ll save that and the photos of your captures for the next time I get half hour free!!
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In reply to Post #1037
Just ordered some tutti to go along with the squids, should be my winter hookbaits sorted there 🎣👍
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In reply to Post #1039
Used last winter, about to switch back from Herb to Nutriplex again for the winter this year too.
It's done me very well, 100% confidence in it.
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In reply to Post #1039
From what I've read it sounds a quality bait for now
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Anyone using Nutriplex? Used over last winter etc?
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In reply to Post #1037
Guaranteed carp catchers those bad boys
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Just took delivery of some 12mm squids, they look and smell superb. Can’t wait to give them a try 🎣 will definitely be ordering some more soon.
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In reply to Post #1035
Hopefully I will add to that list over the next few days. Done well on the hookbaits this year, but tomorrow night will be the 1st time with the herb, so fingers crossed. Will send you pics if I'm fortunate enough to catch
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In reply to Post #1034
Yep I have never known a boilie turn peoples results around quite like the herb.
I wish I could share all of the images and emails from people who use it but you all get to see plenty of bigguns on our media. God knows how many U.K. 40s I have to post at the moment!
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In reply to Post #937
The herb just seems to pick out big carp looking at your FB and instagram.i can't wait to get fishing with it even know we are going into winter soon hopefully catch a few chunks next few weeks 👍
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In reply to Post #1030
Nutriplex as the main bait in the winter but I'll mix in some herb to keep it going in all year round then when it warms up Herb as the main bait but continue to use nutriplex. Im guessi g herb and tricknut by the looks of things are more popular than the plex but believe me I've seen it take some water apart it's a top top bait
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In reply to Post #1030
That’s a hard call isn’t it
Herb is totally dominant in summer and everyone thinks that nut baits are better in the winter but I don’t believe that.
Nuts, oils, fats etc are better in summer
But Tricknut is a mixed bag like all of our baits, and contain birdfoods, milks, yeasts, soy etc to aid there digestible elements.
I think they all work well in cold if you use them in moderation!
Piling lots of protein rich boilies in during January don’t really work for me!
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In reply to Post #1028
I have one pop up, made with basemix, that I’d take anywhere. It’s the Nutriplex matching 12mm pop up.
I then coat it in extra minamino (it’s rolled into the pop up mix) and I leave them to soak for a week. Those little 12mm boring looking dull pop ups have caught me many big carp when bright hi viz fails.
But my lads rate the squids (fishmeal)
Or the deep c with real tuna fish inside (I’m doing well on these)
I change from lake to lake once I work out wether bright is best or match the hatch.
I do find it hard not to cast out sting yellow 12mm as they always seem to produce for me from late autumn through to late spring.
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In reply to Post #1029
Is everyone planning on staying on her for the winter or switch to the nut?
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Looking at the nut and herb with great interest. For a very long time I've used a Banoffee and a seafood. For the 1st time I'm thinking if moving from a seafood (DNA S7) to the Herb. Just wish I could get some of the original Sectet Agent as a dip. The nut..hmm..think I may have to take the plunge even though not my pref flavour. I've rolled my own on a old CC Moore nut base, like this one its coarse and can be awkward to roll at home, yes I could have ground some if the ingredients finer I suppose. Wondering if my days of home rolling are over and tbh there are a lot of good baits about now.
Will be keeping a eye on this thread.
Edit, think I got confused with the Nutriplex, not moving from a fishmeal then...I'm blaming the codeine
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In reply to Post #1026
If i want a hookbait to use in December which one would you suggest? The water I'm fishing responds best to fishmeal based baits..Tia.
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In reply to Post #1026
Another new one 😱
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In reply to Post #1025
They will work fine buddy!
Real pepperami is only one ingredient of many and we all used to use pepperami in the colder months to good effect
They are proving really popular already and I’ll be sending them out from midweek onwards.
A tad excited about these and the other new one 😉
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In reply to Post #1024
How do you think the p-rami wil fair in the colder months? I know next to nothing about bait but with real salami in it, wondered if the hard days would stay harder and leak out less when it's cold?
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In reply to Post #1023
The most popular would be what you suggested
Sting pink, squids, deep c white.
Sometimes you have to be brave and try something far out like a p rami 😉😉
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Going to order some hookbaits, I want a pale pink and a white, which 2 am I going for lads ? Thinking sting in pink and deep c in white but I can’t make my mind up the pink squids look the nuts too as do the Eton mess 😂
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In reply to Post #1021
Hoping to get them listed and on the site this weekend!
Was supposed to get it done on Monday but it’s been full on again
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In reply to Post #1020
When will the p-rami be on the website?
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In reply to Post #1017
Sting hookbait or Herb wafter over the top is deadly
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In reply to Post #1017
I’m sure you will catch a few buddy!
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In reply to Post #1017
It's an unbelievable boilie! Even compared to atlantic heat
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In reply to Post #1016
Taken the plunge and ordered some herb boilies. I have been doing very well on various Handcraft hookbaits over Atlantic Heat but as the new almond wafters were calling to me and as I needed to top the freezer up it made sense to combine in one order. I have no doubt they will be a hit
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In reply to Post #1015
I’ll be working on many new things in the future I promise
Right now it’s boring stuff like finishing the factory and speeding up the processes.
We are working on new hookbaits, boilies, and god knows what else but also working hard on the fishery.
Not enough hours in the day
But……..the fish being caught by you guys and other anglers is just mental
The big fully made it’s second visit to the bank and this time it was good old cabbie, 59.8 on the super squid over the test bait
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In reply to Post #1010
Will you be doing stick mix anytime soon Gav
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In reply to Post #1012
The Sting pop ups in yellow. Smashing my water up.
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Sting dark wafter over the top of Herb and Tricknut strikes again for me.I absolutely love the Sting it just seems to produce the goods again and again
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In reply to Post #1009
You are welcome buddy
Hope it brings you some good success!
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In reply to Post #1008
Slightly elevated levels but only to allow for the fact they are dried out more.
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Getting back into carp fishing this year after 25 years out, been surface in the main this year until now.
Been looking for a boilie, so ordered Tricknut, a mixed order of freezer & shelf life, and different sizes for both. And Tricknut pellets.
Broke a few boilies open and they look absolute quality.
That smell is just incredible too.
And the postage/packing was super pro and quick.
Cheers guys.
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Are the herb hard hookers boosted, or just standard levels made a bit harder?
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In reply to Post #1006
The first of many
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In reply to Post #1005
Well what can I say.
First night using the squid wafter as a topper with an essential B5 and I catch one of my target fish 30lb 2oz common, only my 2nd 30 from here in 2 1/2 years ..happy days, knew they looked good 😀
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In reply to Post #1004
Thanks for the warm welcome mate, it sounds like its onwards and upwards for the company, well done 👏
Looking forward to trying the baits out, maybe even this weekend if the postage has a fair wind
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In reply to Post #1003
Welcome back buddy
It’s been a busy few years 😂
The Herb is certainly popular. The name comes from a few herbs and spices and a little bit of a private joke with the handcraft lads way back in the beginning. I remember one lad saying that the name “the herb” wouldn’t catch on, but we look back and chuckle now.
All of that aside. If you saw it being made and saw what goes into it then you will understand why it will catch a few. But even I am surprised as to how popular and effective it has become.
The hookbait sales are very good, they have gone far and wide! The squid……it just catches so many big carp!!
Keep your eyes peeled for the new one due out soon. And the one after that if we can nail it!!
New squid bait……..going to need to change it I think as one main element is maybe not going to be available to us.
Lots going on but just keep an eye on our catch reports……….the one thing you can’t lie about 😉
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In reply to Post #1001
That's great news, I read the details on the squid hookbaits and just thought that's a bit of me and had to order some. The herb does look gd. I'm curious though, why the name The Herb? Feels a little misleading, I was thinking it was going to be a hemp based bait with maybe something alternative like pea protein herbs and spices I see fenugreek but I wasn't expecting an out and out fishmeal 
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Great service as usual, order arrived within 2 days.
The herb is a v special bait, without doubt the best bait I've used, since I stopped making my own years back.
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Gave a mate my tub of pink squid pop ups and my herb hard hookbaits for a france trip he went on last month. He’s catching so many on them he doesn’t want to give them back
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In reply to Post #999
I've not been on the forums properly for a while, not sure how I missed this company. Just placed an order to try some pink squid popups and wafters and herb wafters, plus asked for some samples, looks really good quality bait and I know the guys know there some, been following gav and keeperboy since early blakes days. I'm particularly interested in the original koi rearer in the squid and the new squid bait, but it all looks great, the herb and Nutriplex🙂
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In reply to Post #997
Nice bloke is Martin.
I’m sure we will be seeing more of him soon and that fully is something special!
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In reply to Post #996
Thats a stunning fish
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In reply to Post #996
Big respect for Martin. He’s been catching them for decades now.
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In reply to Post #995
Martin Clarke bagged his second 60lb plus UK carp in 12 nights which we think is probably a first. Also caught on The Herb.
Fair play to Martin, what a year he is having.
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In reply to Post #994
Just back from a mega trip to Sumbar, myself and nine Handcraft lads caught over 450 carp including:
1x 70lb
9x 60lb
20x 50lb
90x 40lb
170x 30lb
We went through 600kg of The Herb.
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In reply to Post #993
Hi lads.
Glad things are going well for you all.
I have just returned from Croatia and the fishing was incredible!
Many of our lads took the new sting pink, squids, deep c and herb boilies.
I have no idea how many carp we caught but it was hundreds!
You know it’s prolific when you return 40s and even 50s without photos.
As a group they are all loving the sting pinks and I had a feeling they would be popular!
The new hookbaits are coming along and we will be making more test batches this week hopefully.
Apologies for the lack of content on here but I’ll catch up in winter 🌧️😂😂
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In reply to Post #990
Only take Saturday between about 7 anglers on my side of the lake, pink sting pop up
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In reply to Post #991
It was a very weird fight and didn't have a clue what it was,I was really shocked when it hit the surface
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In reply to Post #990
My pb pike was also caught on a yellow sting wafter
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Is there anything Sting doesn't catch,had a lovely 23lb mirror this morning but now the pike are loving a 15mm yellow sting wafter
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In reply to Post #987
Not sure if it will be this year.
We have just been far too busy to launch anything else.
We are very happy with the most up to date version of the squid bait. It’s a nice dark chocolate brown colour, and smells nice. Just waiting to see what’s happening to the squid hydro that goes in it as it’s about to change
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In reply to Post #977
When's this big announcement coming Gav
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When is the new squid bait out Gav?
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In reply to Post #985
This week has been particularly crazy!
I keep telling myself that it will soon be winter and I can sit around drinking tea in the office 😂
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In reply to Post #984
You haven't got any spare minutes. You used them all up rolling boilies
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In reply to Post #983
I’ll measure one when I get a minute 😂
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In reply to Post #982
Personally i think the 15mm comes out slightly larger than some 15mm i have used in the past.
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Guys,
Thinking of ordering some Tricknut, Boilies, Wafters, Pop Ups.
Just not sure on the mm size, wether to get 15s or 20s.
Usually I use 16 and 18 mm.
Compared to most Boilies out there right now, would you say these are on the small or large size?
If it helps I'm using Sticky Krill and Manilla in 16mm.
I got the sample pack and they were 12 millers lol.
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In reply to Post #977
New boilie 😁😁 and I'm all out.. good timing
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In reply to Post #977
ooh new boilie. I will definately try some of that. 
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In reply to Post #977
If its the new boilie and available in shelflife put me down for 10kg infact if it's freezer only I will still have 10kg and claim my bait freezer back
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In reply to Post #975
Can't wait to try the new squid bait on my syndicate they love the Herb and Tricknut as you know Gav. 👍🏽🎣
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In reply to Post #976
The new boilie yes
New hookbaits no 😉
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In reply to Post #975
Oooh intriguing. Is it squid related?
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In reply to Post #974
Evening all, great news muz, you were lucky this week as we have started running a tad behind. The boilie sales have been crazy and I’m back to working long shifts with the lads to keep up.
Hookbaits we are on the ball with and these just keep piling out of the door like they always do!
Good luck with them and keep an eye out for some new stuff from us in the next few weeks
Gav
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Just thought I’d post a thumbs up for handcraft,I placed an order with them yesterday midday, arrived 9am this morning.
Very helpfull e mails replied to straight away.
Hopefully one or two of the big ones will like it.
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In reply to Post #971
My top up order will be in either tonight or tomorrow. More Eton Mess and some squids, pink is doing the business for me
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What are the delivery times on orders please ?
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In reply to Post #970
They certainly won’t fail you in the buoyancy department!!
God knows how many went out of the door today and tomorrow looks another busy one!
The squids are really producing well for many of the Colne valley boys and the sting is certainly very consistent at the moment!
Also quite a few captures on the pink Eton mess which seems to be having a revival
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They stay up for days, no problem at all.
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They stay up for days, no problem at all.
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In reply to Post #967
I wouldn’t no I’ve not used them that’s why I asked the question.
Which you’ve answered 👍🏻
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In reply to Post #964
If you need to plug a Handcraft pop up then you are using an anchor for a hook😂
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In reply to Post #964
The 12's hold up a ronnie for well over 48hrs so a 15 will hold a hinge for days I would imagine.You will need a lot of putty to hold it down though
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In reply to Post #964
I use the 12s and they hold up a size 4 for more than enough time for my needs (dont leave out for more than 24 hours), no need to plug
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Just had a look at the handcraft website,I just wondered if anyone could tell me are the 15mm pop ups buoyant enough to hold up hinges for a good period of time ?or are people plugging them?
Thanks
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In reply to Post #962
Top angling buddy.
Glad to see them all still working! There has been a huge surge in catch reports again this week. Some better weather coming too
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In reply to Post #961
Having a decent start on my new syndicate, 3 nights 5 runs 4 of which coming to the Eton Mess and the other to Banoffee. As always these baits seem to catch from the off
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In reply to Post #960
Primers
Pva friendly to a point!
You can put it over crumb and inside solid bags, they are made out of nothing but hydro liquids but when you buy 1000 litres of hydro liquids in IBC containers it isn’t uncommon to see water separated on top of them.
Most of our lads inject these into crumb and pellets for pva bag work
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In reply to Post #958
Are the primers pva friendly? And if I were to fish a lake that had a house bait such as cell that I’m going to be forced to use is there any benefit to dumping a primer bottle over the top of them?
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In reply to Post #958
I'm hoping it causes me a few too,when my alarms start screaming
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In reply to Post #957
That one is causing me a few sleepless nights 😂
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In reply to Post #956
We are all waiting on this Squid bait now
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In reply to Post #955
I have said many times that I personally catch bigger fish on fishmeals and probably always will, that’s why I put some in Tricknut!
I have to say though that I looked around for a proper nut boilie before I made Tricknut and there were very few options that I could see actually contained big chunks of nut or in fact any nuts at all!!
It tastes nice to me too 😂
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In reply to Post #954
I didn't say small fish,I said Herb catches the bigger better stamp of fish
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In reply to Post #953
I’m not going to stand here and blame the bait for catching small fish, I just can’t do it 😂
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In reply to Post #951
I fish Herb and Tricknut together,Herb catches the bigger fish but Tricknut seems to catch more.I have definitely had the better stamp of fish on the Herb
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In reply to Post #951
Tricknut is lush, proper nut bait that one
You will be surprised who uses it and where it goes! Just overshadowed by the blooming herb! I am shipping a lot of Tricknut out of the door today, prime time for nut baits!
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Does no one use tricknut? I caught a few using the herb but since fishing the little yellow sting pop ups over tricknut I’m sure I’ve had more.
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In reply to Post #949
Another top result Matt!!
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Just got back fro my syndicate using the Herb and primer. Had 6 fish 5 20s and a 36.2 amazing bait. Used it along with hemp tigers and corn. My pal 2 pegs away blanked 🤫
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In reply to Post #946
Order a sample pack on the website,add a note you would like some of the new squid bait
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In reply to Post #943
Ha i already poured my heart to you on instagram
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In reply to Post #944
Any samples of the new hook baits mate 👍 going to switch over to the herb very soon when I finished with the last 10kg of s7
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In reply to Post #944
Gavin you Tease! 😂😂
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In reply to Post #942
We have been working on some new hookbaits this year, I don’t think it’s been done before and it will be a completely new train of thought but I can see them being a little bit different to anything we have seen before. The deep c with real tuna fish inside them has opened up a new world of possibilities.
It’s all a bit hush hush for now but we have been busy behind the scenes!
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In reply to Post #940
Herb certainly seems popular and that is a sign of a good product. We haven’t found a venue where it hasn’t worked yet (I’m sure someone has somewhere).
I haven’t been able to pre bait a venue for over a decade now and it does not worry me at all, as I just go in with what I know works.
It’s full of nice things and salts and minerals and high in fishmeal. And I have none in stock again 😂
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In reply to Post #940
They do a pack of samples you can order for the price of delivery. They send you the boilies in the range and some random pop ups.
For the cost of a pint, get the the samples and try em. You wont go wrong, you really wont.
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In reply to Post #940
get on Herb. I fish a local water that's similar, sees a lot of Krill, Hydra K and Cell, first trip down there I had 8 fish on herb, in the previous 48 hours there had been 3 fish out on the whole lake. Definitely works from the off.
Tip - empty the baits into a container, pour boiling water over them (12 hours before your trip) the end result will be mega soft baits to use as freebies, wafter over the top job's a good un
Matt
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In reply to Post #922
I’m not asking to be convinced. But I’m tempted to switch to this from Sticky
I’m fishing a water where it sees so much pre baiting and natural food that I want something with good nutrition that works from the off
Anyone in this thread had a similar predicament
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In reply to Post #938
He deserved that one didn’t he, he’s been very close on at least two occasions and we talked that one into the net last week. He came out late in the draw (just like I did), he ended up the same swim as I did the year before, and fished very similar ground.
He was proper chuffed to finally get his hands on it and who wouldn’t be! A mint 64lb U.K. fish won’t happen many times in your life. And how big can it go??
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In reply to Post #933
Congratulations on the capture Martin
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In reply to Post #936
This small but very beautiful carp took a sting pop up. We have sold out of sting pop ups and squid pop ups nearly every week since March.
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In reply to Post #935
A recent mega upper 30lb caught by Liam half a wrap style.
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In reply to Post #934
Two typical fish from our new fishery - Tuckey Farm from a recent test fish. They were caught over the Herb and Royal Supreme Pellets.
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In reply to Post #933
My good mate Nick has battered Wasing in the last year and this is one of many crackers that he has caught on the Super Squids recently.
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Well known angler, Martin Clarke is on the Herb and he got the fish of his dreams. A UK 64 lb common. Well done Mr. Clarke.
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In reply to Post #931
Evening all
Finally got a full day off and some time to think now that the carp are spawning.
There has been some mega carp caught in the last month and I’ll try and post a pic once I have caught up on some PMs
Even I caught some carp!
Pics to follow
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In reply to Post #926
Glad you liked them mate and have done so well on them!!
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In reply to Post #923
Yes buddy you can order samples on the site and just pay the postage and in the delivery notes section you can ask for something specific in there (shelf life, freezer, certain pop up samples etc)
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In reply to Post #925
Should be with you by Thursday if I see it on our system tomorrow!
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In reply to Post #927
Hi mate, it’s been a long way down the priority order at the moment so it won’t be soon. I have been juggling handcraft and the new fishery and it’s all been a little bit crazy
But……..I am still tinkering with a few little bits for the new one and I’m running something around in my head to make it a tad different. More on that later but I just need a few weeks to catch up on everything. We have very little bait in stock yet again this week but we are catching up on hookbaits slowly! Apologies again for not being on here too much recently but I just forget about it all at times!!
That new test bait could be a big thing for handcraft but I just need a bit more time to get it perfect.
If you churn out any old **** it will always backfire!
I’d like to share some of the special fish being caught right now but I literally do not have the time. All can be seen on our own media if you want to have a look!
Herb and sting is doing its thing 😉😉
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In reply to Post #922
Any news on when the new squid bait will be available
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In reply to Post #923
If it helps, i used the freezer herb and ordered 30 kilo of shelf life for a match in France. I won the match by over 200lb and now only use the shelf life version. Not too soft and the fish love it as much as the freezer bait
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In reply to Post #923
Good thing about the shelfies is you can order in 1kg bags I’ve just seen. Give you a good chance to test and look at the bait without committing to a larger amount. I’ve just done the same with the nut bait with my last order.
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In reply to Post #923
You can order samples via the website, you just pay for P+P.
https://handcraftbaits.co.uk/product/sample-boilies/
Michael
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In reply to Post #922
Hi mate, any samples available for the shelflife herb ? I’m struggling for freezer space so need to switch to shelflife and your baits look great, haven’t read a bad word !
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In reply to Post #921
Ah the sting!
Last week myself and some very good anglers headed off to France to a new gravel pit I have been watching.
It was cold, wet and moody.
The fish didn’t seem keen to feed and at one point we discussed leaving early as we all have lots to do at home and children that we miss etc.
On the Tuesday one lad had a bite on a single sting 12mm pop up and that was the turning point.
By moving, getting on them repeatedly and fishing single sting 12mm pop ups everyone caught and we ended up on 58 carp to 61lb.
Never in all my years have I seen a trip turned around by such a change!
I still do not know if it was the hookbaits, the fact we fished them as singles, if they get fed yellow maize or what! I just know that all 8 of us got on them and the bites came!
Ended up being a really good trip to baleine and I left my last 12 pop ups with the owner!!
France was really behind this year but I’m told the lads are smashing them all over France on bait this week.
Sold out of sting, herb and tricknut again this week…….even with late nights, night shifts, we just can’t keep up anymore!
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In reply to Post #920
My mates just had a 47lber on a sting pop up in France. His 1st French fish and ended a long blanking run for him, so to say he is over the moon with the fish and bait is an understatement
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In reply to Post #919
Glad you liked it Mate
Catch reports are different league this year 😉
You will catch more for sure
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BUY HERB!
This bait and all products at Handcraft are god tier, buy more!
Second session on a new syndicate, 30lb8oz on a Squid large dumbell over herb.
Advert ends
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In reply to Post #917
Afternoon all!
Today I received some Simply awesome catch reports!
A uk 60lb common
A U.K. 57.12 special common!
A french 71
A U.K. 50 mirror
Several 40s
God knows how many 30s and that’s all Friday to Sunday!!
Spring is defo here and the orders are knee deep!
I’m off for a few days and I couldn’t have picked a worse week to have off 😂
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In reply to Post #916
😂😂😂 be good and be careful with the DIY, you do not want an injury in prime time 😂😂
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In reply to Post #914
Hi Gav,
Baits arrived today, cant wait to give them a try…got a bit of DIY to do before the fun prevention officer will allow me to go fishing.
Thanks for such a prompt turn round.
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In reply to Post #913
Can't stop catching on the sting.
Insane hookbait 👌🏼💪🏻
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In reply to Post #913
Hello mate
We sold out again this week, we will have more middle of next week if we can keep things moving along!
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Just placed my first order, when will the yellow sting 12mm pop ups be back in stock?
Looking forward to giving these baits a try..exceptional feedback….
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In reply to Post #911
Great news mate
You won’t go wrong with da erb!!
Sold out of all of it this week, we did that all year last year and it’s already happening.
Must go faster 😂
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In reply to Post #908
My local day ticket carp certainly liked the samples you sent out. I chickened out with my order and just went for Herb, i dont want to get obsessed with the Tricknut or Nutriplex then have the Squid come out lol.
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In reply to Post #908
Just doing an inventory of what I've got and what I need and will then be getting an order on ready for France end of next month
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In reply to Post #907
If you want to see a crazy amount of carp just look on the handcraft page this week. I think it’s safe to safe spring has sprung.
The latest batch of the squid bait has been sent out and is already catching some carp (fair and square)
I’ll get some more sorted for those of you who wanted to try it
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In reply to Post #906
That won’t be out for a fair while yet mate
Lots to do and test yet
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In reply to Post #905
Sounds just the job mate! Will definitely add to my next order. Any approx release date for the squid bait? Wondering if its worth holding off ordering to grab some.
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In reply to Post #904
Hello mate
That squid will stain most things black or dark grey 😂😂
My hands, the jugs, bait, pellets, you name it!
We are going through lots of the squid and the new tuna hydro which I rate massively!
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Anyone used the new squid liquid? I’m wondering how much it darkens up the herb? I like the herb but much prefer a darker bait than the red of the herb.
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In reply to Post #902
No problem,they smell Kraken sorry that's bad even for me
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In reply to Post #900
Thanks
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In reply to Post #895
That squid mix must really stink then if it's that bad when you're surrounded by so many weird and wonderful bait smells.
Certainly smells nice when it's made up. Thanks for the update
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In reply to Post #899
They are a dark brown
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What colour do the squid baits come out Gav?
