Particle Baits

The use of particle baits in carp fishing have become extremely popular due to their versatility and effectiveness. The majority of particle baits are hard nuts or seeds and as such they need to be prepared correctly. Under-prepared particles can be fatal to fish stocks; dry particles absorb water and