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In reply to Post #897
Thanks Gav
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In reply to Post #896
Yes mate
I am pretty confident we can do it in shelf life. I will be running a few batches off next time I get chance
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In reply to Post #895
Is there going to be a shelflife squid,my wife won't be happy if I empty my bait freezer she borrowed over a year ago
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In reply to Post #894
Evening lads.
Squid samples have been popular. We are about to make another 150kg or so of it so we can keep spreading the bait around a bit further afield.
We have a few lads taking it into Europe in the next two weeks and more using it back here.
A wafter and a pop up are in Pidges hands now with all of the squid additives and basemix being used as per normal for us.
Be nice to see a few of them cast out matching the bait.
There is a huge downside…….the basemix stinks 😂😂 ruined my clothes, warehouse and anything it touched!
Herb was bad enough but I have grown to like it, this one is going to take some getting used too 😳
Crazy amount of carp being caught this week, 40s for fun!!
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Am I correct in thinking there is a new (Squid) bait around the corner?
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In reply to Post #892
Yeah they do,decisions decisions
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In reply to Post #891
They just smell that damn good don't they. Difficult choice, and one i have no answers too lol. I will start on Herb and tricknut and just try to figure something out when the Squid releases. Good job we have a while to work it out as all of the baits smell good.
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In reply to Post #879
Just took delivery of my Squid bait samples and I see what you mean.The thing is now do I drop Herb or Tricknut,I don't want three boilies but always like to have two different baits
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In reply to Post #887
No I’m agreeing with you mate. I have found certain waters where they catch me the majority of my fish and yet others they can be useless. I was never a fan of pink hookbaits and really struggled on them until the squid was launched!
I often wonder if certain colours are flogged to death at venues and they become ones to avoid.
Last year I fished a fairly easy runs water and the pop ups caught a lot less than the food bait dark Wafters. The reason was simply that all spring they had been battered on bright pop ups and when I fished it in the summer, the baits on the deck were far more effective!
That’s common on busy venues
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In reply to Post #887
For me it depends on the overall circumstance. Yellow does well through winter for me but I have caught on it in the summer when used fishing over particle. The dark I tend to use as a bottom bait (the hard hooker is such a durable hookbait) and I also have the 12mm pop up I use on snowmen during the warmer months if I want something a little more subtle than my typical yellow tippers. I think it can be very water dependent though as the lakes I fish I have never had a touch on the Krill & Cal yet I know plenty of people bag up on that bait. That's the great thing about fishing, you can rarely simply copy someone else and get the same results and you need to try a few things to work it out for yourself
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In reply to Post #887
I find the yellow is the best winter and spring,I switch to the brown in the summer/autumn.I think they get battered on most waters with bright baits in the colder months and that switch can keep the bites coming.
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In reply to Post #884
I was not knocking it gav , not at all mate far from it . I prob came across wrong .
Hand craft is my go 2 for baits , hence after talking you yestaday morning on pm im placing another order with you next week .
I was just saying the big c and squid for me have outfished it also herb in france last year and i have done me realy well on ur other baits .
Its prob just me using the little yellow sting wrong time of year or venues more suited to the others or me putting more time on others .
Do you find much diffrence catch rates in yellow or brown ? Mite chuck some brown on my order next week
For me bic c brown over white has done better but as said iv prob using wrong colers wtong times of year
Thanks
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In reply to Post #884
Just had a pot of the sting pop up delivered, stuck them under the mrs nose this morning, I hope the carp are keener.
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In reply to Post #883
Funny isn’t it! For many anglers it’s there go to hookbait and it’s defo one of my blank savers!
My answer is always use whatever you sit behind confidently!!
I’ll have a sting out there tomorrow 😉
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In reply to Post #882
Funny thing is i cant catch a bite on the yellow sting . Used it for a year or so and nothing.
But other 2 rods with the the squid pop up and the big c crab catch me every time and love em. . Maybe i try a brown sting next time
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In reply to Post #877
Sting hookbaits have outfished anything else I have used for the last 18 months. Had a new pb and lake record yesterday on a sting hard hookbait
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In reply to Post #874
Excellent, off down the lake for 2 days tomorrow so hoping to bag a few with the hookbaits and the samples…….
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In reply to Post #879
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In reply to Post #878
You should in my opinion, the squid samples are worth the postage alone.
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In reply to Post #877
The customer service is always spot on too,might order some samples to smell the new squid bait.
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In reply to Post #873
The herb is crazy, it has an almost addictive smell to it lol. I will get on the herb until the squid is done I think and maybe fish them together. I do fancy the sting wafters in the 15mm dark and maybe some squid or deep c hookbaits also.
Thanks for the recommendation, will definitely be placing an order.
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In reply to Post #873
Glad you and the lads like them mate!!
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In reply to Post #871
The squid has a long way to go yet
We will be making hookbait test batches soon
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In reply to Post #872
Of course you can buddy as long as we pre arrange it
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In reply to Post #871
I'm glad you like them,I didn't think for one second you wouldn't.The Sting fished over the Herb is an instant winner,the 12mm pop ups are so buoyant its almost unbelievable
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In reply to Post #871
That Squid bait does have a nice twang to it!!
Just got to get through all this bug I have and then will be using the herb and squid when it’s out!
Your so close to where I work Gav, is collecting an option?
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Thanks for sending the samples through Keeperboy. You were recommended to me by Braders and he wasn't wrong, the boilies smell amazing!
Can i ask how long until the Squid is availble to buy? The Herb smells amazing but that Squid bait is out of this world. Can't wait to try that!
Thanks again.
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In reply to Post #869
Excellent and will do…….
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In reply to Post #867
Yours went out today mate so will arrive tomorrow!!
Be interesting to hear your thoughts on the test bait?
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In reply to Post #866
Thanks and the same to you!
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In reply to Post #865
Cheers Gav….. much appreciated…..
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In reply to Post #865
Good luck for the upcoming year.
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In reply to Post #864
Hello mate just seen it come through! I’ll be on it tomorrow and I’ll put samples in for you too!
It will be a very busy week again!
Apologies to the guys on here who I haven’t replied to but I am sort of keeping my head down at the moment. Myself and Pidge are full bore and our own media is relentless at times.
Jan/feb and early March have been just crazy and that means very little fishing for me (that’s when I check this forum 😂
I have been working on the fisheries, tidying the factory, buying this years ingredients and putting in the hours.
Some mega fish being caught including a nice 42 today to a really nice guy. It’s been a good winter for some anglers but the worst one ever for me as I haven’t been much! Let’s hope that changes 😉😉
Good times are nearly here!!
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Hook baits for the year order placed…….
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In reply to Post #862
Don’t worry mate, there will be various batches kicking about 😉
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In reply to Post #858
That’s a shame I will need some bait for the lakes soon, was hoping to try and use the same bait for both Carp and Barbel this year.
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In reply to Post #860
I will get a big batch made soon but I’m concentrating on making sure we have enough herb first!
I’ll spread the new one about for sure 😉
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In reply to Post #858
I'm happy to pay for some to try on a modestly stocked lake in France at the end of April if you are looking for more testers in a range of circumstances 😁
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In reply to Post #858
Can't wait to try it,there is a 30+ Common I'm after in a low stocked mere
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In reply to Post #857
I am hoping that it will be this summer. It has worked in the cold which was my biggest worry and the whole reason I wanted the new bait was for my own winter fishing (selfish huh 😂
Nutriplex was awesome in the cold but the fact that is more expensive (milk content) is what holds people back.
We as a company need another boilie like the herb and Tricknut if we are to move forward so I’m working hard on this one.
I have had to strike certain deals with two big bait companies to find certain ingredients that I can’t get anywhere else but that has now been sorted through my friends in the industry.
Also I’m working with some new ingredients that I haven’t used before and I need to check how they perform when you feed small or high volumes and that takes time.
On paper it’s incredible, but as we know, that isn’t always good enough.
It’s high in protein, tastes lovely, has some very new things inside and it’s working so far.
Boilie season isn’t far away now!
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Yes I am thinking the new squid bait might be a good Barbel bait to use?
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In reply to Post #854
Hi gav when can we expect the new squid out .
Iv got a session planned for easter would love try em .
Been big fan off your squid pop ups and deap c for years
As said to you in pms in past , think a deap c bottom feed boilies would be a evan better and a winner .
Pm if better .
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Cheers for the reply gav
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In reply to Post #853
Hello mate, it is no secret that we at handcraft have close ties to Martin and solar seeing as Pidge rolled them for him for decades!
Yes we had kept back a healthy supply of koi rearer that is very precious to us but it was always blended with modern squid flavours that we have had produced. There are some lovely things in those pop ups and Wafters hence why they are on our catch reports nearly every day.
God knows how many go out in an average week! I am actually sick of the smell of squid and squid additives as it makes everything stink but it is no secret how effective it is mixed up with nice powders and liquids.
The new bait we have been working on since last year has taken these concepts one stage further and we already know it is going to be one hell of a fish catcher.
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Hi gav, is the flavour in the squid hookbaits the koi rearer? What Martin did originally in solars baits, Cheers
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In reply to Post #851
Excellent news i want the deep c and squid for my main hookbaits i France.
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In reply to Post #850
The 20mm squid Wafters were popular
Requests for sting 20mm Wafters flooded in and deep c is right up there with the two big sellers now so I don’t see why not!!
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Any Plans on 20mm Deep C wafters??
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In reply to Post #847
I ate a lot of the rolled bait last time i popped in. It's lovely!
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In reply to Post #847
your trick nut is lovely
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In reply to Post #845
Glad you like them
When I make Tricknut I eat far too much of the peanut chunks and the Brazils 😂😂
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In reply to Post #844
Samples are available from the site mate (im trying to get it so that it’s simpler to see) but if you have any issues call us and leave a message if we can’t answer as it’s very busy already this year.
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In reply to Post #844
I recently got some samples, they're very good. The tricknut is so nutty it's hard not to eat them yourself,the herb is a lovely fishmeal, think my favourite is the nutriplex. Can't put your finger on the smell but it's got a fruity back note. All good fish catchers by the reports.
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In reply to Post #843
Could I possibly have some samples please - looking for a new bait this year
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In reply to Post #842
He’s a man of few words
Says it how it is
He took that hat out to the back yard and tossed it into the air and blew it to pieces! I’ll get him a new one when I get him angling again 😉
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In reply to Post #841
An extract of Pidge's hat from his Kingfisher days?
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In reply to Post #840
Incredible hookbait
Repels silt
Has something inside that nobody that I know has pulled off inside a pop up! Also had my U.K. pb common on it last year in tricky conditions!
Pidge certainly played his ace with the deep c!!
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In reply to Post #839
DeepC done me proud last year 👍
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In reply to Post #838
Squid and deep c
Ain’t no missing those smells 😂😂
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In reply to Post #834
I’m not nose blind…….  
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In reply to Post #834
Let me know when you send mine and Phil's samples,I will get the forklift ready for the delivery
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In reply to Post #834
Alright Gav, hope the relocation works went well. How do I get my hands on a sample of the new squid bait, and when will you start taking orders?
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In reply to Post #832
Tricknut……I love making it and eating it!!
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In reply to Post #833
Ah the new bait!!!
So I’m sending samples out and so far the feedback is all good (I’m sure it won’t last 😂
The smell to me is a nice one but the trouble for us is that you become nose blind. I don’t ever want very strong over powering baits as I don’t think they are good long term.
All of the baits including this one are low level flavours.
The new one smells come from a high level of a new hydro liquid, a mega mega squid additive and a flavour that is a bit special to us.
Its colour is all natural again too, no dye!
Let’s hope the carp like it 😉
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Received the samples today, they all smell sooo good. The new test bait could certainly be a winner,smelly but not overpowering.👍
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In reply to Post #831
I fish Tricknut and Herb together and both have produced for me,the new bait would have to be amazing for me to change over
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In reply to Post #828
That TN is divine smelling………carp obviously like it too……
As soon as I run out of my current bait I’m hoarding some of the herb as my water isn’t that responsive to nut baits but they do love a fishmeal……. 
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In reply to Post #829
Cheers Gav. Didn't want or mean to give you more headaches🤦🏻♂️😂
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In reply to Post #828
We will make the sample packs easier to find again as many people want them in an average week!
Busy day again tomorrow! I’ll get them all out as soon as I can
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In reply to Post #827
The Tricknut is unbelievable,the smell makes you want to sit and eat the lot
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In reply to Post #826
Thank you, couldn't find it on my phone. So I just googled sample packs and it popped up, order placed.👍
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In reply to Post #825
Go onto their website and scroll down and you can click on a page to order some samples
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In reply to Post #821
Do you do sample packs of your boilie range? Would like to get some to have a play with.
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In reply to Post #823
Fair play to you
I know of at least one 40 caught on a tutti pop up sample 😂
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In reply to Post #821
I always catch more on the samples than anything else…… 
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In reply to Post #821
Thats very good of you
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In reply to Post #820
I’ll sort you lads out some samples to go play with 😉
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In reply to Post #818
He never said NO did he mate
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In reply to Post #818
Plenty of time
Rolling lots of sting pop ups and Wafters this week and next. The 20mm Wafters will be next
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In reply to Post #817
Same Tony……
Must get hookbaits sorted soon before it goes nuts……
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In reply to Post #813
If you want send any of the new bait mine and Phils way,we will gladly try it out for you
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In reply to Post #815
Very good idea and yes I did think of doing that. Will see how I like the first order of freezer baits and go from there.
Like you I don’t like putting un used bait back in the freezer or air drying it so that’s the attraction of shelf life’s.
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In reply to Post #807
Have you thought of buying a split order. Just take a small amount of freezer baits that you know you'll use and a larger amount of shelfies that can be used if the fish need more bait. Any left just stays in your bag for next time. Putting defrosted bait back in the freezer really irks me, once is ok but after that I'm not so sure.
This year I'm experimenting by vacuum sealing my freezer baits in 1kg lots. Hopefully any unopened bags can go back in the freezer without too much detriment.
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In reply to Post #813
good luck mate
hope you have a great bait making, selling year
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In reply to Post #812
Evening lads,
Apologies for not being on here for a bit but as usual, my life is a bit turbo!
I’ll try and answer what I can as quickly as possible?
Shelf life or fresh?
I always used to use freezer baits and I always will but……..modern shelf life’s are very good!
It’s the same bait, but with preserve added to the shelf life, and dried for a day longer! A good bait is a good bait in either form! Some of my consultants are on the shelf life’s now and no signs of any change in catch reports!
Crayfish and sting…….many many people say this to me but I got crayed on one last time out angling!!
Shows……..not this year as I am still investing all my time and money on the new site and ingredients!!
It has been a very busy start for us this year and it’s odd as most lakes are frozen! I’m still catching up, making basemix, playing with the new ingredients in the new bait and trying to raise a family and fish on a Friday night! I’m so excited about 2023 and the feedback from you guys is just on another level! The hookbait sales are crazy, hundreds keep piling out each week and lots of nice fish being caught (not this week though😉
If you need any help I will keep checking in here in the evenings!
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In reply to Post #797
Are you doing any of the shows this year?
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In reply to Post #810
I have seen Gav say that too but my catch rate has not suffered in the slightest.If I'm honest my catch rate on Handcraft shelflife is far better than when I was on freezer bait from another really well known firm
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Pretty sure I have heard Gav recommend freezer vs shelf if you have the freezer space. No preservative has got to be better than with preservative no matter how low level/food safe.
It may be of interest to some that I’ve found crayfish seem to leave the Sting pop ups alone. I fished Sting next to Deep-C and the Deep C got hammered and the Sting only scratched up.
Could have been the spot, but it’s happened a few times now.
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In reply to Post #808
I would normally agree but Gavs shelflifes are that good I won't use freezer baits again.Me and my mate are on Tricknut and Herb and we have caught well on one lake we fish and others around have not had the amount of fish we have.The other lake we fish is a big mere,low stock and my mate has already had a fish on his 12th night,some lads have done 70+ nights and no fish at all.Handcraft shelflifes are superb as are the hookbaits,Sting is confidence in a tub and the customer service is amazing
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In reply to Post #807
If you can store freezer bait I would always go for that. Getting it out the day of or night before a session has never been an inconvenience for me and people that know far more than I ever will about bait keep telling fresh/freezer bait is better quality than shelf life, so I am happy to follow their advice
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Thinking of switching to HC baits this year but can’t decide on freezer or shelf life.
I’ve got my own bait freezer so that’s no issue but I love the idea of shelf life’s from a simplicity angle.
Anybody care to help me make a decision.
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In reply to Post #805
Any plans on bringing out super squid pop ups in white ?
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In reply to Post #804
That fully scaled caught by Shane Sheffield,wow what a fish
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In reply to Post #802
Merry Xmas mate
Hope you have a good new year!!
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In reply to Post #801
You are welcome buddy!
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In reply to Post #797
merry xmas mate
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In reply to Post #799
Merry Christmas Gav and thanks again for the gesture for my mate before Christmas, we both really appreciated it. Can't wait to get a few more fish on your hookbaits in 2023
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In reply to Post #797
Merry Christmas! Will be getting an order in the new year 🎣🎣🎣🐋🐟
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In reply to Post #798
Difficult act to follow mate!!
Merry Christmas buddy
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In reply to Post #797
Merry Christmas Gav,can't wait to see what you have got planned for 2023.It will have to be a special boilie to get me off Herb and Tricknut though
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In reply to Post #796
Merry Christmas to you all on the forum!
It has been a very busy year for us and at times it has been Incredibly tough.
I just wanted to thank all of you for your custom and feedback and for all of the catch reports you guys sent in.
We have been working non stop for the last 15 days building the new factory and it’s nearly done!
New hookbaits coming, a new boilie has been rolled a few times and tinkered with and we have some quality new anglers joining us in 2023.
I’m skint and knackered but really excited about next year.
Enjoy the break with the family, eat as much as you can and be grateful for all you have around you!
There has been some mega carp caught in the last few days too😉
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In reply to Post #793
It’s the same bait (shelf life and fresh), the only difference is that the shelf life has mpg rolled into it and it’s dried for 12 hours longer.
Both are what I class as soft
Both can be squashed between your fingers
It’s about as perfect as I can make a shelf life!
Freezer baits are my preferred choice all year round but sales say that shelf life is now 50/50 compared to freezer.
I wish I could get more anglers on the freezer baits but i understand it’s not practical for many today!
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In reply to Post #793
I generally mix the frozen and shelf life if I need to use a throwing stick as the shelfies are that little bit firmer. What I would suggest is chuck a few into some water so you can see for yourself how quickly they become soluble, it’s not very long. I’ll be using a mix of frozen Herb and Nutriplex throughout the winter😎
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In reply to Post #793
As far as I’m aware they’re both identical. Very good in both forms. The freezer version is softer in my opinion but I’d happily use both all year around.
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Calling all Herb users. Is there much difference between the texture of Herb freezer baits and shelfies?
I’ve been using shelflife all year, but find them fairly hard which makes me wonder about their cold water solubility. If the freezer baits are much softer I may have to pick up a small bait freezer and switch to them. (There’s no way I’m allowed bait in our food freezer, hence getting shelfies)
And Gav, good to hear that business is going well enough for the need of a bigger premises! All very exciting for the future mate 👍
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Good luck to you Gav, not surprised you are having to upscale as the range is quality all round.
Look forward to the new additions 👏👏
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In reply to Post #790
Afternoon lads and ladies,
Just a little heads up that handcraft will be out of action leading up to Christmas and maybe early in January whilst we are building our new facility.
At some point we are going to have to shut down the website temporarily whilst we move and we won’t be able to make any bait for a while.
The good news is that we will be in a much better position on the other side and in a place that is closer to my home and with a bright outlook.
There are some exciting products coming, new liquids, new hookbaits, and even a new boilie 😉
We have new anglers on board and also a whole new project that we have to keep under wraps for now but it is going to be a very busy year in 2023.
Before we move there will be a brief chance to get hold of some boilies on a crazy deal but they won’t last long if it is like the last time we moved!!
I will try and keep you updated as best as I can but I’m not always around and I am still trying to catch another mega common when I get a day off 😂😂
Thanks for all of the support and custom this year and all of the private messages.
Still so much to do!!
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In reply to Post #789
I fished it many many years ago when it was owned by the millers.
Lovely venue
Just impossible to get on now 😩
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In reply to Post #788
Amazing venue that Gav........Been on my French list for a longtime......
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In reply to Post #787
Today I had one of the most amazing catch reports from France that I have ever heard of.
Two anglers who I won’t name, have just done a week at a lake (that I won’t name) and went through 60k of our bait (crazy in November) but what they landed will take some beating!
4x40s
20x50s
10x60s
4x70s to 78
And one 20 pounder 😂
In November…….and they didn’t fish 24/7
Sting hookbaits and squids helped them
And this isn’t rainbow lake or anywhere like that!
Two very good underground anglers who both agreed it probably won’t happen again!
I am allowed to share photos of one of them on our social media 😂
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In reply to Post #786
It’s one hell of a carp
I reckon it may come out again before Xmas and it may well be on a handcraft hookbait 😂
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In reply to Post #785
Some fish that common. Guy on my club lake caught it few months back. Your hookbaits certainly catch them 👏
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In reply to Post #784
Another U.K. 60 came out today on the sting
61lb 3oz waterside common……..he had the only two bites of recent times and both of them on the little 12mm yellow perils!!
Hence they are all out of stock again 😂😂
Back in stock middle of the week
That common is Incredible!!
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In reply to Post #783
Love them! It’s one job I like doing, handling tutti or sting or banoffees!
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In reply to Post #782
Quality Tutti pop ups…bright and pungent!
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In reply to Post #781
Evening all, been a while since i looked in on you 😂
Plenty going on at HC and weirdly we just had the most orders ever in a weekend. I would expect that in April not late October into November!
Some lovely carp being caught but I’m not gonna post them here as they just disappear 😂😂
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In reply to Post #780
Tricknut and Herb
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In reply to Post #779
Thanks mate, have you tried all the range or you just using one particular bait?
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In reply to Post #778
Not used the freezer baits but the shelflife are soft enough and crumb up easily
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What are the shelfies like those of you that use them? Are they much harder than the freezer baits?
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In reply to Post #775
This please. thanks
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In reply to Post #774
I hope they bring you the success that they are bringing me!!
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In reply to Post #773
Dark Sting wafters are needed Gav
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Great service from Gavin and company. Ordered the new pellets and super squid waters as soon as they were live on the website, arrived today. Both smell awesome,can't wait to get out and try them.
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In reply to Post #772
Good news lads
This week has been intense! The pellets went on the site and they sold within hours! Herb fresh bait sold out within the weekend! I think it is handcrafts busiest week so far.
Here is the good news though. Some of the carp caught this week are just crazy! Keep your eyes peeled for Marc cavs carp this week caught on a deep c wafter over that new pellet. One of the best carp and pics I have seen for a while
No idea just how many 40s were caught this week!
Thanks to all of you guys for the orders and catch reports! Back in early tomorrow!
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Delivery arrived,amazing service as always
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In reply to Post #770
Pellets and Calanus liquid ordered,them deep c are quality but dark sting seem to have saved me a few blanks.Gav needs get some wafters made,I don't know what he's playing at
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In reply to Post #769
New pellets and deep c wafters and booster ordered.🎣🔥
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In reply to Post #768
Those hookbaits are just awesome aren’t they
The amount of big carp (and small) they have caught this year is pure madness!! I can only take a small amount of glory for them but we can all thank Pidge really for holding onto some special ingredients 😉
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In reply to Post #767
Just get em up on the website so we can buy some lol. I had 2 fish on the the super squid wafters the weekend stopped a run of blanks.
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In reply to Post #766
It would be good if do the new pellets in bags of different sizes mixed
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In reply to Post #765
My man that sounds awesome! You have done well on those baits!! It is interesting to me how so many fish get caught on certain products but I don’t know why I’m surprised as I have been using them for decades and they work everywhere I take them!
40s for fun fella!! Well done Indeed!!
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In reply to Post #764
Sting wafters and banoffee pop up did me and my son 3 40s in France last month. Got a great pic of my son and me with his 1st 40 that I will look to send across to you. Was using other baits as well but for some reason the sting was the going bait down in the shallows and we had 4 fish, including 3 40s in just 5 hours fishing over a couple of afternoons including a double take for a proper brace of 40s (sadly no great pics of that as my Dad has dodgy knees and struggled to help my son hold the fish in the water)
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In reply to Post #761
Awesome work Michael, love the smell of the almonds and it’s fizzy flavour!
There have been 4 U.K. 40s at least 5 European 50s and I think 1/2 60s out in the last few days on these products.
I will get them shared on our social media this week
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In reply to Post #760
We are certainly trying buddy
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In reply to Post #759
They will be arriving this week definitely
Just had the delivery note
I will need to get them on the website when I can!
So much to do 😂
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Giving a shout out for the almond pop ups, had a few nice ones up to low thirties in recent weeks over non fishmeal freebies, lets hope it continues into the winter
Michael
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In reply to Post #756
At least all your problems are of the good kind, you must be doing something right. .
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In reply to Post #758
I will wait to order as want some liquids too
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In reply to Post #757
The new pellets
I don’t think I have ever worked so hard and waited so long to get anything! But I knew this would be tricky.
No these won’t be flavoured nor will they need to be mate as they are full of fishmeal, oils and vitamins (that bit is important)
I was told they would arrive last week but they didn’t
Let’s hope they arrive this week
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In reply to Post #756
Any news on the new pellets and will they be flavoured to match the boilies
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In reply to Post #755
Well lads, sorry I haven’t been on here posting for a while but things got seriously busy! We have been running out of bait nearly every week and also running out of ingredients!!
The good news is that we have just decided to sort out a long term plan which means that can work bigger, faster and more efficiently.
All will become revealed in the next few weeks but we will be making the most of the winter and quieter period.
There has been some mega carp landed in the last few weeks including a 45 today and a mint 48 from a very large low stock pit. Too many to list.
Nice to see that some of you lads on here are having a brilliant year.
The Herb and super squid will be forever known as a game changer around Oxfordshire!
Last but not least. Thanks for the pms on here. We will be making another large batch of herb this week but I’m a tad concerned that it’s all sold already!
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In reply to Post #753
You will do just fine on them fella! Catching carp all around the country! I’ll get them to you on Wednesday!
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In reply to Post #753
Good luck
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Just ordered a pot of super squid wafters and booster they seem to be catching alot of fish of late and i need all the help i can of late. Cheers Matt
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In reply to Post #750
Your right
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In reply to Post #749
Who sells boilies by the litre?
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In reply to Post #742
This is a wind up, right?
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In reply to Post #743
Early next week buddy if all goes well!
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In reply to Post #742
Worth a go
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In reply to Post #743
I ordered some sting 12mm last week came next day
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When will the 12mm yellow stings be back in stock?
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I'll be ordering 22mm boilies instead of 16mm so being bigger I'll get more for my money.
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In reply to Post #738
The missus maybe but the dogs loyal 😂
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In reply to Post #739
obviously
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In reply to Post #738
Yep told my lot to buy a large sack of spuds in November to keep them going this winter 😂
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In reply to Post #736
Stuff that. The missus and dog can be on reduced rations
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In reply to Post #734
Tough times coming for all of us
We are already making steps to make sure we can get through the 3 months of winter.
Might have to do reduced days of opening
Some products will have to go
We said this last winter though and it ended up being much busier than I thought! But we are aware that many of our customers will be more worried about feeding the family than buying 40k of herb!
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| | | Cam | | Posts: 6509 |  | | MODERATOR | |
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Lets try and keep this to Handcraft Hookbaits rather than political bull-shine please gents.
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In reply to Post #732
Went from 125 to 330 for gas&electricity in belgium in less rhan a year... Must be french aswell lol
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In reply to Post #732
That's because the French Government are capping the prices, whereas ours is not.
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In reply to Post #731
Are all these rocketing price rises global or are we bearing the brunt of it ? Only reason I ask is that I heard on the radio EDF which supply electricity to millions of UK homes is 85% French government owned and at the next price increase will have raised prices to UK consumers by 104% over the last year while French consumers have only had 5% increase over the same period.
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In reply to Post #730
Also about to rocket in price.
Ever fee you’re being defecated in from a great height :(
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In reply to Post #729
Great news mate! Good luck with the stuff, I rate that as one of the best liquids in the market.
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In reply to Post #726
Placed an order with you for some Calanus yesterday. Received this morning less than 24 hours later. Top man. 👍
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In reply to Post #727
Visual shopping, three bags of flavoured crumb/soya balls or one bag of fishmeal, glm etc balls. Both will catch but which one will the fish keep feeding on year in year out. Can name a bait that is still made that has been catching carp for nearly thirty years. Sadly for the bait maker their customer base in the main are a fickle lot, don't catch must be the the bait so change, catch but my mate catches more so his bait must be better. My bait is superb quality but I don't catch much on it because I'm the idiot that keeps putting it in the wrong place.
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In reply to Post #726
The trouble is even saying to people “use less of a quality bait” may soften it for them but not us, I have certain figures I need to hit to break even and targets for profit / business sustainability, if sure you have the same. The worry is there will be a hell of a lot more turnover without increase in profit, and without increase in profit, you don’t have the capital to chase the price increases of the base ingredients. If you want to take home say £3000 a month, but price increases equate to £1000 extra spending you then chase £4000 and so on. What’s annoying is some of the prices creep up on you so I genuinely take for example, anything over a 2% rise really really seriously now. What’s sobering is that counts in just about every single thing. I use bar about 5 ingredients.
It’s absolutely toxic I genuinely had a chat with one of my best mates and he could see how my mental health has been and pleaded with me to think about throwing in the towel. I roll a lot of bait but it seems a hell of a lot of effort for ever diminishing returns. People don’t realise just what proper physical work and long hours the bait game is, I still meet people who think it’s easy money 😂
Also highlights just what cr@p is in some of the baits that are stable in price / stay low, as economics of scale are irrelevant at the moment
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In reply to Post #725
There is no choice really is there, the price of literally everything has gone up so the baits will have to!
Dreading this winter already but we are all in the same boat
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In reply to Post #644
Gav I will message you on Facebook soon, but essentially all my regulars have accepted a small increase. Lots customers will. Yes some transient “try a few kilo” types may be put off but those regulars get it. What I have done as a compromise is move my MOQ from 5kg to 2.5kg and keep the difference per kg between the two marginal at most.
It is unfortunately but this country is currently in a right state and unfortunately we aren’t essential services so will be one of the first purchases reassessed when the purse strings tighten.
It’s probably a year to try and make through rather than make profit to be fair, But I guess that’s across the board unless you switch to selling energy lol
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In reply to Post #722
Better than a bream or a kick in the ********
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In reply to Post #722
Well done, hauling
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In reply to Post #721
Pasty patrol though……19lb and a 7lb stockie although very little coming out at the moment due to the 250kg feed that went in last Sunday…..
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In reply to Post #720
Blimey mate! On a roll down there!
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2 more fish this morning to the Sting……
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In reply to Post #715
That does happen to me sometimes, next day its fine.
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In reply to Post #715
Thats strange as I have not got a Facebook account but I can see the page
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In reply to Post #716
No worries Gav, if and when you get a chance I’m sure all us luddites would like a look
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In reply to Post #715
Stay away from social media mate 😂😂
Many of my friends are no longer on it!
I’ll post a pic one day when I get a mo and I have the laptop out
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In reply to Post #713
I just get a page saying log in or sign up to Facebook. I’ve gone 20 years without any of that nonsense, certainly not starting now!
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In reply to Post #707
No one on here has taken them down mate
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In reply to Post #711
You can go on Handcraft Facebook without a Facebook account
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In reply to Post #711
Maybe 😂
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In reply to Post #710
Any chance of a photo on here for us non social people Gav?
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In reply to Post #709
Thanks lads, that will go down as one of the most special ones I have caught I think! I can’t think of a better one in the U.K. and to be surrounded by some nice lads mate it all better!
Also means I can set my sights on another one now 😂
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In reply to Post #707
I think sometimes Gav its the platform that they are hosted through the links expire after a certain time, well done on the big common outstanding result.
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In reply to Post #707
Congratulations on the lake record from Waterside
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In reply to Post #706
All of our nice photos seem to have gone on here! Any ideas why anyone?
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In reply to Post #705
When I can negotiate the import details buddy! Lots of paperwork to tie up first!
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When are the new pellets going to be available mate
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In reply to Post #700
That is a lovely carp
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In reply to Post #702
What a mega one it was mate! Well done again fella
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Managed to catch a stunning fish on my wanted list yesterday at 32-6 Just a matter of time before the others on my list succumb to these 12mm fish catchers ……sting doing the do……
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In reply to Post #700
We don’t often post photos on here but these are well worth a look as they won’t appear anywhere very often!
The big french carp in between was part of a mega haul in a murky silty lake and the captor noted that the bright and strong tuttis produced all of the bites with a couple of sixties and several 50s to boot!
The U.K. fish all fell to the krill and cal Wafters over our old k20 high protein krill bait with extra salt.
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In reply to Post #699
Chris again with a mega UK forty on the Krill and Cal Wafters.
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In reply to Post #698
A mega chunk on the Tutti 12mm Pop Ups.
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In reply to Post #697
UK 50lb on the Krill and Cal Wafters. These lads caught more carp in a season than anyone else I have ever heard of!
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Fished overnight Friday after work on our little syndicate, I was happy to see one of the pretty little mirrors we stocked back in last May at 6.6lb out at 9.9lb and nutty male common at 15.12lb I've had before, both fish heading in the right direction and both were caught on a herb hard hooker straight on the bottom.
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In reply to Post #693
Some of the liquids in the hookbaits are very potent, others not so much.
Krill and cal is strong, sting also and deep c stays with me all day 😂
The booster liquids are there for you to decide wether you need them or not!
Some of the lads fishing in silt and onion weed go mad with them whereas others like myself tend to use a few drops after 2/3 weeks and then I leave them alone.
Buoyancy on a wafter…….
If you get a bland wafter that is made out of nothing edible, the buoyancy should remain for a good few hours.
Adding foods and milks and additives increases the attraction but also those same products can allow water ingress. I’m happier knowing that it tastes and smells better even if they are laid on the deck. The wafter is the hardest hookbait to make for everyone and to be honest we sell thousands and they catch a cart load of fish. I’ll happily send you some replacements jo. Remember that even if it is laid on the floor after 8 hours, it is still weightless compared to freebies of the same size!!
Did you all see the catch reports from the last week on the krill and cal? Those lads alone must have had ten tins between them and all those mega fish came to them! A hookbait made from fishmeal, krill, calanus, minamino, liver is always gonna catch a few carp!
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In reply to Post #694
I've not done well on them to be honest which is why I bought the booster. Mine came unglugged so got the booster and gave them a light coating. Not going to France for a few weeks but thought it was worth doing now giving them plenty of time to soak and dry. Sting is definitely my go to hookbait at the moment and banoffee my pop up of choice having done me multiple 30s this year
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In reply to Post #693
Had a few on my krill and cal wafters. They smell lovely. Unfortunately they came glugged and it has affected the buoyancy but decent hookbaits none the less
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In reply to Post #691
Just opened the Krill and Cal booster liquid to prep my wafters for France and wow it's potent. Got a bit on my fingers and no matter how many times I've washed them cannot get the scent off!!! So glad I've not felt the need to boost my sting baits!!!
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In reply to Post #691
Tricknut/Herb combo is deadly with sting dark hardhooker or matching wafters,love it
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In reply to Post #688
We left this morning, with a few fish under our belt and lots of chocolate consumed 😂
My mate who came with us and his daughter relocated to a new swim and had a 30lb mirror within minutes.
Tricknut working for me and tricknut/herb working for him!
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In reply to Post #688
Well done its nice to catch afew whilst with the family
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Packed up yesterday evening,ended on 3 and Phil had 1.It was a shame trip was cut short but won't post on here why
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In reply to Post #687
My daughter and youngest stepson love it.Making memories with your kids is the best thing in the world
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In reply to Post #685
Very nice mate! Been some lovely fish out this week again! Even had two myself today with my little girl on a daddy daughter weekend!
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In reply to Post #685
Nice
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Already had two this afternoon,nothing massive but a nice grassy and a 17lb pristine common
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In reply to Post #683
Results have been superb,im sure it will continue
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In reply to Post #682
That was fast!! Less than 20 hours!!
Good luck with it all again mate
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In reply to Post #681
Bait received this morning,Thanks Gav excellent service as always
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In reply to Post #680
If you want to see some mega carp that you won’t see very often, check out our social media this week. I once said about a bait that seems to turn over one specific lake year after year.
Well it did last year once again!
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In reply to Post #679
Cheers
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In reply to Post #678
I’ll see what I can do buddy 😉
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In reply to Post #677
Needed bait for 48hr trip on Friday,will have to make do with what bit got left
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In reply to Post #676
Been rolled mate
Putting back in stock today but I’m not sending out until the end of the week as it just too hot
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In reply to Post #675
Is the Herb done now mate
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In reply to Post #674
I’ll be in at 6am and you will have them on Wednesday! Unless all the roads melt and the vans don’t get to us!
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Just ordered some pineapple wafters and krill and cal wafters 😋
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In reply to Post #672
I managed to get out last night for 12 hours of angling and I have to say it was actually quite enjoyable!
In typical summer fashion the carp fed in the darkness and up to about 9 am this morning. A scattering of 20mm herb and matching Wafters or deep c Wafters made sure I didn’t get much sleep! Biggest fish was a known common of upper 20s (forgot my scales)
If you go out angling this week then I’d say bait lightly and make the most of the darkness! Roll on next weekend when it’s a little bit cooler
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In reply to Post #671
Hang in there mate....im sure you will be fine
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In reply to Post #670
Let’s just say it has been a bit of a mission to get away from the common pellets but I have some samples that are different gravy.
The supply line is an issue but I’m working on it and it’s going well!
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In reply to Post #669
Cold pressed?
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In reply to Post #665
Have you got something special coming
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In reply to Post #666
Putin is clearly a tigernut man.
As long as they are fresh ones with a date and batch number label.
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sorry to rant Gav
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In reply to Post #662
cereal based? only a few and it leads back to the sustainability argument to be fair.
I mean for example, semolina, soya flour etc are in high demand as well as maize meal in third world countries via charities, Im sure to some seeing it go into baits ( never mind fishmeal) would be appalling.
But there is a glut of decent pellets in the UK now especially as two french companies have now invested, namely aller aqua and le goussant. although to be fair the guy who sells the la guossant also sells cereals lol. you can get it cheaper direct in france and ship it over.
as most would say, smaller levels of quality is key.
BUT when it comes to boilies that in of itself is still a problem for smaller producers, its all well and good upping prices but if you sell less and less it can start to be a problem.
To put it simply tonne sacks are cheaper, and to order sacks and keep product fresh you need to sell a lot of it, multiple tonnes a week, and so selling less buy keeping good quality gear can mean with some products buying in multiples of smaller sacks, which cuts down the margin anyway.
so its make 2 quid a kilo and sell ten kilos or make a quid and sell 20 sort of scenario. it totally depends on capacity / storage / labour costs etc as to which one is beneficial.
Ive just had an email from a courier that the fuel surcharge is going from 8 to 12.5% on carriage which basically adds 50 pences to the p and p charge on a 10kg box.
And much like Gav is finding, multiple price increases a day is a new reality. and Im not sure what his forecasts and projections are but after every few price hikes mine become invalid and its more work to figure out what you need to do to make a living, then some more go up and you repeat. plus there also the head ache of not getting long term price assurances from suppliers anymore due to how the world is, and even after THAT, there is also the issue of actually having product to buy. there will be shortages of a LOT more ingredients come summer, and its all wel land good stock piling but if you like fresh ingredients, you're pretty much f*cked.
Putin is clearly a tigernut man.
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In reply to Post #662
The rubbish pellets…….might be about to change 😉
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In reply to Post #635
Yep, we can only do so much regarding costs of trade or retails supply chain trends and products, but quality costs.
I can almost see some anglers going back to rolling fresh bait/base mix and 4 to 6 or 12 eggs, on the bank.
Like the good old days.
Make it as you need it, if you have a result and have it off, roll more. Minimal waste, and you know it is quality bait.
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In reply to Post #662
A lot of places I fish now including my syndicates are banning particle out right now though because of places like monster particle doing stupidly cheap deals for bad quality particle, people turning up pilling loads of it in and it’s ruining the water quality
I’d much rather spend the extra and get some decent boilie and pellet to use instead
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In reply to Post #660
I’m afraid that the majority will be looking for cheap bait at the moment. Of course they will. Most of the anglers that I know who use large quantities are not exactly awash with cash even at the best of times.
Most of the pellets available now are rubbish cereal/soya based crap, it’s no wonder many are using particle.
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In reply to Post #660
Absolutely and we know Mike and his products are worth every penny!
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I use Essential Baits B5 and that’s £9.85 a kilo buying 10 kilos at a time. So sensible anglers will realise after location bait is the thing that matters. Not the latest high end rods and reels.
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Thats where the transparency of cost thing comes into it. by actually listing tangible ingredients people can look up the cost and see its a valid price increase. its the unscrupulosu who put " high end milks" and are actually meanng high end budget stuff, or low quality versions of high end stuff.
Yeah pellets are the latest thing, everything is going up I know of three products that have been the same price the last 24 months lol
Keep the quality, if people don't want ot pay let them leave. have confidence your quality will bring them back.
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In reply to Post #635
All though I don’t use your bait don’t be put off over some idiots on social media, £8 a kilo is not a lot of money that is still pretty reasonable in my eyes. Real anglers won’t care problem you have now is so many new anglers just want cheap **** bait that is being knocked up in a shed somewhere for next to nothing and don’t care about the quality, the people who do won’t be going anywhere
As said already most of us sit behind a lot of moneys worth of gear what’s a extra couple pound on bait?
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In reply to Post #656
Premium products sell,
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In reply to Post #655
You make a premium product that works. Don't be afraid to charge a premium price. Most anglers are sitting behind a couple of grand's worth of kit these days, a tenner a kilo for bait won't put the anglers that value quality off at all.
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In reply to Post #653
I have been in quite a few factories over the last decade and the one thing you don’t see is high quality products! There are exceptions of course and they will be companies who ride out this storm.
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In reply to Post #652
Too true mate
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In reply to Post #652
I'm sure the costs have been kept down by reducing the quality for years. We have reached a point where reducing the quality is no longer viable. Bite the bullet and buy quality bait even if it's expensive. Better to use less of higher quality. Unless you're fishing a mud hole stuffed eith starving fish. Why would you even want to?
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In reply to Post #651
Too be honest mate, anglers have had it all too easy for many years now, its the smaller bait producer i feel for
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In reply to Post #650
I guess that’s what we will do then.
Just ordered another ton of pellets and all of them have gone up a fiver per sack!
I’m gonna sit down and do all the pricing again this weekend. Tough times for us anglers right now
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In reply to Post #644
Keep the quality Gav. If the price goes up it goes up. For me, and lots of others the quality of ingredients list is paramount. Use the best you can but bait smart. Quality will always outscore quantity in the long run😎
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In reply to Post #644
its madness, the whole ingredient/food trade has gone completely bonkers.
think anglers will still buy, but as you say, in lower amounts and source cheap particles etc to bulk it out.
i wouldnt hesitate in taking 100kg of boillies to France, i wont this yr
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In reply to Post #644
As others have said I say keep the quality even if it increases the price. We're all feeling the price increases with fuel prices and other factors driving everything to silly levels.
Re boilies I suspect most of your customer use Handcraft for the quality, rather than cheap pricing, because we want the best, not the cheapest.
I personally bait lightly anyway. If everyone did this the fish would likely drop a bit of weight, but who's to say that isn't good for them in the long run?
Also less rotting/wasted bait means cleaner water, more oxygen etc. So lots of benefits I think.
Mind you I'm only one customer. You may want to survey your customer base to see what's viable, as it's a business you have to sustain, after all.
Fingers crossed for you. I., for one, sincerely hope you can remain supplying the excellent baits you do.
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In reply to Post #644
Yeah I’d just club together with me mate and get 50kg + a time
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In reply to Post #644
You are always going to get a number of people who are 100% price focussed. In the current climate I get it and won't slag them off, but I would suggest they use less boilie and bulk out their feed with pellets or particles and continue to use as high a quality boilie as they can. I use your hookbaits, as they are quality. I use the same bait manufacturer as I have for a number of years as again it is quality, if he puts his prices up £1 or 2 a kilo it won't stop me buying from him, same with your hookbaits. Won't leave home without sting and banoffee as have served me so well in the last 9 months or so since I 1st ordered from you
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In reply to Post #644
Yes just a bit less maybe
Talking for myself it's whatever it takes still
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In reply to Post #642
Just heard this morning egg albumin next time will be over 400 quid! Just crazy crazy money.
Do you all think anglers will still buy but perhaps buy less? I know that when I went on my fishing holidays this year that I was gonna take exactly what bait I needed and the cost never came into my head. I also see more lads joining together to get the bulk deals.
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Idiots mate. Rather pay more for quality all day long. Got to make a living pal
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In reply to Post #639
£8 a kg is now the new £6 a kg
anglers simply cant expect bait firms to take the hit on everything, especially when you look at the cost of other things within angling
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In reply to Post #639
Yes yes
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In reply to Post #637
Yes always
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In reply to Post #635
Anyone saying that £8 a kg is ridiculous is an idiot. Probably the type that think McDonald's and Greg's are good food. Keep the integrity of the product and up the price.
These increases are hitting every sector, four local curry houses have responded by cutting quality and are not doing much trade, one that was always more expensive and was always better has increased its prices making the gap between it and the other four even bigger but its taking trade from them.
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Agreed people moaning about £8 a kilo for decent bait is stupid but I also understand where your coming from, if it needs to go up even more say £9.50 kilo you’ll be pricing yourself out of most peoples options. Everyone will jump on me now saying decent anglers pay for decent bait and all that rubbish but the truth is the average guy wont be able to afford to use you. Doesn’t affect me personally I’ve only used your hookbaits. Just my 2 pennies worth
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In reply to Post #635
Raise your prices if needed, proper anglers will always pay for decent bait.
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In reply to Post #635
People will pay for quality,the people moaning about £8 a kg need to give their head a wobble.
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In reply to Post #634
Well done to all of you lads below, some nice fish there!
I’m really pleased with all of the catch reports and our own pages are bulging with nice carp.
It has been awful at work mixing basemix and playing with horrible smelling liquids in this heat but the results are there for all to see.
There is one huge negative today.
The price of two of my most expensive ingredients has now got so out of control that I’m seriously thinking about taking one of my most cherished baits out of the range. The price to make that bait has always been high but now it is getting to the point where the bait will just be too expensive for the U.K. market.
Caseins, whey, minamino have all risen so much in 6 months that I can see an end coming for certain products.
The cruel thing about this is that this boilie has a winter track record unlike any other bait I have made before and it’s a favourite of mine and the team.
And to see people on social media Saying that 8 quid a kilo is ridiculous, makes me wonder what the future holds for the bait industry.
And even blooming egg albumin has risen to 300 quid a box!
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In reply to Post #633
Just completed a couple of nights as a guest on my mates syndicate which was hard going in the weather but a switch of rig and bait to a sting wafter on one rod and a snowman with a dark sting pop up on the other saw me land 2 fish, an 18.5lb common and a lovely old 31lb 5oz mirror which is one of only 5 30s in the water. These were the only fish out during my session, so another glowing endorsement of the sting
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In reply to Post #629
Quick fish (2 hrs) last week produced this fella on Herb boilie. The only one caught that evening. 😁
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LY8TPA92DcpgEdra8
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In reply to Post #631
Phil has sorted the order,thanks for that Gav 👍
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In reply to Post #630
Shelf life will be rolled this week mate
We have 6/700k to do again this week
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In reply to Post #629
When will Herb be back in mate,need 10kg of Herb and Tricknut plus pot of wafters of each.
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In reply to Post #628
Good news! I think the boilie fishing is really going Up a gear now. I’m away with family this weekend and the catch reports are piling in and a good percentage are being caught on 20mm hard bottom baits!
Herb sold out yet again
Tricknut will also sell out by midweek
I may get the rods out next weekend if this heat pisses off 😂
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In reply to Post #627
Fantastic, I like seeing that
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Three fish this weekend,they all came to Tricknut with a three bait stringer.My mate Phil had a lovely common on a Pineapple wafter,really loving the bait on here as the last fish less than an hour ago was crapping it out on the mat
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In reply to Post #625
Come see the ABP chat on the other thread, weigh in
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In reply to Post #624
If any of you lads ordered over the weekend then I’ll apologise now. The bloody couriers never turned up to collect our parcels today and will be coming tomorrow. First time in 16 months that they failed to collect!!
First day back after a week off and it was blooming busy too 😩
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In reply to Post #623
Good old sting!! Saved a few blanks that one!!
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In reply to Post #621
Had a couple of 20’s to nearly 29lb on the yellow Sting pop ups this week , cheers Gav
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In reply to Post #621
Thanks, will wait until I'm home 👍
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In reply to Post #620
Hi mate, I don’t think they fit through a letterbox
All orders are sent out on a next day delivery!
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In reply to Post #614
Hi I'm on holiday at the moment but want to order 1 pot of hookbaits, will they go through a standard letter box ? Or what is your delivery time please , so I can order to arrive within a couple of days of my return?
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In reply to Post #614
They have wifi in Italy then lol
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In reply to Post #614
You're supposed to be fishing
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In reply to Post #614
Certainly helped me in the last outing 👌🏼 Only 5 fish to come off the lake were in my swim including the biggest resident
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In reply to Post #613
We try our best mate!!
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Ordered yesterday arrived today 👌🏼
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In reply to Post #610
The Herb……everyone is in love with that bait! The results are there for all to see 😉
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In reply to Post #609
I’m pretty sure your samples were all shelf life as we kept a few kg of Nutriplex back in shelf life form for this purpose! Some request freezer samples which we can always do.
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Also received some samples yesterday. Delivery was quick!
I’m a massive fan of rg baits but I’m going to put an order in and give the herb a go on my next trip.
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I received some boilie samples, herb, tricknut and nitrile. I noticed on the website that nutriplex is only available as a freezer bait. Could it be that all of the samples I received were air dried
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In reply to Post #607
Cheers Matt!
Plenty of things of interest in there!
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Had some samples delivered today along with some sting wafters and wow they smell great definitely be putting an order in soon.
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In reply to Post #603
And yes goose that’s what I want to use, soluble and active baits but ones that will still be on the lakebed after 24 hours if those pesky carp haven’t found it immediately!!
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In reply to Post #602
You could fish a 12mm shelf life on the hair no problem, but I would be nervous after 5/6 hours in the water.
Some of the guys use 15mm shelf life’s and put them in their pellet buckets for 48/72 hours and that hardens them down even more. Could do that with a 12mm!
Lots of options!
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In reply to Post #602
Hasn’t gav got a liquid you could soak a pot of 12 millers In to harden them a bit
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In reply to Post #602
Suppose it depends on how you intend to fish it, for me most of the time soluble baits are perfect. Turn up and walk about to try and find a few likely spots, trickle a bit of bait on them and back to the car for a coffee and then back to fish the spots for a while. If I were session fishing I would still use the same bait for free offerings but either as said buy the paste to make some hard hookers or buy popups.
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In reply to Post #601
For me it’s to avoid the nuisance fish, although the 12mm boilie might be hard enough as standard? But don’t want to buy 10kg of Herb to find it’s too soft for a hook bait.
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In reply to Post #599
Or put the effort in and reel in regularly and change the hook bait, probably asking too much of your average carper.
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In reply to Post #599
The paste kits we sell……just add 5-10 percent egg albumin to that and you can roll any size hard bait you like!! We have sold plenty recently
Gav
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In reply to Post #597
That's the drawback of producing a good quality food bait with good solubility. People will need hard hookbaits. Nice problem to have.
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In reply to Post #597
For the barbel fishing I do I like a small 12mm boilie.
The 12mm Herb sounds like it could be a really good bait for me, but would like a matching hard hook bait.
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In reply to Post #596
We hadn’t planned on it as that’s a bit small and niche but anything is possible. We can roll anything into a pop up. Any powder or liquids,
So a hard hooker is very straight forward
It’s just fitting it all these things in
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Will you be doing a 12mm hardened hook bait for the 12mm herb boilies.
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In reply to Post #594
Certainly serving you lads well 😉
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In reply to Post #593
Baits fantastic, and the pink squid
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In reply to Post #592
Great news lads!! It’s gonna be fish frenzy soon (every day is a frenzy at the moment) but the catch reports are constant which is a good sign!
The only problem i have is I’m becoming an insomniac again as my mind is full of ideas and things I need to do!
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In reply to Post #589
Indeed, my baits arrived yesterday, about 28 hours after I placed the order. roll on the 16th.
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I echo previous posts regarding the efficient service from Handcraft. The herb has already been good to me and my mates this year, and next week will be the first time we’ve taken it to France. Keep up the good work Gav you hero! 💪👌
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In reply to Post #589
And I would like to thank all of you forum lads that have ordered recently! We are pushing hard to keep up with all of the orders and speedy delivery is helping! Bloomin run out of sting again this week 😂😂
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In reply to Post #588
The barbel boys have kept us busy this week 😂
It has become very popular with the river boys and I have high hopes for the opening week! It’s a race to see who will send in the first double and from what part of the country it comes from!
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My Herb boilies arrived today , impressed with the polystyrene box that they were packed in , still half frozen ! Very quick turnaround , roll on june 16th and hopefully the Barbel take to them !
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In reply to Post #586
Good luck with them Ken!
Enjoy the holiday and the peace and quiet!
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My bait for our upcoming trip to Le Q has just arrived. All I can say is...WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The whole house smells of strawberries
Many thanks, Gav.
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In reply to Post #584
Better off soaking in another more attractive liquid. That’s one of the positives about our little pop ups, they will take on some nice things and still float. Betaine solution, minamino, squid sauce…..world is your oyster 😉
The carp will find your hookbait easily. Last summer I was catching lots from a silty spot on herb 15mm Wafters. They were bulk standard off the shelf Wafters, fished in silt that stained them grey but it was a productive spot for a few weeks. Even the lead and leader smelt awful but for some reason it was a good place to get a bite from. Not my first choice ideally but that’s where they were.
There has been a U.K. 51 sent in today that was caught on a single quid 12mm pop up on a chod over thick silt. It’s visual, it’s made from powders, hydros, flavours and the carp love them! But let me be clear here, the baits do everything I ask them to do but we as anglers need to get them into the right location every day! No hookbait will drag them from 20 acres away!
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In reply to Post #582
Wouldn't pre soaking them in lake water help prevent them taking on the fowl smelling stuff?
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In reply to Post #582
Thanks mate
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In reply to Post #581
Hi mate, I think there are several options that are strong and there is something you can do to help repel it further.
Tutti, sting, pineapple, and deep c are pokey
Two dressings of the matching booster liquids over a two week period, that will be a strong old mix!
I often take the hookbaits off my rigs after 24 hours (if they haven’t produced anything 😂 crack them in half and do a sniff test! Because they are made with nice powders and liquids in the pop up basemix, they always smell nice in the core!
One other thing
Goo……..some of them are really strong and will do the same thing. I am very nervous about very strong overpowering hookbaits at this stage of the season and I’m very aware that no matter what we smell, the carp can sense your hookbaits even among the horrible lake bed!!
Loading up pop ups with liquids is the best way to stop them taking on foul lake water.
Two coats and then dry them out.
Gav
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In reply to Post #579
Hi Gav, What pop-up from your range would you recommend for silt, eg less likely to get tainted by the smell of the silt?
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In reply to Post #579
Need sting dark wafters
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In reply to Post #578
It’s funny how the catch reports follow certain trends but the sting is popular (Herb is constantly popular 😂
I had a message on Friday from one of the biggest names in angling saying that he uses or tips every hookbait with sting and he has having it off big style! I’m having good results on the deep c at the moment and the only bite this weekend was on the deep c pop up…….the bugger fell off 😂
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In reply to Post #577
I lost a nice fish on a sting wafter last night,just could not stop it getting into some lillies
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Had 4 sessions in the last month or so. Each one I’ve had a minimum of 4 fish all on sting wafters fished over Herb. Last week I had 7 upto high 20s in 24hrs, Bloke next to me didn’t have a thing in two days
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Had a lovely 18lb mirror last night on Tricknut wafter and Phil had a mid double on The Herb straight out the bag
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In reply to Post #574
Fist play fella!! You lads have scored well.
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Another mid 20 park lake common
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In reply to Post #572
3 U.K. 40s sent in today and one was the hardwick lake record at 46.9
Sting 12mm pop ups doing the business
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In reply to Post #571
And what a beauty she was mate
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In reply to Post #570
21-8 fully scaled for me……..minter…….
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In reply to Post #569
Glad you like them mate
Next week we are going to make a ridiculous amount of bait to see if we can catch up a bit! Some lovely fish coming out around the U.K., hopefully many have now spawned and will be in need of some decent food. Even I may wet a line this weekend 😉
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In reply to Post #568
Tricknut and Herb for me,order will be coming in soon for more
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In reply to Post #566
Hi mate
I’m afraid we can’t really run deals on boilies. I put too much into and not huge profit margins. I had an email today asking for more discount on 200k of herb, same answer really, I just won’t make anything so it will be a pointless exercise making it.
You will love the herb, it’s becoming one of those baits that carp and anglers are loving right now!
Gav
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In reply to Post #566
I have to be honest here and say you will struggle to find a better bait at £7.80 per kilo in those quantities.
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In reply to Post #565
Any deals on the Herb i want to take 10kg with me to France?
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In reply to Post #564
Banoffee 14mm pop ups
Peanut praline dumbbell Wafters
Herb and tricknut paste kits all added to the website recently. I know several of you lads had asked.
Deep c Wafters due In soon!
Thanks for the photos you lads have been sending in.
Keeperboy
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In reply to Post #563
What a nice common it was mate!! Shared on Instagram and Facebook
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In reply to Post #561
Alright gav I will email you a few pictures over but you might have to crop them a bit because like an idiot I forgot to move the water bottle out of the way lol.
Definitely impressed by the herb so far mate
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My son and daughter had there 1st carp today on super squid over s7
Think the both have the bug and are wanting to go next week
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In reply to Post #560
Well done Dean. It’s much easier to send it to us than post on here (I’m a technophobe 😂 but to be honest, all that matters to me is that it’s working for you buddy.
Judging by the thousands (literally) of photos coming in this year I know it’s going to be a busy time for us, just hope you all get to go out and fill your boots!! Keep them coming mate
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In reply to Post #559
Alright mate had a 34.4lb common yesterday morning first time out on the herb on a tricky little water. Not got a clue how to post a picture on here lol. So well impressed and should be putting in an order again soon
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In reply to Post #557
Well done fella! Been some awesome carp caught this weekend. I’m a bit out of the loop as it’s been a family weekend for the first time in weeks but My phone has been busy again! Every double and twenty is important to us so keep them coming dale!!
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In reply to Post #557
Every bit as valid as the biggest fish in the world if it puts a smile on your face, well done 🙂 👍🏼
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In reply to Post #534
No massive fish for me, but two little 'uns in a couple of hours this evening. This is the better of the two and just scraped a doule. Bits box is just under 10 inches long. (Hopefully the linky thing works!)
Both on naked chods with pink squid wafters from the rather nice Handcraft range Cheers Gav!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7anvkxoFHKL5cS6Y8
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In reply to Post #555
I guess it depends on how the lakes ran, easier to justify I think on a day ticket rather than a syndicate. I should have a ticket coming up fairly soon in a lake where the owner is fastidious about an optimal ecosystem in the lakes, trying to get them big nautically and it’s working well, unfortunately the tickets expensive because doing things properly isn’t cheap, but the plus side of that is you see where the money goes, an extra 50 quid on a 50 man syndicate ticket is 2.5k which is a nice bit of supplementary food for em. And as you say there are certain times of the year those who own the lakes knows it’s important to have food avaliable for them
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In reply to Post #554
Supplementary feeding is always important. I often wonder how big carp would get each year if they had a longer rest and they were fed in between! It’s something I have done for 15 years now, I’m adamant it’s why the fish look so pristine and make good weights all year round. Especially for the month after spawning. Mine get double rations for 3/4 weeks 😉
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In reply to Post #553
They had a quarter of a ton of BP Milling Gold fed to them last year Gav, they were generally left unfished for until this April, we had a little dabble in the Christmas break to see if they had done anything which is when I caught the one common at 19.8, we have about a dozen or so of the 44 fish we put back in go from 6,7,8lb weights to 15lb and upwards now to 19.8 being the best, surprisingly it is the commons that have done the better weights rather than the mirrors although the mirrors have done 4/5ish pounds on average and only 25 of the 44 of the stock have been out so far so there may be a few more surprises, the futures certainly looking good, we will supplementary feed for this year until October and then its purely down to the anglers bait.
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In reply to Post #552
Fair play Ian!! Growing well!!
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In reply to Post #551
Nice Carp looks like an old Sutton strain.
One on a dark sting recently no great shakes but the fish has put on 8lb and 9 ounces since we put it back in the lake last May after all the work we've done.
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In reply to Post #549
No 50s jesus
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In reply to Post #548
There have been 8 U.K. 40s reported to us today!! No 50s though 😲
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In reply to Post #547
Well done Wayne, keep them coming fella! And Carl…..you have been on a very good roll recently!
Not sure why some of the photos have gone from below! Took me ages to bloody post them too 😂😂
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I’ve had some stunners lately including an old slate grey 35lb park lake mirror on the squid hookbaits.
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Had another fish on the dark sting over SLK…….not big but a dark scale perfect linear…….
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In reply to Post #544
Underground angler; Greg Richardson with a nice upper 30lb caught on The Herb and matching hookbaits.
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In reply to Post #543
Marc Cav... lost track of how many 40's this bloke has caught this year! He loves The Herb and Eton Mess!
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In reply to Post #542
Glen M with a 61lb UK Mirror caught on The Herb and Sting!!
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In reply to Post #541
A fifty year old Colne Valley 40lb that has been missing for three years, caught on The Herb and The Sting!!
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In reply to Post #540
Still catching a few then mate! Well done indeed!! Feel free to share any pics. I still haven’t had time to share any on here
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Had a lovely 28-6 common on a dark sting pop up over the weekend…….
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In reply to Post #537
Cheers I'll get a tub of hard hookbaits 👍🏻
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In reply to Post #536
All of the boilies are too soluble to safely use on the hair. I’m pretty sure you could use one on a rig but it would probably come off as you go to wind in.
Plenty of hookbait options for everyone.
I am out angling today and had a productive night with 7 fish so far up to 34lb (an incredible long wild looking common) and I have been playing around with different pop ups fished over Herb and pellets.
Deep c produced a few and the sting produced the better two! This is definitely a good time for bright hookbaits for me personally but I also know when not to have them out there. Matching food bait Wafters bottom baits or pop ups really come into their own in the summer.
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In reply to Post #534
Looking at the herb frozen, can I use them from the packet or is it best for the hard hookbait option?
Plus is it worth using a liquid attraction with them? Seen the herb, liver, and cal liquids they do
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In reply to Post #534
Only thing I have caught on the Sting is a Bream but then the Krill and Cal wafter 6ft away produced a decent carp for me. Only used them for 18hrs so happy with that as its a tricky water and it was -5°C at the time 
Next trip out is late may so maybe a brighter bait will do the trick then
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In reply to Post #533
Evening lads
Glad you love the sting! Such a cult following for the hookbaits now and some mega catch reports coming in.
If you follow our media you will have some huge huge carp landed again this week
Lost track of the 40s and 30s but nice to see the first 60 from the U.K. on the herb and sting!
Just stepped in so I’m off to make some late dinner!
I’ll post pics at some point when I get chance!
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In reply to Post #532
They definitely work. Fish number 2 just went back. Wish I hadn't waited so long tbh!
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In reply to Post #531
Been tempted to get some sting wafters myself.
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Long term lurker of this thread who finally bit the bullet and got some Sting dumbbell wafters. Well they arrived today and have just produced my second fish of the year within 30mins of casting in. Not bad Gav, not bad at all!
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Had a nice 24-10 mirror last night on a dark sting pop up and 3 bait ultraplex stringer…….
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In reply to Post #527
Yes we already have them!
I’ll get them on the site asap
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In reply to Post #527
Even if they don’t I’m sure Gav will supply one if you ask him 👍🏼
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In reply to Post #526
Will you be bringing out a booster liquid for deep c ?
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In reply to Post #525
Nice work lads
The deep c hookbaits have been very popular……..could even give the super squids a run for their money 😂
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In reply to Post #520
2 on squid dumbell wafters and 2 on round herb wafters
I was on booneys lake (spelling) in beds for a social. Bailiff said there were 6 fish out overnight and i had 4 of them. Never seen the place before but apparently that is really good going
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In reply to Post #522
Still catching plenty Ian! Well done mate keep it up
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In reply to Post #515
Evening lads, sorry for the late replies but once again it’s been mental. You are welcome to collect but we are near Tring in Hertfordshire and the site is very secure with locked gates that we need to open to allow access. There is lots going our site and security is tight! We do let customers in if it’s pre arranged so no problem there.
Herb shelf life’s are the go to for many and the 3 hookbaits I can’t fish without now are sting, squid and the deep c is gonna be a huge seller. We sold out this week already!! More batches coming over the long weekend.
I can answer some more questions when I get a chance over the weekend but thanks for the kind words again……it’s nice to hear such positivity about our products in a very turbulent world. Keep your eyes out for the catch reports in the next few week……..some awesome captures coming in every day!!
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In reply to Post #521
My last victim Herb bottom bait, Dark Sting popup, snowman rig with a five bait stringer and little dip of herb primer.
Edit: Yes a baitworks hoody because they're bloody warm.
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Had a 17lb mirror this morning on a dark sting pop up with a 3 bait herb stringer……..
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In reply to Post #518
Well done fella .we're thay on the dumbell or 15mm wafters ?
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In reply to Post #516
Herb. Sting, Super Squid and the 3rd 1 for me is Red Legend. Saying that the white Tricknut and PC1 are doing well for me at the moment
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In reply to Post #516
I havent used tricknut but the herb is amazing. Sting, super squid or a peanut bait over the top
I had 4 fish last night on herb wafters and super squid over the top of herb shelflife
Wonderful bait
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In reply to Post #516
That's a tough one to answer.
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Heard so many great things about handcraft ive to give them a go which food bait would people recommend first trick nut or the herb ( can only use shelf life atm as have no freezer space ). Also if you had to pick 3 hookbaits to try first what 3 would you pick ? They all look really good .
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In reply to Post #513
Can bait be collected fresh from you, looked on Web site but didn't see address. Interested in trying herb.
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In reply to Post #507
That's understandable Gav! Im glad its been so successful for you
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In reply to Post #512
Goose, baits in the freezer? I have used frozen baits for 30 years and keeping them for 6 months has never been an issue for me.
Hard hookbaits are made from the same basemix and liquids (ours are anyway) but we elevate the levels slightly due to the fact they are harder, less soluble and dried out for an extra day! Fresh bait is always my priority but many people don’t seem to care anymore……..it’s often all about the price!
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In reply to Post #509
Yeah it definitely comes across as an old school bait and does have the same sort of smell as the smokey mackerel and I like the fact its high in hydro's as this is something I used to do when I made my own and will be definitely putting in an order soon
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In reply to Post #509
A few questions.
Can bait be collected from your premises and if so what's the address.
What do you feel if the freezer life of a quality food bait like herb before it looses some attraction.
Do hard hook bait have a different profile to the feed baits. Reason I ask this is a mate makes a very high quality food bait that I use fresh and don't keep it frozen for more than six weeks which isn't a problem as he is local and I could always get more at short notice but now he is rolling for a lot more people it's not so easy, this bait also breaks down fairly quickly and only stays on the hair for four to five hours but the hard hook baits will stay on for twelve so wonder if the fish can tetect a difference.
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In reply to Post #507
Ask our mutual friend about his ribbon blender mate, that might suit?
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In reply to Post #508
I don’t remember the elite baits Smokey Mack but perhaps they were similar. As I said before, it was never designed to be or smell like anything else. We had several versions under test but this one was by far the best and also liked the most by the anglers involved. Marc cav was heavily involved with early tests and I don’t think I will ever be able to give him another bait again!! We had a fish version, a curry type version and even a fruit but they just didn’t seem to hit the mark like this one! This blend of flavours and heavy hydros is almost definitely unique (that I know of) and I just hope that they all stay available.
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In reply to Post #506
I recieved some samples and yeah it definitely has the same aroma to them as the smokey mackerel by elite baits and once I clear a bit of space in the bait freezer I will defo be putting in an order
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In reply to Post #506
I was going to tell everyone exactly what was in the herb recipe in the very beginning. But I have had a few things blatantly copied before and it’s really put me off the complete listing of ingredients now. I’m not secretive in any way shape or form normally but the herb is different and it will shape my future so I have sort of kept a few things close to my chest. The flavours are all from our past and the reason that many of you know it is because you may well have sniffed some of them before.
Today I was told by one of the greatest anglers that has fished in the U.K. that the herb is something very special and it’s a message that comes in daily now.
It’s about as old skool as you can imagine but with a few modern twists! I literally can’t produce enough of it and I really need to upsize this year.
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In reply to Post #504
What flavours go into the herb if you don’t me asking? Any further info on its overall make up that isn’t on the website? To me at least it has a simialr aroma to the elite baits Smokey mackerel I used about 20 years ago.
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In reply to Post #504
I think it’s the similar spice / fish combo…….same as the source which has a similar smell IMO…..
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In reply to Post #503
Yep that sting is certainly one to fall back on. Lots of captures on that pop up this weekend. I always remember one winter when I caught a crazy amount of 30 pound carp from 2 different waters and the sting always got me the bites! We have a new batch drying right now and many orders to get out this week.
The Herb and nash sting boilies…… many people seem to think that the herb is a similar bait to the sting spicy fishmeal from the 90s. I can assure you I never designed it to mimic anything at all, I just chose some old ingredients, some new ones, some spices and some old flavours that are still around today. The sting I used personally in the 90s was brown, and had a beautiful meat, liver, fenugreek, curry type smell. But my god did we haul on it!!
Sting essential oil in our pop ups is a very unique and nice smell, tastes awful but smells mega!! A favourite of many many anglers now
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In reply to Post #502
I’m now well and truly sold on the sting for colder months. Gone are the times I carry a bait bucket full of pop ups around with me. I’ve fished 3 waters mainly days all through the winter and I’m yet to blank, nothing massive, fish to low 20’s but others around me have often struggled, all fish on the sting and it’s been the most enjoyable winters fishing in a long time.
Btw I don’t get the similarities with the herb at all.
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In reply to Post #501
😂😂😂 the herb/sting combo
It’s amazing how people think that the herb is very similar to sting (it’s not how I remember sting) but let’s be honest that was one of the best nash produced
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In reply to Post #500
Gav, call me when you release the Herbing…….
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In reply to Post #499
Today……phew I’m glad it’s over!
Herb…….it has such a cult following now and grows everyday. So glad you like it mate and I know it’s a special one judging by what I see and hear. When I started handcraft I was worried that some of our ideas and inventions would never come to light but clearly they are the ones that people love. I don’t know how many sting, squid or herb products went out of the door today but it was a lot! Always a good sign when you catch carp on a matching hookbaits wether it’s a hard hooker or Wafters etc!
Now it’s time for some dinner and a well earned pint!!
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In reply to Post #495
Had two at the weekend just gone in the cold northerlies, Herb hard hooker with Dark sting pop-up fished on a snowman just keeps them coming for me, cast with either a Herb five bait stringer or five crushed in a PVA mesh bag, quick dip in the Herb Primer and voila, DEEP-C in brown sounds the one.
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In reply to Post #497
Will be an order for the new pop ups from me and Phil very soon
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In reply to Post #496
Glad they are serving you well!
They have kept us busy this year, we are working 6 days a week to keep up with it all but trust me, we are so pleased with the outcome. There is a lot of really nice feedback around the whole brand and the boilies are impossible to keep in stock. This week I have finally caught up on freezer baits (it won’t last) but the shelf life’s are all getting real low again so I’m back in at 6 tomorrow. Busy busy! Some crackers caught this week on sting, squid and the deep c
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In reply to Post #495
Will take a look. Haven't sent you it but the scaly in the March catch report was on a 12mm banoffee pop up. Also lost one on a sting wafter in the same session. Got so much confidence in your hookbaits now, can finally stop buying everything I see on offer and focus on fewer, quality hookbaits I trust
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In reply to Post #491
Evening lads
Just to let you all know that the new pop ups went on sale this weekend and the booster shots have gone up too. Thanks for the pms and queries
Some mega catch reports gone up in the last week and we are full bore now. I will drop in from time to time and post some of the recent carp when I get ten minutes. I’m gonna get out and chase another large common this week if things go well!
Enjoy
Keeperboy
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In reply to Post #490
Go from bait to bots and block them off
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In reply to Post #489
youve missed nothing, cause ive deleted it all...and i will continue to do so.
your thread, any other bait "debates" from outside of your thread will be deleted.
Roll on summer, when you lots all go fishing
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In reply to Post #487
Not sure what I have missed here 😂
Just opened the forum to more personal messages from Mozzi, which I have Ignored again
I’m a little bit bored of all the nonsense so I’m gonna be taking a bit of a break from here. We are very busy and have been since January so if you need to get hold of me then contact us personally at work. I will reply to you guys who have been asking me questions and let’s hope we come back at a different time.
Once last thing
Mods…….constant pms and hounding people (I have seen the messages) is not on in my eyes. Repeatedly attacking other brands also not on! Yet you let this go on.
Spring is here boys and the carp are coming out en masse! Check out our socials for a crazy amount of big carp being caught.
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In reply to Post #486
Apologies for my part mate but I won’t have it.
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In reply to Post #484
Yet another bait thread ive had to tidy up
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In reply to Post #467
When are the booster flavours due out?
Gonna place an order but want to get everything in one hit
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In reply to Post #479
Mozzi this is getting tiresome now. This is a Handcraft Baits thread, not a Mozzi dissect Gavs business thread. If you want to know the ins and outs speak directly to Gav. For me it is really bad form for you to keep questioning another persons business on an open forum.
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In reply to Post #476
Like everything it will be going up a bit in the next few weeks as we are getting hammered on all ingredients, packaging at the moment.
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In reply to Post #476
I'm getting them blank and pimping them myself but they are great quality
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In reply to Post #475
Thats bloody cheap for the flavoured pellets
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In reply to Post #474
£12.99 for 5kg bud
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In reply to Post #473
brilliant is it £12.99 for 2kg
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In reply to Post #472
I will get them added. Been a ridiculous week and the next one looks the same.
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In reply to Post #471
When will you be doing tricknut flavoured pellets
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In reply to Post #470
Another carp on the samples!! Well done indeed sir !!
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I bought a sample pack a few weeks ago and used them on a short day session today on one of my club waters. Managed 3 in 7 hours, with both rods in the same area and one on the sample baits vs. my usual offerings. All came to the Handcraft rod. Needless to say, I'll be putting in an order!
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In reply to Post #459
We have something coming out very soon Ian that you may well like. It’s an interesting idea and one that I have never seen done before. Certainly the type of hookbait I want to cast out. Keep em peeled 😉😉
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In reply to Post #467
Lovely job, cheers. And will definitely keep you updated re. results and catches 🎣👍😁
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In reply to Post #466
You are welcome mate
Parcel has gone, let me know how you get on with the basemix and hookbaits
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In reply to Post #461
Cheers Gav, good to chat again. Looking forward to trying out some of those potted pop-ups!
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There spot on, Proper leakage as pop ups should be.
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In reply to Post #463
It's smells awesome,and the 12mm pop up is still popped up.I wonder if you can get the pop up mix in tablet form,be better than viagra
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In reply to Post #461
Did someone say dark sting……..
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In reply to Post #461
Put me down for 12mm pop ups and some 15mm wafters in the new one
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In reply to Post #460
You can leave it in that glass forever mate 😂😂
Today I sat and potted up literally hundreds of dark sting, squid, almond and sting! I don’t want to see another 12mm pop up 🤪🤪🤪
The new ones are starting to take shape 😉😉
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In reply to Post #459
So true about the rigs,I went back to a simple dark matter braid rig a couple of years back.I was on a supposedly tricky little water and had great results.I can't wait try these baits out,that dark sting looks a winner.I have a 12mm pop up on a ronnie in a glass and its been in there for nearly 48hrs and no sign of it sinking yet
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In reply to Post #457
Early results on the Sting have done me well Gav I had a few over Christmas on these first time out with them, only the Dark sting for me though.
I'd love to see a deep red fish meal hook bait bait on a Plum, Cranberry & black pepper (my all time favorite combo) Most of the time these days I prefer to fish with dark colored hook baits or more natural tones, a bright one has its time and place and fished them plenty over the years, yellow pineapple stood out for me for a good few years but the last few when it seems most anglers are putting out a bright one or washed out version of it I have been going back to the muted colors and finding better results again even going back to old rigs I used moons ago over the Mr T type rigs we get sucked into, we all get caught up in it, the fish and fishing hasn't changed, we have.
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In reply to Post #457
Couldn't agree more re. singles! Look at how deadly a single tiger nut is!
Also, on shallow lakes with swans a darker single is a great method
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In reply to Post #456
Evening Ian,
It’s a common fact that very few people have the balls to cast out one single pop up or wafter! It is a deadly tactic at times and it is one that I have spent a huge amount of time sitting behind. I can remember a spring at Hyde lane when bites were very hard to come by and bait was going in aplenty. I fished 3 rods on singles, a yellow, a greenish one and an orange tutti.
The single yellow (now known as sting) was by far the best one for whatever reason. Tutti was second and the greenish one produced nothing!!
For about two months I was very successful doing my Friday nights. But then we hit the summer and everyone cottoned onto my methods and the bites really slowed down.
I’m so confident with that sting sat out there on its own! It worked well for me at welly too during tough spells.
If I know that single is in the right place I’m happy to leave them for 2 days.
If you don’t have that confidence then re Chuck them as you see fit!!
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I know location is the key and being on fish is our bible but one of my first trips out with Gavs Krill and Cal cork balls last spring on a 50 acre pit with limited bank access, which is eleven swims, add to that the fish rarely visit the margins only at certain times of the year, anyway I had been looking for over two hours arriving on a Friday afternoon I had about an hour of light left to get the rods out with nothing to go on and with nothing showing so I decided to drop in one of the longer range swims fishing across to a no fishing bank in a gully that they are known to travel along.
To get out to the gully it is waders on out to waist high about 30 yards out then a chuck of 130 yards to get in the gully I placed one rod in there single cork ball K&C bait no other bait around it as the gulls and swans are all over you as its just in their range when they tip up, placed the other two rods on clear areas with a bit of bait around them at shorter range, camp up and settled in had a show over the shorter rod to the left after ten minutes and that was it, just into darkness the single bait rattled off after probably two hours in the water and over the next few hours it rattled of twice more didn't even change the bait, I had three fish on that rod in about six hours, single pop up nothing else and had in six hours what a lot of anglers catch in a season on that particular lake.
HAVE FAITH IN THE SINGLES
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That Common I put up in the Feb Catch Reports was on Gav's gear, you won't go wrong with it
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In reply to Post #453
I will never make a guarantee that you will definitely catch a carp……but I’m quietly confident you will do just fine on them. They are starting to appear everywhere at the moment and we are blessed with some mega catch reports. I always appreciate your feedback buddy!
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In reply to Post #451
Honestly mate, don't worry, i'm just one bod piping up. More than anything, I've been reliant on smelly things as there's not much to go on carp wise where I'm fishing. Going by what others have said, these hookbaits are more than effective.
Every time I use one of the Sting, I keep thinking, what is that? i'm sure I'll catch one of these illusive carp on one
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In reply to Post #451
Im not sure that you need to change anything tbh. Certainly leave the squid and the herb well alone!!
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In reply to Post #448
We worked pretty hard to find the right levels of certain flavours
We can always add more with that mix but I’m always worried of being too strong!
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In reply to Post #449
Scent from hell is crab isn’t it?
Due to its makeup that will stink! We will be working with some right stinky things this summer but as stated below, too much of certain things are bad!
Tiger nuts……..they don’t smell of anything at all
Sweetcorn no smell at all
I’m really into fishmeal based pop ups and Wafters this year already. The low level attraction and natural pulling power of the core ingredients can be the one when the stinky pineapples are blown. I think we all need to work out which way is best on each water. One last little thing, if you really wanted to pep up a hookbait for whatever reason there is no problem bringing out some little boosters shots like the other brands do. For those who need it it’s an option
Squid goo is popular 😉
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In reply to Post #448
I'd run with that
I will say this though, the venue I'm fishing hasn't got a lot in it and it's big, so a bait that pongs for me on the phycological front and this time of year could help out, the opposite as I've suggested on smaller waters with a bigger head of fish plus angling pressure could more than likely be detrimental. I totally take your points on board
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In reply to Post #447
I like the handcraft stuff specifically because it isnt overpowering
You cant detect soluble amino acids, they can.
I think it was john baker who said that a dogs sense of smell is hundreds of times as sensitive as ours and a carps is hundreds of times more sensitive than a dogs. I know it isnt quite that simple but imagine scent from hell but times a thousand?
Next time you find a bloodworm or a water snail, crack it open in give it a sniff. I bet you cant really smell it, but the carp can detect it before it has been broken with no issue
A baits smell catches the angler far more than the fish
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In reply to Post #443
Yeah, it was something that it noticed last weekend. I did crack one open and found that there was smell still in the bait, but compared to a rod with The Scent from Hell, the difference was night and day. I didn't crack open the Scent from Hell as it was as minging as it went out; can't remember if I dosed the Baitworks pop up with smell, like glug them months back.
It's one of those things, I mean like, some places where the fish are very nervous around highly pongy baits, they could easily spook, and a bait that doesn't waft loads can be a good thing, also, using corn in free offerings, the colour is bang on and can hide the hookbiat very well.
I don't know, maybe later on in the year a hookbait that doesn't scream "eat me" is the one, just that i'd rather a hookbait that does the opposite this time of the year.
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In reply to Post #445
the (in my opinion) four most potent carp attractors going are actually subtle as hell, alas, many others not lol
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In reply to Post #444
Completely agree, carp can find minute traces of food in parts per million of water so our nose is almost useless. But carp anglers want things to stink whereas I want things to be attractive after 24 hours but not repellant. Gary Bayes calls them carp scarers 😂😂😂
The trick here is powders and liquids, a combo of both that “smell” and “taste” is the best of both worlds for me.
Eaton mess is subtle, squid subtle, krill and cal also subtle but they have lots going inside them.
I also like the fact that you guys can cover them in whatever you want and they still work perfectly.
Rock hard pop ups with no ingress is not for me
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In reply to Post #443
I’ve said the same on the bait groups, to me “smells the same as when it went out “ isn’t a plus point!
See we do agree on things lol
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In reply to Post #441
im surprised by that but can i ask if you took the pop up off and cracked it in half to see what the inside smelt and tasted like? surely you want all of those nice things to be leaking out in the water column rather than locked inside. You will notice that all of our hookbaits are liquid hungry and they absorb anything you put on them.......... lake water will also be taken on to a degree. good news is that the catch reports on sting suggest the carp have no trouble finding them!
probably my favourite pop up of all time
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In reply to Post #426
Looks good....maybe something to try in the future..
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I find the Sting smell lasts a night, after that...zero smell. Not seen how long the smell takes to leak out on an hour to hour basis; will check.
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In reply to Post #439
It's good to be busy
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In reply to Post #438
I will be making yet more basemix this week! Never ends at the moment 😂😂
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In reply to Post #436
Bait arrived all spot on and will sort the 12mm Herb when you have it ready
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In reply to Post #436
Superb service as always,thanks very much
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In reply to Post #435
It’s gone out today and will arrive tomorrow mate!
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In reply to Post #434
Bait ordered,can't wait to get out to try it which due to work won't be until first weekend of march for 2 nights.
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In reply to Post #433
I won’t post all the pictures on here as it will take me hours but the last few weeks has seen a crazy amount of carp caught! We are already working at full speed like it’s summer so if I can’t reply straight away to the pms I apologise
I’ll get back to you as soon as I can! Super squid, sting, Eton mess and the three boilies are scoring well right now
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Krill & Cal served me well spring last year throughout April/May odd one on Eton mess and Pineapple then stopped fishing there after spawning as the weed is top to bottom all over lake by then add in it is shallow and birdlife is off the chart captures become difficult throughout summer months for all, Sting (dark) and Herb hard hooker snowman have done me proud through the winter and one or two over the tricknut on a tricknut wafter hookbait, I haven't even tried the Red Legends or Squids yet still got full tins of them.
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In reply to Post #424
Sorry for the late reply
Crazy busy times for me right now.
The ones that we sell the most and the ones that we get the greatest feedback are on sting, squid, krill and cal,
However the red legend, and pineapple ones are popular too!
They all have produced some good fish and all sell well at times but the above are very very good catchers for sure
The ones we are playing with right now are gonna be special. Now we are a bit more settled we can have a real good tinker 😉
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In reply to Post #424
For me the Sting has been doing the biz on the few sessions I've had this winter
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In reply to Post #423
Hi, any plans to do bait toppers a similar size to the Mainline ones?
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In reply to Post #427
Krill and Cal + Red Legend
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Sting or Super Squid have done well for me. The 12 mm versions are very buoyant for their size.
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In reply to Post #424
Sting, Super Squid, Red Legend and Krill and Cal for me. I know you only asked for a couple but I couldn't decide
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In reply to Post #424
Eton Mess & Sting for my money
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In reply to Post #423
Which pop up in the range would you say is the best catcher mate ? Are there any that stand out from catch reports ? I want to order a couple of tubs but can’t decide 😂
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In reply to Post #421
Very nice indeed sir!! Old skool classic
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In reply to Post #405
100%
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In reply to Post #420
Had a nice 40 on one of those a few weeks back
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In reply to Post #419
One of pidges combos, when I tub up the Wafters and pop ups it fills the room with a lovely strawberry creamy smell! Been some nice ones out on the Eton mess this weekend!! Nothing huge but plenty of bites!
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The Eton Mess samples you gave me tasted and smelled so good, I ate them myself!
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In reply to Post #417
A sample carp!! We like them 😂😂😂 I have had a few carp caught on our samples now and I often forget that people might actually use them. Well done indeed sir
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First session of the year due to work and brought the samples Gav sent with me…….stuck on a snowman of 18mm ultraplex / 12mm sting and fished it to a reedbed on its own in a small shallow bay…….30 mins later a stockie 10lb mirror…….
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In reply to Post #415
It’s no problem lads, it was just a mistaken date and time. Lots of anglers change bait more than I change my underwear!
I change it daily if anyone is asking 😂
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In reply to Post #410
Didn't you make the same comment on the Facebook page,which caused the angler to explain himself to you.I don't see why he bothered to be honest as it's non of your business.
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In reply to Post #411
comments deleted, nice barbel
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In reply to Post #404
I caught a double figure Barble from the Nene last year on a Ronnie rig pop up I obviously wasn’t targeting Barble
Was a bit of a surprise though
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In reply to Post #410
That is an old fish, from one of the other baits I worked on before. Jason is an incredibly good river angler and carp angler. Really nice chap too!
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In reply to Post #410
No he didn't, the 18 is from 2020, read his reply on Facebook.
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In reply to Post #409
That’s the chap who caught an 18 on another bait a couple of weeks ago isn’t it ? Thames barbel were never that fussy , any decent bait was acceptable in the right place, not least a method feeder with a big lump of Garlic Spam .
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In reply to Post #406
Just posted another double from the Thames today! If the herb fails as a carp bait it will certainly make it as a good barbel bait 😂
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In reply to Post #407
It was special wasn’t it.
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In reply to Post #406
L030 😍
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In reply to Post #403
. Years back using John bakers base mixes as paste as a wrap or hookbait was effective and probably what you newer barbel anglers are still doing? Except maybe I used river water or LO30 not eggs,and wrapping around a few hookers from a single egg mix.
The very best barbel/chub/ river carp bait I ever used by a country mile was CC Moore Ocean HNV paste mixed with LO30 ,no eggs. This was in the 90’s on The Thames , never saw another barbel angler.
Egg powder with either river/lake water or hydros opens up huge variation possibilities.
I take large amounts to France on the rivers , feed paste and fish a skinned hookbait over the top. The leak off speeds up bite times in my view. With eggs that would be complicated.
Or go to the Thames with a kilo of powder and mix it up as needed, just a few hookers needed.
So looking forward to your base mixes being available, I am sure they will be a winner like the rest of your range .
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In reply to Post #404
Barbel love scopex 😉
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In reply to Post #402
Was speaking in support of your dogs liking liver comment actually
Agree with the barbel sentiment too, they're cyprinids and Im convinced that an inherently good carp bait is effective for barbel and vise versa. I've noticed a lot of people using milk protein heavy mixes with sweeteners for barbel instead of the meaty fishmeal type baits we're always told they show a preference for, I think this is a demonstration of a wide variety of feed and investigative triggers co-existing between them.
Never caught a barbel on a pop up though, which I think its more down to how they feed
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In reply to Post #400
We only ever make things with fresh eggs, and the paste kits will be easy to use with an egg but I see no reasons why you couldn’t add egg alb if you so wished! It’s more for those barbel anglers who have seen huge and dramatic differences in the rivers with paste wrapped hookbaits. I am adamant we should be listening to these lads and doing similar things for the carp where possible
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In reply to Post #401
Mozzi take a day off 😂
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In reply to Post #399
The "nut bait" we've been testing is currently sat nicely at 6% liver in symbiosis with another product, No nut bait should be without it (Y)
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In reply to Post #392
Would you consider supplying base mix etc but with egg powder added so only water needed ? Baitworks do it and I have dabbled myself. Very convenient.
Cheers
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In reply to Post #398
All jokes aside it is because of the liver content
My dog always heads for the liver based baits in our unit!!
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In reply to Post #396
The dog is always my first test of a bait
Mine is too and loves the TN.......
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In reply to Post #395
Glad you like it fella
Very very popular bait that one already so use with confidence
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In reply to Post #395
The dog is always my first test of a bait. He’s fighting to get past me to get at Gavs stuff
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Thanks Gav
50kg of Tricknut ordered on Monday afternoon and its here Wednesday morning. Plus a little bonus thrown in as well Top man.
That smell and taste is something else. If the carp like it as much as my dog............................
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In reply to Post #393
We have a few things coming up this year for the home roller. Some nice flavours that are not available to the public, additives etc so maybe the sting can be one of them too!!
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In reply to Post #392
In future do you plan to sell the sting falvour as an addtive for home rollers.
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In reply to Post #391
We will be offering paste kits (the basemix and liquids)
You just need to add eggs!
Red fish smelt, looked and tasted very different to me but they do contain some of the same fishmeals, minerals etc.
all the contents are very different with the herb. I did love red fish pro, such a clever blend of very good meals. It was a very popular bait when I worked there and I’m sure it still is for them. Very few baits have those levels of good stuff in them! They are sitting on some incredibly good products
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In reply to Post #390
Thanks Gav. Arrived today, very efficient! Has a similar smell to the RFP, a sort of baby bio smell, maybe a kelp liquid? Does appear to be richer in colour than the RFP. Ill give it a go when I need some bait.
If I wanted to make my own hookbaits would you do base mix and liquid?
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In reply to Post #389
Similar in appearance but that’s about it
Different Ingredients, herbs, garlic, fenugreek, different hydros and 3 times the amount. Judging by the amount we sold and the catch reports I’m sure you will absolutely love this. It’s struck a big note that bait! And I have done ok on it this year 😉
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Ordered some samples today out of curiosity. I used Blake’s Red Fish Pro for a couple of seasons and liked it a lot, be interested to compare it to The Herb.
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In reply to Post #387
I bloody hate putting units back to “how was” lol, pro tip pack the kettle away last haha
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In reply to Post #386
Let us hope it continues! Couriers are a bit iffy at the moment and they make me nervous. They don’t often cock up on a tin of hookbaits………20k or freezer bait…..that’s a different story! To be fair to them they have been pretty efficient considering how many staff are off with Covid!
Glad you liked it all and I am working full bore at the moment to prepare for spring. Just moved into yet another bigger workshop, painting the existing one, ordering ingredients and sorting packaging. I honestly expected to be sat at home watching loose women or Jez Kyle in January but it has been a busy old winter so far!
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The level of service from Handcraft is superb,I emailed yesterday and had a reply straight away.My mate ordered 3 tins of wafters after 4pm yesterday,he's just text me a picture of his baits.I don't think he can quite believe how quickly they have arrived,our order for boilies will be in very very soon.Excellent service,very impressed
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In reply to Post #376
Got ya
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In reply to Post #382
Weve absolutely petrol bombed Gavs sponsor thread so I’ll shut up now lol
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In reply to Post #381
Sure thing 👍
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In reply to Post #380
well, protein isn't as black and white as the percentage in a bait the source and form is also important.
Broadly speaking yes, low protein baits will avoid excess protein effecting the water quality however, you aren't really doing the carp a disservice by providing a nutrient rich option.
The advice for fish keeping is on the assumption of that food you introduce forming the main diet for the fish, its also taking into account water quality for a much high level of carp biomass.
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In reply to Post #377
Hi Mozzi,
I've always run with the thinking that it's better to lower the protein levels in a bait come winter, which, depending on the amount of nut = protein in a bait due to keeping fish myself and the general thinking/consensus and recommendations from fish food manufacturers as the colder months/winter sets in.
I've always kept in mind my fish keeping thinking and gone with a lower protein based bait. One bait that I always found did well in the winter is Richworth tutti frutti.
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In reply to Post #378
Yes the feedback so far is mega! I hope it doesn’t let you all down!
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Really like the nut bait. Think it’s going to have a great year
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In reply to Post #371
I've banged on about nut baits not being brilliant for winter for a long time, but people insist on them.
The one we've been developing is low fat, and about as close to HNV as you can get with a nut based but BUT my preference would always be a well formulated combination bait like what you've mentioned.
However its a consumers market, I'll be shocked if your nut bait doesn't end up accounting for at least 50% of your sales once established.
Years ago I made what I thought was as close to perfection as boiled baits got, however field testers didn't like it until it was a certain colour
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In reply to Post #373
Probably bad angling, not the bait, but the bait is normally the first thing to blame.
So many good baits around, ready made wise, the people casting them out would not know the PH of said bait.
Unless you have an inner Tim Paisley
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In reply to Post #371
Always used to be a bird food bait in the winter used to use hutchys red or yellow seed or when finances allowed his protein mixrvite 👍
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In reply to Post #373
Baits that fail……could be a number of things, excess flavours, lack of aminos, to high in certain things.
Carp will pick up most things once but that’s not good enough long term.
Citric acid is a repellent if you overdose
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In reply to Post #371
when some baits fail dismally could it be down to PH, thanks.
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In reply to Post #370
That's very enlightening. I for one did not realise there were production issues with using eggshells, I assumed they were just chucked in a blender then added to the mix.
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In reply to Post #369
There seems to be general feeling that nut based boilies are good in winter but i personally have never found this to be completely accurate.My winter results have always been much better with fish/bird/milk boilies and it’s the winter when I do the majority of my angling. However any bait which is over applied at the time of the year when carp can take or leave food is going to end up sitting on the lakebed for the tufties!
Making a nut bait that works in the depths of winter, I focussed more on the other ingredients that I know will still be consumed in temps below 7/8 degrees. I have been impressed with the early catch reports on tricknut but if you follow us on social media you will see that Nutriplex is a consistent cold water producer.
Making a good winter bait is very difficult. I always used to revert to maggot fishing in winter but they are banned on many waters now which actually did me a favour. Like I said before I haven’t caught a carp on a maggot hookbait since 2016 and I’m at a place now where I’m so confident with the tactics in winter that I’m not sure if I will need to change it.
Minimum feed maximum attraction in winter
In Summer………..feed them and they will come 😂
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In reply to Post #369
My personal opinion is apart from the crunch I don't think they notice it. but at 4 quid a sack its less of a ball ache to get crunch than egg shell, which considering a lot of uk eggs are dipped in a shell detergent, need to be washed and ideally oven dried to destroy the membrane also.
I think for enough coarse nut product to cause buoyancy issues you'd be looking at it not being able to be rolled. I've experimented and the upper limits can be quite high with certain nuts
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In reply to Post #367
But do the carp like it?
Its like a lot of ingredients, we can go on about amino context, availability, etc,etc, but if the fish like eating it why wouldn’t you use it?
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In reply to Post #367
Fat and oil content with nut baits pose many problems, various levels of nut product buoyancy from batch to batch, rolling issues due to nut pieces, and slowing up attractor leakage if too much in the end product.
But it is a learning curve and a compromise for all of us.
Many lines of thought are better than one
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In reply to Post #363
And ironically probably the best nut bait ingredient of recent years is fluffy and with no lumps 😂
I get what you mean with the texture, and with the weight, this is one of my concerns with adding too much but, the buoyancy of the ingredient has a lot to do with the fat content which I’ve always tried to keep low in a bait, I’ve found if you go beyond 20% with these less used nut products ( although they’re used by a few companies ). Then it starts to lock the bait up, as well as dictates a very low fat content to any subsequent ingredients, I think you’ll get away with it more them being chunky though, the same volumes in a fine grind could cause havoc lol.
In response to people’s assumption about intestinal transit, many many “fine powders” as you’d see them are actually chock full of fibre, along with the chunky nature of the ingredients in this bait I just don’t think it would be necessary, it’s unique selling point as gaz has mentioned is weight, it can “settle down”. Some of the fussier mixes.
And lastly to the bloke who likes bread crumb, different kettle of fish in a bait. Yes pure bread crumb makes them go potty at times but not when locked up in a bait, it just makes said bait cheaper to roll as breadcrumb is about 11 quid a sack
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In reply to Post #360
I have long thought that there may be a secondary benefit of using oyster shell in baits, namely pH buffering of the bait. Unfortunately I don't know enough about the chemistry to be positive about this, or to explain it in a meaningful way. Anyone else have any thoughts on this?
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In reply to Post #362
Nice to see someone asking questions and getting answers in a way that isn’t slagging each other off. See we do all get on with each other on here
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For those of you who haven’t had the Tricknut bait in your hands yet, don’t judge too harshly or quickly on it’s possible negative aspects.
Having used numerous nut baits in the past, when I was lucky enough to get a pre-release sample (after hounding Gav for ages 🤣 the wait was worth it. It is light and shade in comparison to all the others I have tried, texture, smell, taste - it has it all and is what you imagine a nut bait SHOULD be like.
I know this is from a human perspective in all aspects and that people will always doubt what they haven’t yet witnessed personally, but see it and then form your own opinions.
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In reply to Post #361
It’s perfectly ok to say your piece mate that’s what the forum is for!
I’m sure we could pick the bones out of nearly all ingredients if we tried.
My perspective has always been that every ingredient must serve a purpose. One of my other Ingredients comes with pieces of crab, shell, and all sorts of weird and wonderful visible in it. Having fished and caught carp excreting big chunks of zebra mussels I am ok with a few coarse nuts and shell in the baits. Glad you liked the rest of it!! Very popular bait this year I think.
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In reply to Post #361
Nice reply’s from both
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In reply to Post #360
In respect of your nut bait which really peaked my interest as I love a nut based bait and your list of ingredients like brazil's etc seems like the one. I'd say the same of Willmott's bait, I think shell is an unnecessary ingredient and wouldn't and will not buy Willmott's bait because of it.
Just so we're clear, I'm in no way having a sly dig in any regard. I respect what you're doing and I'm in no way trying to undermine anything that you're doing, and I mean that in all sincerity.
Yeah, you're correct, your bait is for fish and not for people, that aside, from my very own perspective, I'm of the opinion that I'd rather have breadcrumb - which carp love - over shell anyday. It certainly could be argued that shell adds to a fish's needs in some way, which may or not be true, be that as it may, I'd possite that if you fished with a bait without shell and with good ingredients, there would be hardly any noticeable, or if any differences in catch rates or negative effects on carp that are eating the bait.
I hope it comes across that in respect to shell, these are my own personal preferences and not aimed in any way, shape or form to discredit anyone - notice I added Willmott in as he's highly regarded and well respected.
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In reply to Post #359
It’s very simple…..Brazil, cashews, coconut and other ingredients in that bait are very light, so it’s in there to add weight. Also, let’s remember on a daily basis carp eat zebra mussels, snails, tiger nuts, pea mussels and god know what else that is hard and crunchy!
Your average nut bait is a smooth pale base of soy semo bread maize with the odd bit of tiger nut flour and I wanted tricknut to be as far away from those baits as possible. You can see that from the outside. Never once did I think that it might offend a human who wanted to eat the boilie…….I just thought about what a carp might want
There is shell in the herb and look what that bait has done in 6 months!
Nothing in any of my baits is just thrown in for no reason. Tricknut is a coarse blend of real human grade nuts, milks, birdfood, peanut proteins and vitamins. There is also a few elements to it that I know is very different to 99 percent of nut baits out there but I want to keep that under my hat for now. I simply won’t copy another scopex maple cream cheap bait.
Tricknut could have been the first bait I launched but it’s taken the longest to find the bits I needed. If you don’t like the feel of a nut boilie in your mouth well I’m sorry but I was more thinking about what the carp like to chew on! Personally it tastes and feels perfect to me
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In reply to Post #357
Oyster shell grit is probably in there, along with other ingredients to add a bit of heavy fibre, help the bait to be easy to crush and break up by the carps teeth on the way through.
For absorption in the digestive tract I would have thought that something finer, like limestone flour would be better as a calcium supplement.
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Gavs one to put a lot of time and effort in a bait and I don’t think for one minute it’s just in there for the sake of it. If it’s of no benefit to the carp or to help stop the bait float it wouldn’t be in there I'm sure.
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In reply to Post #353
Some people believe it adds to the calcium content of the bait, however given the gut transit time of carp I think this is dubious at best. It adds weight to a boiled bait which may be of benefit in some circumstances, I.e . using a throwing stick or in flowing water.. Some people believe carp are attracted by the crunching sound it creates when carp eat as in when they are feeding upon snails. I think this is the most likely and only reason for putting it in. However I think leaving the eggshell in would probably have the same effect. Which many bait makers do. On the other hand it does make life easier and you don't then have to dispose of the eggshells. So I suppose it depends which theory you adhere to.
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In reply to Post #354
Calcium too. I hate spodding so appreciate it for a bit of mass with the stick or catapult.
Edit..Just read a paper (skim read) by a Yoshimitsu San in Japan. Apparently carp get the bulk of their Calcium through their gills not their diet.
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It helps bait that may contain light Ingrediants like certain milk products. Also aids leakage in a bait being so course.
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In reply to Post #353
Why put it in there in the first place I don’t believe it adds anything to a bait and don’t comment on its a crunchy thing that carp like
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In reply to Post #352
That’s fine, not every ingredient in every single bait is going to please everyone! The good news is there is only a tiny amount of oyster shell in there and it is in there for good reason. You will see it is in most fishmeals, Birdfoods and other baits. Just not good for our teeth!!
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Not too keen on the grit in that nut bait.
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In reply to Post #350
A little bit of both! Nutriplex is only made in freezer bait but herb and tricknut are made both fresh and shelf life!
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Gav, are the samples your sending out with orders freezerbait or shelfies please ?
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In reply to Post #348
Im just going to stick to nutriplex and the herb, and super squid and the sting and peanut praline and almond wafters
Sinple really!
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In reply to Post #347
The fruit smell is plum and a fruit palatant, you know it as fruit factor 6 but I know it by its original name!
Very yeasty bait that Nutriplex and it is quite possibly the best all year round bait! I admit it is a tricky thing to pick out which bait is best but I’ll leave that decision to you guys. All have a good following now!
Glad your samples arrived!!
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In reply to Post #342
just received a sample pack in the post, very impressed with both the Nutriplex (still debating what the fruit smell in it is lol) and the Herb (proper fishmeal)
Defiantly have to try them out
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In reply to Post #345
Why don’t you sell a pit of three sizes and call it a hatrick? 👀
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In reply to Post #344
There is a tricknut barrel? Made from real tricknut basemix? Might be a close match for you
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In reply to Post #50
Any chance of a barrel peanut praline wafter?
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In reply to Post #340
Because there is no food ingredient that withstands the same manufacturing pressures and has the same specific gravity, and genuine curious
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In reply to Post #341
Evening lads
Wow what a busy few days it has been. I always feel knackered that first week back after living in my pyjamas and underpants on the sofa for 10 days over Xmas😂😂
I am always open and honest about our baits but there are several things that must stay behind our closed doors for various reasons.
Our Hookbait technology is not something that belongs to me personally so I won’t comment but I just want to say it’s safe, edible and used in many things we all handle every day.
I am very pleased with those pop ups and Wafters we sell and it is an area of bait making I focus on heavily.
Thanks again for all of nice feedback…….the phone is full on at times. I hear that many other companies are having a good winter on bait sales so that’s a major positive during a time when many companies go under!
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In reply to Post #340
They could hold up a house
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In reply to Post #339
Genuine question, why are you asking a fellow bait maker what his bait contains on an open forum? I don’t know the answer but I can hazard a very good guess. What I do know is that they are bloody good and do exactly what they are supposed to do😎
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In reply to Post #338
But does it not contain the spheres then?
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In reply to Post #337
Makes your poo float 😂
You shouldn’t really eat any fish bait or hookbaits as I dread to think where it’s all been. I’ll make an exception on the nut bait. I literally like the taste of the tricknut freezer bait.
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In reply to Post #335
I’m pretty sure they don’t as people have been eating the buggers, and that includes Gav😂 especially the Peanut Pralines.
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In reply to Post #321
Well done on your fish. Nice to see the herb has continued to produce in the winter. I must admit that I have personally kept it on at least one rod this winter and that was simply to see if it honestly does work in the cold. I had doubts that maybe it was too heavy on the fishmeal front but judging by my results and those of the customers it still seems to work.
My last few big fish have fallen to either herb Wafters over crumb or super squid and Nutriplex Wafters.
One of may lads landed 4 fish in a night fishing over 4kg of whole boilies at the weekend and then ran out of bait!!
Crazy weather last week!!!
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In reply to Post #329
Are you telling me you're mixes contain no spheres?
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In reply to Post #332
I was told mark did the mix you did the flavours and additives? If I’m wrong I’m wrong
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In reply to Post #332
Hello Kev, hope you are well buddy. Good old forum, the place for myths and facts 😂😂
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In reply to Post #327
With regards to: I believe you work with mark and thus have struck gold “as he did proper jobs mix”, without him, its a different ball game.
Mark is a good mate of mine! The first time we met, we struck it off big-time and we fished together for many years. As for pop up mixes, to give credit where credit is due, Mark helped me out with some pop up ingredients. However, as for your claims that “Mark did my mixes” this claim is simply not true.
Mark knows a little about the makeup of my mixes but neither of us know the exact makeup of the others mixes (and that’s a fact).
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In reply to Post #329
So do you use something buoyant whose name starts with an E or has there come some new stuff the last few years?
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In reply to Post #328
Absolutely…….and they are very popular!
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In reply to Post #327
Mozzi, I think you have completely misunderstood everything here. I’m not saying in any way cork is bad! We use cork, everyone uses cork in Wafters and cork balls etc. it’s a way of making things float! I’m a huge fan of food in my hookbaits via cork, or whatever means necessary as I rely heavily on hookbait attraction a lot of the time.
You refer to air ball mixes…….the air ball mixes you are thinking of are so old and obsolete that we have never used them. They are not buoyant enough to be combined with anything and still float.
Pop up technology has moved on and Pidge is the man behind it. What looks like your old air ball mix is now something made out of edible items. Fishmeal, Milks, glm, fruit palatants all can now be used but you are left with something very edible and attractive.
The fact we can make Hookbaits containing heavy hydros, is game changing but the biggest factor of all is that they are user friendly…….and……..you can add whatever liquids you want (if you so wish) which I think anglers really like (goo, minamino, sprays etc).
Some people won’t use corkballs, some hate air ball mixes, some can’t bring themselves to cast out a bottom bait!! I try to look at the overall picture and listen to what anglers want.
Making 12mm ultra buoyant pop ups is an art…….making them out of real food can only be done by a handful of people in the U.K.
A hookbait made out of fishmeal, liver, garlic etc will always catch loads of carp but let’s not forget that attraction comes from solids, liquids, essential oils, and other forms. Harnessing it all into a ball that’s easy to use is the tricky bit!
You all have to cast out what makes you confident.
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In reply to Post #327
Gavin uses corkballs for “food bait” pop ups…….
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In reply to Post #324
Well no.....specialised use cork and real food and there catch reports are stunning.
What I mean by attractors is the often dense, nutrient rich ingredients with levels of solubility to work properly.I'm not a huge believer in artificial flavours hence its more difficult to cram "real food" in.
I believe you work with mark and thus have struck gold as he did proper jobs mix, without him, its a different ball game.
My preference has always been super soluble pop ups, usuall paste around a corkball and meshed, you cannot get the same extraction of real food particles and signals from airball mixes, it would be immoral.
But as I alluded earlier it depends, I personally view bright pop ups as more of a lure
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In reply to Post #325
I was trying to ask if people are happy to adjust pop ups. And if that is common practice? Most waters contain nuisance species, crayfish etc and having to drill out and open up the texture is a recipe for disaster. And drilling 12mm pop ups……..that is gonna be hard work with such a low diameter
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In reply to Post #324
Then just make that point then rather than asking a question regarding what other bait companies are doing. Simply say your pop ups don't need added Cork as they are super buoyant. There are people like that like to turn a bottom bait into a pop up hence my answer. 📌
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In reply to Post #319
The point I was making is people seem happy to take a pop up that isn’t buoyant, then add something else that is buoyant, to make it buoyant enough! Why not just make it buoyant in the first place!
If you want a hookbait to look like a bottom bait but with a tad of buoyancy, buy a wafter! I haven’t done anything to a hookbait to change its buoyancy in a decade!
One of the images I was referring to was a “name” telling people to drill out a 12mm pop up and cork it simply cos it wasn’t good enough to pick up his hinge stiff rig. My argument is that all that faff is a cop out! Consumer should be able to just take a bait from the pot and cast it out!
The reason that baitroom or proper job or specialised hookbaits and handcraft have done so well is because the hookbaits do exactly what they say.
And Mozzi……..drilling out a hookbait or having a low buoyancy…….I just don’t get it! Put edible items, liquids, attractors, additives in a pop up and make it pop up! Surely that’s it’s job!
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In reply to Post #319
I think that Gav was asking if people were adding cork to shop bought pop ups, due to them being not very buoyant.
You are right though a man of his experience probably has added buoyancy to a bottom bait at some point.
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In reply to Post #320
It depends really. I prefer a less buoyant pop up that I can cork, simply because it leaves more room for attractors. There is a commercial standard though
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Managed a day sessions and an overnight session over Christmas first time out fishing over the Tricknut and Herb feed boilies, no monsters but managed five fish all doubles to 19.8
I had three on the Herb fishing a snowman, hard bottom bait with a 12mm pop-up and two on the Tricknut fishing a match the hatch wafter, could/should of been six as I had a massive drop back and ended up winding in a three foot long stick fish with the rig wrapped up in it. 
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In reply to Post #319
Or more likely pop ups that are **** for buoyancy and need cork to stay popped up more than 4hrs
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In reply to Post #316
It's just a simple way to turn your bottom bait into a pop up or wafter. I would have thought a man with your experience would have had the same at some point
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In reply to Post #317
It certainly does seem the case Matt.
I said in one of our films last summer that other brands have started to come to us to solve some of their issues with pop ups. Probably a good time to keep some of our secrets to ourselves 😂😂
Hope you are well!
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In reply to Post #316
When I ran UB Baits the most common complaint from anglers was the standard of pop ups from almost all the big bait companies. So yeah, I am not surprised!!!
Pop ups that are really wafters, wafters that are pop ups no consistency whatsoever.
Good luck for 2022 all the best
Matt
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In reply to Post #315
Back to work tomorrow and it’s going to be chaos. Nice to have a little break over Xmas and recharge the batteries.
Something I noticed in the last week is photos of several bait companies and well known anglers posting photos of hookbaits that need to have cork inserted in them. I’m a bit out of touch with what other brands are selling and who uses what etc but Is that common practice to have to help pop ups to actually pop up?
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In reply to Post #304
refreshing ,
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In reply to Post #313
I see that the mild spell has been productive. Some lovely carp being caught this Christmas!
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In reply to Post #310
That krill and cal range is very popular so yes they will be staying! It’s the k20 krill bait being phased out (I will be working on the final bait in the range over the next year or so
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In reply to Post #311
I checked, it aint about me thank f***
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In reply to Post #304
And for all of those who come to the forum to stir or cause trouble. ……. Keep your nose clean and do things properly and repeat custom will come!
Sound advice.
Looking forward to the book.
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In reply to Post #260
Hi - Will you still be doing the Krill and Cal corkballs, is it just the krill boilies being phased out?
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In reply to Post #304
I think people are guilty of switching too much as well, on the occasions I’ve delivered to new local lads invariably the chest freezer resembles a small tackle shops.
Sometimes switching, especially mid season can be the worst thing, confidence in your bait creates such a mental freedom in how you go about the other facets of your angling
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In reply to Post #304
Well written, and the phrase 'balls deep' never fails to make me laugh
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In reply to Post #304
Fine words
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In reply to Post #304
Im 100% a new customer
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In reply to Post #304
Gav, that would be very interesting reading
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In reply to Post #303
Well, just sat down to drink a cold cider after what has been a very busy winter period (long may it continue)
I think the tricknut will be popular next year judging by what people (and you guys) have said so far.
Bait making seems to cause so much bitterness at times on the forum.
My advice to anyone is to buy a little bit of any bait that you are interested in (and I don’t just mean handcraft) then use that over several sessions to see how the results go. Also if you do not have any idea if a bait is good or bad or have no understanding of bait then show it to someone who perhaps does. Always dip a finger in before going balls deep with a 100k order. One of the things that sticks in my mind this year is customers who tried us for the first time after sitting on 50-100k of bait they got in a deal that they didn’t do very well with. Let the results do the talking.
And for all of those who come to the forum to stir or cause trouble. ……. Keep your nose clean and do things properly and repeat custom will come!
Everyone has a personal view on other brands, but if their bait is crap then folk will soon work that out. I don’t see Mike Willmott on here defending himself cos he doesn’t need to!!
If you can’t be anything else then just be nice!!
I’ll write a book on what I know goes on behind the scenes one day 😂😂😂😂 that will be a good book!!
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That Tricknut looks and smells superb!!
Sting........just as I remember from the early 90s........
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In reply to Post #301
You won’t be disappointed👍
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In reply to Post #296
havent tried the sting but the squid wafters have seriously made 2021 a very good year.
gonna have to try his boilies next year if his hookbaits are anything to go by
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In reply to Post #299
You arent wrong!
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In reply to Post #298
...Gav's products are getting a bit of a cult following!
...and a well deserved following too!
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In reply to Post #297
Sorry mate, it wasnt supposed to! I was just pointing out that gav's products are getting a bit of a cult following!
I dont know much about your outfit and i know zero about making bait so who am i to judge anyone else!
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In reply to Post #293
That seems back handed All I was trying to say is its not right for mine to be mentioned on his post by name mate, pretty simples
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In reply to Post #294
That sting has served me so well. The trouble is now that I have so many brilliant little products in my box that I’m not sure which one I want to cast out! It is also easy to see that the very venues which were proving tricky with bright hookbaits in the summer are now producing the goods on them again. The sting is still our biggest seller!
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In reply to Post #293
Thanks mate! Kind words!
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In reply to Post #292
The Sting wafter saved me a blank this weekend. Moved to another lake on site for a few hours after struggling for a night in the main lake and managed to nick a bite and had a pretty mid double. Nothing special but any carp is welcome this time of year and the Sting seems to work everywhere I've tried it so far
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In reply to Post #290
I very much doubt that you will be stealing any of gav's customers. Handcraft is doing some really great things
I thought id put the name up. I looked it up because people were asking. A simple facebook search was all that it took
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In reply to Post #291
Well lads, I have just returned from a session where I chased those slippery little buggers around two lakes and all to no avail. However everyone else seems to have faired much better. Lots of love for banoffee, tutti, sting and tricknut this weekend and tomorrow being our last day looks like another chaotic one. I’m working through all the pms and all of the ones on our social media whilst trying to be a good dad 😂
All I will say is that the positivity about all we are doing is a breath of fresh air for me right now. Long may it continue!
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Using the Almond pop ups yesterday,I had a very nice common,just on dark,dimpsy ...I hung around waiting for the window,and it happened, well pleased
I found the Almonds great for deep water fishing in a mine I fish as well..
I got Marcus's and Gavs baits...no where is safe lol..👍👍
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In reply to Post #282
I won’t mention that on this post out of respect to Gav, only reason I’ve ever referred to it is so people understand where my views come from
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In reply to Post #277
What’s your bait company out of interest
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In reply to Post #279
Same here you can't use a throwing stick until dusk and even spombs don't guarantee every bait getting to the bottom. Small baits have a better percentage chance. However if everyone is using 12 mm it would be good to use 24mm. I'm loathe to spomb at feeding time. Wish I could afford night vision goggles to improve my nightime throwing stick skills.
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In reply to Post #274
I'm not lol. Seeing my glorious Albion cheated for points with wolves made me jump back on the forum to escape reality
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In reply to Post #278
As a kid I made a ( very simple to be fair ) mix of CPSP90, caseins, glm and birdfood. it was a fantastic thing, I could only afford very small amounts though. a 4 egg mix would last the whole weekend, you just had to bait clever not erratically.
Around my way I reckon a good 15% of all the boilies used are taken by gulls, they even dive after the spombs now. so if someone is willing to bait at night / cast intermittently theres a saving to be had there. and certainly a preferable saving to make rather than compromise on the quality of the one thing the carp needs to show interest in.
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In reply to Post #277
It is a shame that a huge part of the market are only interested if the price is right. Our expensive bait will be the lowest selling bait (a sad fact) from now on but I also understand not everyone has endless money to buy bait. My words of advice are, if it’s really cheap then think carefully. And once again, if money is really tight (trust me it has been for me this year) then buy 5kg of good bait rather than 20kg of crap in a deal. Treat every boilie like it’s your last!!
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In reply to Post #275
100%
My baits cost more, but relatively speaking I make very little too, certainly far less than a pound a kilo, then there’s reinvestment into machinery / space etc.
Boilie prices have stayed the same despite everything going up, 400% mark up on bait is in the days of old now.
It links into that other thread about turns when you think about it, people assume more shifting can be done because basemixes can be made fairy cheaply.
To give an example, and I hope you don’t mind gav
The price of the bait cannot just reflect the ingredients it contains, labour costs, outsource costs, shipping, storage, all cost money. Then there is the rental of premises, electric for freezers and drying rooms etc
Rent round my way, without business rates jn top is around 13.50/15 per foot for units so a 1000 square foot unit is doing 13-15k a year rent as is.
Add onto this tge cost of residential living, food, utilises, cars etc it’s a wonder anyone who makes bait can afford to fish
10 quid a kilo bulk for a decent bait would allow a fair wage to the maker and bring prices online with the 80% increase in everything else fishing wise.
Offers are suppose to entice one in to repeat custom not be taken advantage of solely so if Hav did put offers up it’s counter intuitive to business.
One thing gets me is a lot of people Moan that good baits change / disappear as well as good companies, in reality that can be saved by paying a merchant a reasonable price for their wares.
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In reply to Post #275
PM Gavin.......
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In reply to Post #274
Ah offers!
We get asked this all the time. Can you do deals and can you knock this off. I don’t mind people asking at all but I’m afraid our profit margins on boilies are tiny. There are even people on this forum who have worked behind the scenes with us that will back that statement up. As per below, we shifted one bait (and lost money) to make space for another but you won’t see deals and offers put up as we just can’t afford to do it right now. I’d be very wary of companies constantly offering bait out cheap or crazy deals but then again I’m not one to sit and watch what everyone else is doing.
I have always said that our bulk price is crazy cheap and it will have to go up a bit as certain ingredients have gone up hugely this year.
I’m doing all I can to buy bigger and keep costs down.
Many customers buy as a group to share the costs and postage and feel free to come and collect if you are local. I’ll answer any question you all have as honestly as I can.
Gav
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In reply to Post #273
I’m with you on that. Bulk orders are discounted and I’ve only known 2 “offers”, 1 was clearing freezers so they could move to bigger premises and lately clearing K20 space to make way for Tricknut. Handcraft is a relatively new company working balls out to succeed, producing high quality products. Why would they put offers on? I may be wrong on this but I’m sure Gav will see it and put me right😎
I’m always up for a game of football Mozzi⚽️⚽️😂
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In reply to Post #270
If you want it cheaper just buy more, the prices seem pretty reasonable to me.
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In reply to Post #271
Pretty obviously waiting for an offer i.e forum offer etc
Or for a game of five a side, I dont know.
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In reply to Post #270
What do you mean waiting for an offer?
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In reply to Post #269
Just waiting for an offer before I bite the bullet.
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In reply to Post #265
I am really looking forward to getting out and trying them. They smell amazing, love a herb bait in winter. I don't go much on boilies or crumb in winter too be honest other than single hookbaits, so these fit the bill!
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In reply to Post #265
Apologies for all of the threads popping in and out! All sorted now so feel free to discuss anything handcraft! Crazy busy this week which is odd for December……also some wicked fish being caught now that the weather has turned!
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In reply to Post #262
The Red Legends have been very good to me this year and have def helped me get a few bonus fish at some tricky times, love the colour and it's unique smell.
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In reply to Post #262
Great, thank you, and look forward to receiving them.
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In reply to Post #261
Saw your order earlier! One of my lads (reg) has fished the red legends over the herb this year and has had a brilliant season (he’s a bloody good angler though) but he rates them highly! Your order will go out on Monday which is looking like another very busy one!
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In reply to Post #260
I have just bought a couple of bits, love the look of the Red Legends! Looking forward to trying them.
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In reply to Post #258
Yes they were all my recipes. I tweaked my own baits for handcraft, the krill bait is being phased out, but Nutriplex will stay as it’s one of our favourites. You will like the new tricknut, proper nut bait with very different texture to most nut baits out there. Something for everyone!
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In reply to Post #257
What a fish that is.
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In reply to Post #257
The nut one looks megga and different but aren't the krill one and nutriplex exactly the same as the ones you developed at blakes?. The write ups seem almost identical and blakes do 20%off sometimes
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In reply to Post #256
and a 47lb cracker from Yateley car park lake on the herb. Nice to see the car park producing again
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In reply to Post #255
A nice one this weekend on an Almond Wafter, fished over the Herb. 48lb2oz
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In reply to Post #254
The nut bait is being rolled next week, the first batch will be between 600-800kg.
Also you guys can now see the hookbaits if you go to linear fisheries as they are on sale in the shop there. Sorry for not answering your questions promptly but I have been doing a bit of fishing myself in the downtime!
Winter is definitely here now!
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In reply to Post #253
I have been waiting for a flavouring and some nuts to be chopped up.
Both are due in this week
I will be getting on the case in the next two weeks
I know it’s very very late and the worse time to launch a bait but I will get it sorted
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In reply to Post #246
When’s the nut bait rolling off the production line please?
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In reply to Post #251
The peanut protein is probably the best nut additive I have seen for a nut bait. And Brazil’s we know the carp really like!! Mixed with liver products…….deadly!
Finally a bait that is nice to handle, make, produce rather than the awful fishmeal honk all day long 😂😂
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In reply to Post #246
i love peanut meal, i get it direct from a major well know producer/supplier
Brazils...OHHHH stunning, i get these also from a nut producer
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In reply to Post #249
Choc malt
Tutti
Sting
All being made in the small dumbbell Wafters
The nut bait is being sent out as a fresh sample with all orders for the next few weeks for those who are interested!!
Several tackle shops around Oxfordshire are now stocking our hookbaits if you are ever in that neck of the woods.
Also we have finally got round to working on some liquids to match the hookbaits as some of you guys have asked.
And the most Important part……catch reports, there have been some units landed this week!
We are just about catching up from what has been a crazy summer! Plenty more to come 😉
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In reply to Post #246
I'll hold off then and make it one order.
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In reply to Post #244
Just need some 14x 18 dumbbells for the armoury now 😉
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In reply to Post #244
Been a game changer this year mate unlike any other year I can remember!
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In reply to Post #243
Nut bait……..it’s finished, I’m happy with it now, I have all the bits in place I need. Just the one flavouring being made in the next week or so and we can go into full production. Hookbaits are being tinkered with (I can’t just make a standard hookbait 😂 . Really pleased with it now and it’s an odd texture due to the amount of nuts and bird foods but I think the nut lovers will like this one. The peanut meal and Brazil meal is so nice I can’t stop eating it 😂
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In reply to Post #239
Holy s**t that’s a hell of a nice carp
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In reply to Post #239
Its all about the wafters Gav
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In reply to Post #239
Superb bloody well done. any idea when the nut bait will be released Gav, I haven't fished since September as I've been busy at home on a garden revamp,
I used up all my boilies on the last French trip and been holding off ordering my winter supply until I had the time again which will be in the next week or two I'am still going to give the Herb a go and had this in mind for my next order and in that time you have mentioned the Nut one your trialing, if it was imminent I will hold off and order both together.
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In reply to Post #238
Pernod sends me over the edge 🤢
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In reply to Post #239
Nice
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In reply to Post #239
Saw that on your Facebook, mega common 👏
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In reply to Post #238
A lovely 45lb 6oz for me this weekend on a standard 15mm herb wafter and a dozen freebies!
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In reply to Post #237
There is a lot of love for the hookbaits again recently. There have been some awesome carp and barbel caught this week. The sting has caught me some of the best carp I have ever set my sights on. A little edge…….Pernod😉
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In reply to Post #236
Took my order of Sting wafters out for 24 hours this weekend and to say impressed is an understatement. Lake fished hard and from an unfancied peg I managed 9 takes where everyone else on the lake struggled (the bailiff had a couple, everyone else blanked). Did nothing special, just scattered boiles with the wafter and a small bag of pellets over the top, so clearly the hookbaits made a difference). Can't wait to use them in my club lake over the winter
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In reply to Post #235
The tutti Wafters are being worked on this week. From a flavour which is very close to the campbells version (makes you cough when you smell it) and we will also have some new dumbell Wafters rolled now that we have time to think. I haven’t posted much as it’s been a busy start to handcraft but I will post up some catch reports from around the U.K. when I get time this week. Thanks for all of the private messages and photos. And also you guys that send in the recipe ideas you have…..some very clever people on this forum!!
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In reply to Post #234
I think the concept of nut baits has mileage and I know that the milk and bird food elements in the bait are all attractive. The natural amino profiles of fish baits, hydro liquids etc is what the carp look for and prosper when they eat them. Nut baits do not offer that same profile but I do understand that they clearly like eating them and that naturals sugars are a whole new ball game. I’m making a nut bait that I like eating!!! I mean it’s really really nice to eat, hope them blooming carp have the same addiction to Brazil’s and cashews 😂
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In reply to Post #233
Likewise I love a good quality fishmeal, but birdfoods and nut baits catch plenty every year. Sometimes different is good.
But as a business, even against your better judgement & knowledge and proven ideas, if the customer keeps asking for something, it has to be worth exploring that avenue
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In reply to Post #232
thanks for the reply
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In reply to Post #231
I am a fishmeal man personally. It’s what I know it’s what I like and it’s proven (even in cold water) but the nut side of the industry is huge and so many people ask us for a nut bait that we had to make one. I just wanted one that is real. The extra mile is always worth it. The idea of bread and tiger meal is just not for me. We shall see how it goes this week!
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In reply to Post #230
The other problem with any decent amount of nut meals are mesh consistency, using them quickly as the oils oxidise and go off.
Mesh size, that is a fussy one mate
In general Nut baits are oily, milk powders and soya flour at high levels add to the issue, and not roller friendly, using quality milks help, but whacks the cost up, lots of tweaking to get it right, it is bad enough with small 1 to 6 egg mixes.
Balancing the FLAA’s within a nut bait is an eye opener, can tie yourself in knots!
But is it the taste of the yummy tiger meals and sugars that make them so attractive, and the bonus that they are quick to pass through them ?
As Frustrating and exciting developing a new bait is, I know you will get it spot on eventually Gav 👍
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In reply to Post #229
The nut bait. I have had quite a few goes at this one and there has been positives and negatives.
Firstly the sourcing of the nuts themselves. Human grade nuts can be purchased in several places but the mesh sizes of the nuts I wanted have taken a bit more time to find. I have found some lovely lovely products from one particular company but the price of those ingredients is much higher (standard practice in bait world) but I have no doubt it will be worth it. I’m in talks to make sure they will always be available to me and at short notice. I have rolled the bait many times myself and the texture of the bait from a hand table is perfect. The machinery to roll it in any scale is not so kind on the mix. The liquids in the bait are a bit unique for a large scale production but once again I think I have a good supply moving forward. We ran it through the machines and it rolled ok, slightly sticky from the peanut protein and milk elements but a small adjustment will help that. The smell and taste is lush, we ran several flavour combos and the first one is still my favourite as it’s the most gorgeous peanut flavour with a sniff of choc malt added to round it off. It softens in water nicely, it’s holds together nicely and it’s quietly catching some nice fish for the lads who have used it. It looks nice but I’m still adjusting the texture to make it coarse without not being rollable. The lads love it too which is always nice as they are a fussy bunch. I’m gonna ship some out to forum members who showed interest in the bait to see what they say. And today the final piece of the puzzle arrived and it needs to go back through the machines to see if it will still roll. It’s really really close to completion. The final down point (if this is a negative) is that it will cost more than what I expected. Human grade nuts, milks, are now more costly than they were, boring old tiger nut meal is still a fairly similar price but everyone uses that. I have a feeling that it will be ready within a month (handcraft is still really busy) but as I’m trying to do everything myself, there are just not enough hours in the day. I took 2 days off last week as I needed a break and now I’m behind again . I will let people know when it’s close. Hardest thing……….naming the bait!
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In reply to Post #224
Gav, how is the nutmix coming along? Holding out, or should I get on Nutriplex now for the winter
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In reply to Post #227
My man😂😂😂
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In reply to Post #226
Sorry Glenn……….yep use fluro pink whenever you can😂😂😂😂
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In reply to Post #224
Could you please be quiet Gav
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In reply to Post #220
That video encapsulates everything that is great about carp fishing: the emotion, the exhilaration and the pure joy that we get from this wonderful pastime.
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In reply to Post #222
Every lake is different! The Oxford waters I dabble on responded better to matching Wafters in recent months and I avoided bright hookbaits for that very reason. However the hookbaits I see working the most at the moment are sting, squid and also krill and cal! The dark sting seems to be very effective for many where bright ones fail to produce. The seasons are changing and we may need to change with them
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In reply to Post #222
I know Gav really loves the STING in winter.......id go for the Squid & sting . If you like fruity then you'll never tire of smelling the eton mess, banoffee types which are different to what most anglers would use ie pineapple or mulberry types
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In reply to Post #221
Going to order a couple of pots of hookbaits for new water starting soon, what would be your two to pick at this time of year?
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In reply to Post #220
Brilliant Ken!! Looks like you had a nice trip. Drop me a message to let me know what the score was 😉
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In reply to Post #202
That looks huge, Ken.
Video
Try to ignore the fat bstd...and no comments about my beer belly, please, Jon, or anyone else!
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In reply to Post #218
Awesome creature. When I get time in the winter I will share a few of the mega captures from this year.
This is a Grenville carp and this one is not alone. There are some very pretty carp in there now.
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A good name for that fish I reckon 👌🤣
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In reply to Post #216
Jessusssssss
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Gavin's post #211 resized
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| | | Boo | | Posts: 8815 |  | |
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In reply to Post #212
If you type width=500 before the last > then that should make the image smaller
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In reply to Post #211
That is a stunning fish 😲 absolutely beautiful
Looking forward to getting my order now can’t wait, already use the krill and cal with great effect so thought I’d give some others a chance
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In reply to Post #211
What a lovely fish...
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In reply to Post #211
No idea why the image is so blooming big again
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Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
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In reply to Post #208
This thread is costing me a fortune
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I'm trying the Almond 12mms tomorrow, very,very deep lake..
Can't wait,...c'moooon..
And Carole's fish ...that is big.....result..!!
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In reply to Post #204
There is just no need.
Ken has always paid for his products like all of the people on the forum.
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In reply to Post #204
FFS! Leave it can't you? You just cannot resist, can you?
But yes, I did pay for my bait...Not that it's any of your business. I'd have thought you would have learned a lesson from you similar question about me paying for Matt's stuff.
Anyway, here's the proof.
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In reply to Post #202
Wow, Ken and Carole that is awesome!
And massive thanks to all of the other guys catching so many. My phone just rings and pings all day at the moment with catch reports. It really does make a difference when you add foods to hookbaits and you lads and ladies are proving that.
The super squids……there is a story to tell about those little bad boys involving Martin lock, mark Pidgley, a chemist and a little old dusty bottle😉
I might even cover it in my book if it’s ever finished😂😂😂😉
Keep your eyes peeled for some mega catch reports in the next few weeks! Good luck to you all over the weekend!
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In reply to Post #200
That looks huge Ken👍
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In reply to Post #200
well done Carole
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Recent PB for Mrs T. caught on a 12mm Dark Sting pop-up. Nice!
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In reply to Post #198
Have to agree.. just been to Cherry lakes and had 12 (8 20's & 4 30's) out in 3 days. All on their squid mini wafters..
Mate was blanking using another squid hookbait (smelt totally different) changed to these and he caught straight away.
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In reply to Post #192
The squids are awesome! Having been super fussy and rolled my own for years these are a breath of fresh air. Real peppery
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In reply to Post #193
goodman keep him busy.
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In reply to Post #195
The Herb,
This is one that is proving to be a real winner winner chicken dinner. It is not for me to try and give you all the sales spiel but all I will say about it is that the herb has changed handcraft. I’m so happy with the results the feed back and the general buzz about something I have made that it will shape our future. I have been getting closer and closer to a really special red fishmeal for a few years and I think I have nailed it. Find a few lads who are on it, go and have a look, watch the catch reports on our pages and make your own mind up.
Not one negative bit of feedback to me yet (regarding the bait)
It’s well made, has no bread or crap in it, it’s a true fishmeal that is heavy on the liquids. I’m told it smells like monster pursuit or sting (if it does it’s by mistake)
Fenugreek, garlic and liver feature in its make up. From within our team it’s the favourite bait of choice. Just don’t know what it will be like in true winter compared to our other baits.
Amino acids aplenty
No freezer baits in stock until the end of the week 😂
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In reply to Post #194
That was my thread , started it as a lot of comments were about pop ups , not the herb…. I’m on a syndi that is bombarded with a fair bit of red fish meals of varying qualities, wanted to find out a bit about the range. A mate has started using it and is quite impressed
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In reply to Post #193
Someone asked about the herb range on another thread, seems to be locked for some reason. I’m happy to answer any questions publicly or privately if you so wish. Lots going on this week and we sold out once again!! Busy busy times………..anyone need a job 😂😂😂
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In reply to Post #192
You certainly have done well mate! Pidge said hello😉
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Thanks gents kept the run of good fortune, I fished the syndicate at the weekend for a night one week on from Rainbow and landed the biggest in the pond at 38.12 on the HC krill and cal pop-up fished as a single no freebies.
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In reply to Post #188
Great result and pictures..
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In reply to Post #188
Some lovely fish there fella!! Well done indeed!
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In reply to Post #188
Very nice 👍.
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A couple from Rainbow that picked up a Handcraft Krill and Cal pop-up hookbait last week.
67lb
 /a>
56lb
picture to url400
Had a 50lb common 35lb ish sturgeon and a 28lb common to round the week off but they all came on a mates bait tuna and krill wafter.
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In reply to Post #184
The dark sting…….very popular at the moment. Brilliant attractors In a dark brown! Perfect combo
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In reply to Post #176
That fish was caught on such a cold evening that everyone’s cameras were freezing up and struggled to focus. In the end I just let her go with what we had on two of the cameras and took a chance. I’m never fussed by photos, I’m more worried about getting them back quick. Just need her big brother of a common 😉
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In reply to Post #182
Yep not a problem. I've had a 12 mm pick up a size 4 complete with a 22mm bottom bait like there was nothing heavy attached to it
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Dark Sting doing OK for me! I wish I could identify the pong!
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In reply to Post #181
Shillham technology……trace it all the way back to the man behind handcraft hookbaits.
Regarding buoyancy, we can make them even more buoyant very easily but then they will be far too floaty for many anglers. People don’t want loads of metal or putty on rigs. We have tried to find a nice compromise. Very buoyant and designed for size 4s generally, same with the Wafters. We are aware of the fact that we can’t please everyone.
But the 12s are really made for the size 4 Ronnie brigade or stiff hinge or chods. The 15mm baits are very very buoyant should you need even more!! It’s more about what we can put inside the mixes rather than how buoyant they are. We will happily answer any questions you all have
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In reply to Post #181
Im using size 2 fox curv hooks on ronnies, they are more like a size 4, but the wire gauge is much bigger than most
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In reply to Post #179
The shilham baits popups will do that easily
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In reply to Post #179
I pierce mine mate on a size 4 Mugga Ronnie, 12mm stays popped up for 48hrs at least. Best bouyancy I have seen outside cork based baits, and they catch 👍
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How buoyant are these pop ups please guys. I’m struggling to find something that is buoyant enough. The ns1+ are the only things I’ve found that seem to last more than 10 hours before losing buoyancy. I want to pierce them rather than tie them on if possible. I am using big hooks so it’s a lot to ask I know
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In reply to Post #177
I concur 
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In reply to Post #176
That is one hell of a fish.
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In reply to Post #172
I'm not sure what you did to that pic Cam but this is what she looks like in all her glory
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In reply to Post #172
Lovely looking fish👍
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In reply to Post #172
Many thanks…..just learning how to post photos and picked a large image to start with 😂😂
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| | | Cam | | Posts: 6509 | | | MODERATOR | |
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In reply to Post #171
Just resizing the pic Gav
keeperboy
Posts: 2078
In reply to Post #168
This 52lb Mirror is the queen of a low stock pit in Berkshire and it fell for a sting pop up in very deep water when the lake had not produced any carp for a month. The carp caught a month before was also caught on the same hookbait!
The 52lb was caught in December on a day where the temps never got above 2 degrees celcius.
I have always found that this little 12mm pop up saves me a blank, especially in cold water, when I do most of my angling.
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In reply to Post #170
Yep she’s a cracker and it came at a time when the lake was fishing really tough. Excuse the photo of the sting hookbaits as that is an old and dated image from the winter with the old packaging.
What makes the sting so effective? Well anyone who has ever made pop ups will know that certain liquids destroy certain aspects of your basemix……..I soon worked out that those liquids for whatever reason are very attractive.
Aniseed
Bunspice
Tutti
Certain spices………all very destructive in a volatile basemix
The Herb which we launched this summer contains several of these elements and surprise surprise it’s been a mega bait so far, in fact it’s impossible to keep in stock.
Also hydro liquids in hookbaits………what an eye opener that has been! I have always been obsessed with hookbaits seeing as it’s the one on the end of your rig.
Be advised though as September is not the greatest time of year to be putting out hi viz hookbaits on certain venues. Matching dull Wafters or bottom baits is a deadly combo right now.
Right, back to work now as the bait isn’t gonna make itself!
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Message Suppressed by Forum Moderator.
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In reply to Post #165
This is the Sting 12mm ultra buoyant pop up, it is made using the Sting essential oil which I get directly from Nash. I believe it was Shaun Harrison who came up with the blend whilst at Nash. We blend it with our own unique set of flavours and sweeteners to make the finished product and is one of our biggest sellers.
Nash bait sting was a spicy fishmeal that contained a bovine meal which is no longer allowed in bait production, that smelt a little bit like Mulligatawny soup and was probably one of the best baits I have ever used.
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In reply to Post #165
May be different and Gav will answer but they bloody work
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I’m sore Gav can answer that, it works though trust me 👍
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I listened to Gary Bayes on one of the podcasts recently and he said he wouldn’t make the old Sting anymore as you can’t get the correct ingredients. Are these baits a different ‘Sting’?
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Been using these for a few months now, have to say quality is second to none and they do the business. The Sting is something special, Eton Mess and others 👌
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In reply to Post #162
It’s amazing what we can produce 😂
If any of you think of a hookbait that is a bit special or perhaps got some winter mileage then drop us a message. We won’t be under so much pressure in winter and maybe we can run some smaller batches off. This week has been ridiculous! That blooming herb bait and all its accessories has had us under a bit of pressure.
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In reply to Post #161
Hardened hookbaits arrived today, look and smell great 👍
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In reply to Post #159
Thanks for the link, that lake looks rather special.
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In reply to Post #159
Happy days, many thanks.
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In reply to Post #157
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZodGyns7GJY&t=24s&ab_channel=HandcraftBaits
Sorry haven't worked out the Linky Poo thing
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In reply to Post #156
What is the film ?
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In reply to Post #155
He has been doing it longer than anyone else I know. And we are both fascinated with the concept of making a carp pick them up first and what we can cram into them. We are working on some clever things. Glad you liked the film mate and hope you are well!!
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Just had a gander at your first you tube video, I knew your hookbaits were of a familiar standard to some I've used before albeit a while ago, as soon as I heard Pidge's name mentioned, I 've fished a few times at Rainbow when Pidge has been there and raided his popup bucket a few times, all makes sense now 🤔 👌
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In reply to Post #153
We all know what goes on behind a capture, is not what is on the capture report sometimes
As long as they are happy
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In reply to Post #152
I don’t really know what he claims but I’m sure he has given me a few extra customers which is a nice return from my point of view. We have all sorts of people using them now and I don’t really mind what people say in the media as I understand the fact that they are sponsored by company x but prefer our hookbaits or even boilies. I have seen a few biggies recently on our baits but on another companies website…….doesn’t worry me personally at all. Nice of them to drop me the message to be fair
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In reply to Post #151
Is he catching them on your hookbaits Gav, or claiming he’s caught it on another ‘bait’
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In reply to Post #150
You are welcome fella! It is rare that your specific product is out of stock but I am told there is a shortage of hgv drivers hence why that one was delayed. The banoffees………a very well known angler is doing incredibly well on those “down south”😉😉
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Wanted to thank Gavin and his team for excellent service, a product was out of stock which slightly delayed my order but I was kept informed. Order arrived a day sooner than expected with apologectic note inside. I tried the banoffee pop ups first time out four takes so looking forward to using the other products I ordered.
Thank You again
Michael
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In reply to Post #148
It is a boilie. It has matching hookbaits, and the lads still chop and change from Wafters to pop ups, bright ones to dull ones. But for some reason it just seems to be the bait they love there. To the point where I just know that the last two lads on there using it this year will probably catch the biggun again
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In reply to Post #147
Is that K20 as freebies or hookbait. Is there a pop up version of K20?
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In reply to Post #144
The bait that works on the tricky lake is the k-2-0 boilie. It is has caught more carp than every other bait put together according to the lads still fishing there. Dark natural salty rich food bait……..that contains snails😉
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In reply to Post #143
The Red Legend has managed a few fish out of a couple of tricky waters recently, and I love the dark colour.
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In reply to Post #144
It was the K & C corkballs.
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In reply to Post #142
Out of interest, which bait worked well at the natural lake. The krill and cal?
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In reply to Post #142
I've bought the squids and red legends this time to give them a try along with the Krill & Cal again Gav, in all honesty I prefer the natural colors for hookbaits as opposed to the bright ones but I do use them in certain situations usually one out of the three rods will be fishing on a bright bait but that's just my preference, had to give the Squids a try just on the captures I've seen posted so far but would be happy with them along the lines of the red legend colour or an even deeper red.
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In reply to Post #141
There is one water near me that always makes me smile. It is the hardest most natural food infested lake I have ever cast into. One of my baits has caught most of the carp in that lake several times over yet other baits used there struggle to make 2 captures in a year. The one thing about the winning bait…….a basemix made with lots of minerals, salts, and protein…..a really nice fishmeal,krill, birdfood, milk, combo!
The bigguns last few captures have all revolved around that bait.
On a different note we have been discussing bright baits here today and it seems that they are still the most popular hookbait of choice
Super squid and sting are the biggest sellers here
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My order turned up just now, placed yesterday pm....
Those Sting pop ups and wafters brought back some memories when i unscrewed the lid....
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In reply to Post #138
The base mix attraction is enough, but the way the impact and ice red attract naturals is a huge part of the attraction imo
I found the impact useless on one water, it took a while to realise there just wasn't the invertebrate life at the depths I was fishing to get the best out of it
It's interesting seeing ice red cork balls in the edge too, it doesn't take long for the snails to get to them, it kind of makes a mockery of these finely balanced presentations
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In reply to Post #138
That natural impact is awesome stuff. Mixed 50/50 with the o.p.m and a coupl of extra bits it's something else though...
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In reply to Post #134
I totally agree. Many years ago I was doing a bit of testing for Carp Company. Apart from the ice red, one of their best baits was Natural Impact. I used to have it rolled with a crab flavour from memory. Talking to Jules about it, he said it was the bait that he personally used but when he rolled it for himself he added no flavour at all. When I questioned him about this he said that the individual ingredients were attractive enough that he didn’t feel it needed a flavour label added. Essentially the complete opposite of nearly all shop bought pop ups!!
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In reply to Post #135
If you Google chemoreception it will give you quite a lot to read up
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In reply to Post #134
Saw lots of carp high up in the water column today at my lake. How does this differ in different seasons? I feel like I need to understand where they are before I can target them.
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In reply to Post #133
Cheers Ken. That all sounds like helpful stuff.
Sometimes I think we can can become so obsessed with the bait itself, that we neglect to first fully understand the science and behaviour of what is actually eating the bait.
What is a carps main sense when it comes to finding food?
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In reply to Post #133
If people really understood how effective hookbaits can be (not just that blank sphere overflavoured) then you will realise how my theory of less bait and better hookbaits has served me so well on the busiest of circuit waters. Many anglers associate strong smelling hookbaits as attractive and I have no doubt some of them are. But at this time of year on pressured venues it makes it very easy for carp to pick that one out. This is where Ken’s food bait theory really comes in. Food value not smell value (to humans)
I still say that there is not one single hookbait that I can use on every single venue for every month of the year, I have to chop and change from my favourite attractor visual favourite to the food bait ones at times. If the pop up base contains Fishmeal, powders, liquids and even milk proteins then the very foundations of the hookbaits is saying “eat me”. In the past that wasn’t possible unless it was a bottom bait. The techniques we use today are allowing so much more to be added. Our noses often send us down the wrong path in carp fishing. I fished this weekend on a venue that isn’t hugely pressured and the bites came on bright Wafters and my go to pop up. But two weeks ago on another venue I couldn’t get a bite on them so I switched to a food bait low smelling matching one that has had minamino worked into it. The bites came almost instantly.
The hookbait is a lure, you either make it appear like a freebie or you make it stand out. Both have benefits at the right time.
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In reply to Post #128
I always wonder what good is applying any sort of liquid to a hookbait when surely it just washes off as soon as it hits the water?
Yes, that is the whole point. Ideally you need an instant surge of attraction backed up by a slow release source. A food message is simply that, a message that says 'eat me' to the carp. Bear in mind that such a message does not need to be a solid, it can equally be in liquid form and some of the best attractors are amino acid-rich liquids. A carp does not need to physically eat a substance to assess its nutritional worth. See if you can find any of Rod Hutchinson's articles on bait and attraction. 'The Carp Strikes back' is a good starting point. Similarly, listen to the Carp Chronicles podcasts, which often features top carp angling brains such as Jason Rider, John Baker and Dean Towey to name but a few. Your brain will explode at times, but there is much wisdom to be found on there.
CARP CHRONICLES PODCASTS.
Google free aminos, pH shift, or Why not ask Gavin at Handcraft? Glad you got yourself sorted with a really top class bait at last. Told you it was good kit, didn't I?
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Placed another order yesterday delivered by 8.30am this morning all the deliveries have been the same outstanding service.
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In reply to Post #130
Within two weeks
I just need to get the shelf life perfect. Not long now😉
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When is the herb available and will there be shelf life
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In reply to Post #128
Not if you take time applying the liquids and letting the hookbaits draw them
I’m
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In reply to Post #126
I’m not sure if it was the bait that made the difference or me learning new things about the lake. I like to think it was a mixture of the two. Interestingly, I had two rods out, one with a soaked pop up and one with a non soaked pop up and the carp one went for the non soaked one. Proves they are attractive without the soak.
I always wonder what good is applying any sort of liquid to a hookbait when surely it just washes off as soon as it hits the water?
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In reply to Post #125
Ken Townley said he uses crunchy peanut butter mixed with a whey protein on some of his baits.
As a hookbait paste wrap for bottom baits...
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In reply to Post #120
See! There you go...
@ post #124: Agree 100%.
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In reply to Post #123
They’re spot on mate. Keep up the good work. Caught me my first carp on a very hard water.
I only asked about the peanut butter coating because there’s a thread about just that at the moment. Ken townley said he uses crunchy peanut butter mixed with a whey protein on some of his baits.
What about a hemp and garlic pop up?
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In reply to Post #123
If anyone is buying your baits and then soaking them in goo, they need putting on the blocked list.
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In reply to Post #122
Cheers for the comments lads, and well done for catching those fish. I wouldn’t add anything to the pop ups personally as they are made with several layers of attraction from things like minamino, fruit palatants, sweetners, milks, fishmeal etc. But I also realise you guys love almond goo or mainline sprays or whatever so we just make sure the buoyancy will take it. At the end of the day you guys need to be confident. The peanut pop up is made from peanut protein…..no need to add anything to that! We have been working hard this week to keep up with orders and next week looks busy too. Super squid and red legend have sold incredibly well. We have really enjoyed making these baits and we are always looking out for that next edge😉
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In reply to Post #121
There will be enough attraction in them to use on there own bud
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In reply to Post #6
In your opinion, would coating a peanut pop up in crunchy peanut butter add any attraction to the bait?
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Over the moon! Got my first carp from a water I had previously blanked the past 8 sessions on a krill and cal pop up.
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In reply to Post #118
Recently received my 1st order of the peanut (smells amazing) and finally a decent pinnacle and NB (original nutrabaits user)
Can't wait to get these out
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In reply to Post #115
Arrived already, great service and baits smell pukka 💥
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In reply to Post #116
Forum testers would be available I am sure 😊
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In reply to Post #115
The peanut bait is going through a few test batches😉
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In reply to Post #114
Dammnit! Placed another order last night and these weren’t on there! 😄 Sure the Sting and the Squids will keep me going 👌
Any progress on matching bottom baits, peanut praline for example as my brother discussed with you recently?
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In reply to Post #113
Those lads who asked about hard hookers a few weeks ago, they are now added to the site along with our version of the mixed herb!
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In reply to Post #112
Changing hookbaits at times can be the difference between bites. A bright pop up is easily avoided, a matching bottom bait or wafter can induce pick ups. The key to all of this though is that confident feeding…..this is where I feel that not all baits are equal. How many times do you hear one angler say they can’t catch on bait x yet someone else goes on there and batters them on the same bait! Is the bait faulty or is the blanking angler not getting it right?
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In reply to Post #109
I agree with most of what you said but I have had one particular experience that goes against that. I had a bait I was confident in, took it to a new syndicate and struggled, chucked out a cell wafter I had left over in my bag from a French trip and caught 1st cast. Then switched to Live System ( similar to Cell but better value imo) and started catching more consistently. No change to rigs, spots or tactics, just the bait on this occasion. With that in mind I tend to keep an open mind with bait, bit always start with what I am confident in but afraid to change it if needed
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Received the pop ups I asked for and got a few extras in there for free them red legends look n smell like there going to be good catchers looking to get out and use them in the next few days thanks again 👍✌
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In reply to Post #109
It’s music to my ears when they say it’s a certain type of water. I haven’t been to one yet where a good food bait has failed me. Confidence in any bait or technique is a must
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I agree, carp are carp and they are not overly fussy. Put a Half decent bait in the right spot and they will take it.
I ignore what anyone says regarding a lake being a “cell” water or any other bait to be honest and use what I have confidence in.
I’ve never changed bait for a water and never had any problems getting bites.
Use what you have caught on and are confident in on any water and it will work
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In reply to Post #104
I don't buy into this Cell water theory. As mentioned below quite often doing something different can give you an edge particularly if what you are using is better quality than the cell.
If you want to turn a pop up into a wafter just drill out a few ml with a nut drill and plug with putty before mounting on a needle. I do this a lot it saves carrying loads of different tubs
of hook baits around and you can balance the 'wafter' perfectly to suit your rig
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In reply to Post #106
I agree
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In reply to Post #104
Best thing for a cell water……..a fishmeal! 😉
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In reply to Post #103
Thanks bud appreciated
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In reply to Post #103
Just wish they would do a wafter in the coconut cream as im on a cell water.
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In reply to Post #99
Sure can mate no problem. Might even be able to cobble together a sample of the new “herb” fishmeal
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In reply to Post #100
Absolutely no problems with a size 4
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In reply to Post #100
Yes, I use them with a size 4 Krank. Pop up perfectly, and more importantly they stay popped up!!!
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How buoyant are the 12mm pop ups?
Will they hold a size 4 hook up?
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Just placed a order for 2 tubs of pop ups any chance ya can chuck a few samples of the bottom baits k2o and the nutriplex im looking at getting some in next few weeks
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In reply to Post #97
Appreciate the reply , cant wait to give em a go , next week ??
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In reply to Post #96
Well we have taken a bit if Info from the best barbel anglers we know and we did knock around making a few baits for Terry lampard bless him in the past.
It’s all about the blend of quality milks (we have them in our carp boilies) but the emphasis on these is powdered ingredients. They do have some of John bakers cheese in and our own blend of garlic products and it is the garlic that you get initially when you smell them. The cheesy garlic one is high in protein (they all are really) and the cheese powder within it was good enough to eat! N butyric acid galore as it’s a barbel catcher for sure! They have been a pain to work with due to the milky nature but they turned out nice. The fishmeal bottom baits……..well we like them 😉
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I'd be interested to know the thought process on the milk protein barbel baits , are they flavoured ? Cheers
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In reply to Post #93
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In reply to Post #93
And the tutti 15mm 🤞
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In reply to Post #92
We have made a Batch this week. Will get them up early next week when the admin lady is back 😉
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In reply to Post #83
Do you sell the Krill and Cal in hardened bottom baits please, love the pop ups and wafters, need a BB to go with them
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In reply to Post #83
Good news, will have them in time to try for the start of next month and the club lake re-opening.
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| | | Boo | | Posts: 8815 | | |
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Just ordered myself 5 pots of hookbaits 🙈 I’m a sucker for a pot of hookbaits. Think I’ll now have about 150 pots of various hookbaits 😳😂
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In reply to Post #88
You are very welcome.
Busy is a very nice place to be.
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In reply to Post #87
Cheers fella
We have been very busy in fact we are a bit behind on boilie production but we will catch up this week hopefully. With most fish spawning it may buy us some time!!
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In reply to Post #85
Wishing you every success. I hope you do very well with your products.
They do sound very good!
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In reply to Post #85
Yeah I'd buy a 15mm of each wafter and pop up for sure if you did them.
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In reply to Post #84
We can make anything to suit. The tutti will be more Popular in winter but there is nothing stopping us making them to the same standard as the others! We are busy at the mo doing the coconut and maybe our version of one of the most talked about flavours in recent years (Terry Hearn and the mixed herb😉
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In reply to Post #83
Hi, do you plan to do the tuttis in wafters and 15mm like other flavours?
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In reply to Post #82
Bottom baits are being rolled this week, we have some bigger baits for the barbel anglers coming too including a pure milk protein one. Also we will be adding some powders and additives to the website in the next ten days if you like to roll your own mixes at home and you struggle to find the good stuff!
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In reply to Post #79
I will be straight on the Krill & Cal bottom baits.
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In reply to Post #75
I’d be interested in the Krill and Calanus bottom baits, pellet shaped or round.
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In reply to Post #77
They have been test rolled and they came out just how we wanted them. Should be available within a month if we can sort all of the other baits out. Barbel baits and a new pop up are on the go at the moment!
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In reply to Post #76
Well done that man!! There have been some crackers out this week!! Keep up the good work!!
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In reply to Post #75
This is the one that I’m very interested in I love a krill wafter
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In reply to Post #75
Will they be available this year ?
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In reply to Post #74
One of my favourites, the krill and cal is nice and dark, well made, smells lush!! Got some lovely things in! We are toying with some nice bottom baits for those who want to fish a food bait hard on the deck.
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In reply to Post #73
Loving the Krill and Calanus wafters, a new water, 8 fish landed and 5 lost.so far. No sign of the biggies yet.
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In reply to Post #72
Glad you like them! It’s been an issue keeping them on the shelf this week!
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Received the squid and krill today. Both smell absolutely fantastic
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In reply to Post #70
Thanks for confirming
Michael
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In reply to Post #69
Hello Michael, they can be stored like the rest of the hookbaits, they have been dried and preserved (low level) to make it easier for us anglers to look after them!
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Hello Keeperboy, do the wafters and cork ball PU’s need freezing between trips or are they ok to leave in tin in bait bucket?
Cheers
Michael
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Brilliant service!
Arrived yesterday very well packaged.
Looking forward to using the peanuts, they look spot on. There’s a Really nice powdered finish to them
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I ordered some after reading this post yesterday afternoon....I had a text this morning saying they would be with me between 9am-11am TODAY! Great service. I'll be trying these out on Saturday.
Thanks Gav
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In reply to Post #64
Order just received so thanks for the great turn around time. Those banoffee pop ups smell amazing can't wait to use them on the weekend
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In reply to Post #64
I bought some and had five sixties in half an hour!
In all seriousness, this seems to be a very interesting development to fishing. The Specialised Bait hookbaits are also very good WITHOUT the usual chemical flavour smell usually associated with hook baits.
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In reply to Post #62
Evening all
Just got in from another busy day. How many pop ups in 12mm per tin? I just counted some choc malt 12mm baits and I counted 51
So around the 50 mark on average! Apologies to anyone who ordered over the weekend and who does not get them tomorrow but I just didn’t get time to send them all out before the courier came at 3.30pm. I will send them on tomorrow for Wednesday.
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Just placed my order. I’ll be ordering the squid and krill once back in stock.
Really nice and easy website to navigate
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How many 12mm pop ups do you get in a pot?
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In reply to Post #59
Thanks for the info appreciated, I’m hoping to use them in anger tonight!
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Place my second order last Monday morning for the Krill and Can + Peanut Corkballs received Tuesday morning fished for a few nights at the weekend on the same 50 acre pit three carp between 19 & 29lb and two 8lb plus tench, three of the bites came on the Krill two on the Peanut, they have certainly turned the back end of mine and my mates season around.
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In reply to Post #56
Yeah they will hold up a 4. They will all do that, the krill and cal gets a heavy coating before sending out and that still holds up a 4 for as long as you test it! The 15mm baits........check they don’t lift your lead off the floor 😂
Squids are being rolled over the next day or so and need drying so not long (end of the week)
It’s been a busy few weeks but we are working hard to keep all baits in stock! And I want to have a night angling next weekend 😂
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In reply to Post #57
When are you making more squids please Gav? Want to put an order in but going to wait until then.
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In reply to Post #55
Cheers. Much appreciated
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In reply to Post #55
I’ve received my 12mm Eton Mess pop ups yesterday, they look and smell fantastic! Very similar type smell to UB baits ting tongs, Looking forward to giving them a try, so they’ll hold up a size 4 hinge or chod ?
The alu pot is a nice touch to 👍
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In reply to Post #54
Hello mate I’m in the office working today and I have seen your order. Will send Monday for Tuesday assuming I can get them all processed in time! Thanks for the order and good luck to all of the lucky lads out there angling In this awesome weather. Catch reports are coming in constantly today so get them rods out if ya can 😉
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In reply to Post #52
Just placed my 1st order, having read this thread look forward to receiving it and trying them out
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In reply to Post #52
Received my second order from Gav, with a free gift as the delivery was a little late. What can I say, top notch bait and customer service. Problem is I will end up buying his full range of hook baits, they are so different from anything else I have ever used.
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In reply to Post #51
Evening lads.....squids are out of stock already! We will be working around the clock this weekend to do another batch. Yes the pepper is the best bit and even after time in the drink you can still smell and taste it in the baits. Krill and cal.......isn’t it a Carpy old smell. Every message I get is the same........they stink but my god do they work. We have been real busy again this week and I need to get back on making basemix as my freezers are empty but we are nearly completed in the new place. We will be offering some of the additives in the future for all of you guys who tinker with your own baits or hookbaits. Very exciting times 😉
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In reply to Post #49
Received my squids and krill pop ups, can’t half smell the pepper in those squids really impressed. The krill smell deliciously horrid, made my Mrs leave the room, again very impressed
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In reply to Post #47
Hi mate, squid is showing out of stock?
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In reply to Post #46
15mm pop ups and Wafters are being added all the time if you prefer those sizes. All on the website. We listen to what you guys want and adapt our mixes to suit you all. Nobody has asked a for 28mm bottom bait yet 😂
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In reply to Post #45
Glad you like them Ian....my phone is just buzzing with Similar stories and today we have had several 40s and a 52 reported on the products from very tricky venues so there is something in it for sure! I hope they keep you busy this year!
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In reply to Post #46
Good evening everyone, another crazy day at the madhouse but I have just flopped on the sofa for ten minutes!
If I was asked to launch out one hookbait then it’s the Sting! I do most of my carping in winter and there is something in that flavour colour combo I love. I have landed some amazing carp over the years and that bait has caught me more than any other attractor type hookbait. But we need to move with the seasons and changing habits so I tend to favour the matching pop ups or food baits come the summer.
The squid is going to catch a silly amount of carp seeing as it’s a nice colour and has some nice additives inside.
The krill and cal is proving effective ever since it’s conception but just look what’s in it! so it will be probably be the biggest seller moving forward.
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In reply to Post #41
When are more 14 / 15mm out?
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All I can say is the HC hookbaits have been a newly acquired confidence in a pot for me, from finding this thread I ordered the Eaton's and Pineapples to try, first time out and one carp on the bank with the Eaton's second week out three further takes on both Eaton's and Pineapples albeit two tench one at 8+ lb another at 9.11 and a double figure bream, blanks on the lake I'm fishing are the norm so happy with the string being pulled by any species really especially good specimen sized ones.
The lake is not easy to fish, around 50 acres with limited bank and swims for us to fish, not a massively high stock but considering we have about 300 metres of bank to fish from it can be quite tricky as the fish can be 4 or 500 hundred yards away and only in our area at certain times of the year or weather conditions dependent so when they do come into range you want to know your hook bait is at least fishing effectively, a good mate/fishing buddy of mine had a look at the baits after me catching first time out, coincidence maybe?
He took the plunge and is a corkball fan so ordered the Krill and Can and Oily Salmon , he had them with him the weekend just gone his fishing was at a range 130+ to an area you cannot access from anywhere else similar to my first one on the Eaton's so singles were the order of the day for him, he managed three at the weekend on the K&C's all over 20lb with one of those fish at least over 45 years old and doesn't grace the bank that often some of them quite regularly go uncaught for years, he was over the moon first time out with the baits and caught more in one weekend than he had managed in his previous season, mind you half a dozen fish for the year is a decent result for most, his confidence has just shot through the roof and it was great to be with him and witness it, I have just placed another order this morning as it's hard for me to ignore his result on the K&C's corkballs this weekend just gone, again coincidence? I don't seem to think so or at least i'm being convinced it's not.
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Coconut eh.......when’s that one out?
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In reply to Post #40
no problem im sure you wont be disappointed
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In reply to Post #41
What’s your favourite from your range , you must have one 😀
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In reply to Post #40
Evening lads, been busy moving from the old unit to the new one today (yes on a bank holiday 😂 .
Colours, well I will do my best to explain. Sting in yellow is made from a very soluble dye. It’s that perfect sweet corn yellow when you get them and launch them in but they will certainly wash out within hours to a nice pale yellow. It is one of the things I love about that specific pop up. The mix is designed to let flavour out or in if you choose to spray soak or coat in anything, but without losing buoyancy.
Eton mess pink........that is made from a fluro pink dye and will not wash out to the same extent. They area a nice pink and everyone seems to love that colour for some reason. The almond is bright pink! The new squid is the one that makes my phone bleep constantly at the moment and I dropped one into 18 foot of water for 18 hours and it came back looking almost the same as it went in. Not all dyes react the same. The yellow is the most soluble by far and if you test them in a tank you will see this clearly. The new coconut is a grey colour and that doesn’t seem to change much in water. Thanks for the nice words from everyone below it keeps us going when we are drowning in muck and squid flavour 😉
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In reply to Post #38
Thanks for the very kind offer mate, I'm going to order some anyway, there's a few other bits I fancy now off the back of this thread.
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In reply to Post #21
The squids are awesome and will be getting tested next weekend. I love the way that the Stings wash out on the outside but remain exactly the same inside
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In reply to Post #36
If you pm me your address mate happy to send a couple over to you for your inspection
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In reply to Post #36
If the pink is anything like the sting yellow they wash out lovely to a very pale yellow almost white
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In reply to Post #27
I liked the look of those but still looked a bit bright, difficult to tell off a web page.
A couple of years back I bought some washed out Pink pop ups, for the life of me I can't remember who's, possibly Nash. Out of the pot lovely, but when reeled in a few hour's later they had changed colour to a super bright Pink, they went in the bin.
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In reply to Post #32
Any idea on a time line for 12mm Sting pop ups and Eton mess barrels mate?
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In reply to Post #33
had a couple on the sting 12mms
I like them
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In reply to Post #32
Thanks for getting back to me mate.
Hopefully you get a few requests for the 12mm wafters lol if not you will have to let me know when the little dumbell wafters are ready and I will trim them down to size
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In reply to Post #31
Yes we can as we ran 12mm peanut trials and they worked well. It’s the little barrel dumbells most lads want so we are working on them! Our problem is that many people want odd shapes or sizes so we need to keep the range in some sort of order. We already have lots of things on the drawing board 😉. But if enough people ask for the little 12mm Wafters then we can knock up a batch. Only a few have asked for the 20mms but I know that will rise in the summer
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Alright gav I ordered some krill and calanus pop ups and wafters a few weeks back and they look and smell the nuts and hopefully I should be giving them a go next week. Out of curiosity can you do the krill and calanus in a 12mm wafter cos one of the waters I fish definitely respond more to a smaller bait. If you can I will defo put in an order for a few pots
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In reply to Post #27
Chris, glad you are doing well on them. That specific one is the most subtle out of them all but it’s an age old classic and very acidic. Tastes lovely with some nice fruity powders in the base. A pop up doesn’t need to blow your head off as we know they can find them no trouble at all but the most popular baits in the range are the ones which are potent and strong.
Eton mess with the bergamot is a favourite of many customers.
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Recently invested in some of these pop ups, someone I know is pulling a lake apart on them in various flavours. Can’t wait to try them myself 👌
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In reply to Post #18
If you are looking for a washed out pop up i have done really well the last few weeks on the 12mm Eton Mess, they stay popped up for days on a size 4 multi rig and are a nice washed out very pale pink colour they are also not so strongly in your face flavoured like most commercial 'bright ones'
Ive had 6x 20's upto 27lb in my last 2 sessions on them whilst others around me are struggling. Im absolutely sold on Gav's pop ups.
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In reply to Post #24
Sounds like Rodney, alright Dave
Had the broom for 20 years, 17 new heads and 14 handles, Dave
Rodney Dave
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In reply to Post #24
I thought this was some private joke Phil
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In reply to Post #23
It’s Gav by the way, originally my brother started up on the forum long before I had an email address 😉
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In reply to Post #21
Cheers Phil, I'll have a look at the website next week for the new arrival.
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In reply to Post #19
Hello Ken hope you and carol are well! During our design period we played around with certain milks to use in the pop ups and Wafters. Those milks are what we old school boys would class as a hnv boilie (naturally high in proteins and full of aminos). I certainly feel happier knowing that the very base of the pop up is naturally attractive before we even add any additives. The krill and cal is made out of fishmeal liver glm etc and that one seems to have a big cult following already. Dark dull and deadly! The bright ones sell like hot cakes. We have some crazy ideas running round at the moment and one day I’m sure I will blow up our unit 😂😂
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In reply to Post #18
Hello mate, washed out pop ups. We do several pale colours and the new squid is a speckled pale pink (due out next week hopefully if I get moved into our bigger unit on time)
The baits will all hold up a size 4 for as long you can fish! We had a chap recently who said there is no way a little tiny choc malt 12mm could hold up a size 4 at “his lake that was 30 foot deep”. He took the plunge and grabbed a tub and about a week later he sent a nice email to say that they did exactly that! Buoyancy has never been an issue for us in fact we can get the same with 10mm baits if needed.
Food content in pop ups. This is something we are pushing further and further now as it clearly has a better long lasting effect than standard liquids. We have some nice things going into the mixes now and we are constantly sourcing new stuff. It has been a very Interesting period for us and it’s only going one way. The days of standard pop ups are long gone and we are also working on bottom bait specials (a single hookbait does not have to be a bright pop up)
So much more to come from handcraft this year. The boilie/pellet side of the business is really kicking off now and again it’s all about food content rather than cheap and cheerful bait😉
I can answer questions here but have to be careful promoting our products as it’s not fair on the forum owners. But just wait til you see that squid 😉😉😂
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In reply to Post #8
Thanks 4 the heads up, ill take a look
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I know the guys at HH pay a lot of attention to their ingredients, which for me is an important consideration. A lot of folk think that boosted/alternative pop-ups and wafters are simply a way of getting liquid (or powdered) attraction into the immediate vicinity of the freebies - drawing attention to the hookbait, in other words. These folk also think that the actual physical make up of the alternative hookbait is not important, that a flavoured cork ball would do just as well. I'm not having that, not a bit of it! The actual base mix is just as important. I try to keep things simple when using alternative hookbaits, a touch of extra attraction and maybe a change of colour can be important but the ingredients themselves should still be nutritionally attractive.
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In reply to Post #15
Phil, is it possible to get some of your pop up's even more washed out than advertised?
How long would your 12mm hold up a size 4 HS?
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In reply to Post #15
Received mine today, They smell lovely and arrived within 48hrs of ordering
Looking forward to giving then go
Top service
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In reply to Post #15
Can only echo what's already been said so far.
Order was delivered within a couple of days, quality of the products is superb. Seriously impressed with what I've seen so far👍
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In reply to Post #14
Thanks guys we are working at a brisk pace......and delivery has been swift and reliable so far! Keep the catch reports coming in!
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In reply to Post #13
Just placed an order myself
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In reply to Post #10
Well I cannot fault your service having read this thread yesterday morning I went to the website, easily navigable ordered a few bits at 8am and turned up this morning at 9.30am and a free sample of the K-2-O to try, if I get hungry I reckon I will be eating the Eton Mess myself, metal tins are a nice touch as well.
Thanks
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In reply to Post #10
I do mate, very much. Superbly rolled with great buoyancy and outstanding profiles. Nothing not to like and at sensible prices
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Like the look of the peanut praline
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In reply to Post #9
Ken......kind words my man! We are certainly an odd pairing 😂 but both very passionate! I drive him mad with my crazy ideas but my god does he make a nice bait. We have some nice things under our fingertips and lots in the pipeline. Hope you are well mate
Glen b......glad you like them mate
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In reply to Post #7
Brilliant products
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The two guys who are involved with HH are a bait making Dream Team. Use with confidence.
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Extremely well made, smell amazing, stay popped up, catch fish, what's not to like!!!
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In reply to Post #5
Glad you like them guys. A lot of thought and effort has gone into those hookbaits😉
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In reply to Post #4
Not sure but not the point 
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In reply to Post #1
How do you think you would have faired with an actual peanut at less than a penny?
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In reply to Post #1
He's a smart cookie and has been involved in bait for a long time
I had a 34 mirror on the almond wafters last week
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In reply to Post #1
Congratulations on your result, I too ordered the krill, Eton mess and peanut baits to try and I agree the peanut smells amazing. They also all stay firm and have consistent bouyancy over 24 hours on a size 5 chod.
First impressions are very impressive can't wait to get out next week and give them a try.
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Got a few of gav to try and the rod was only out less than a minute and a 29lb common snuffed a peanut pop up. Seem like very good bait. I’ve never smelt a bait like the peanut, it really does smell like peanuts 👍🏻 So far
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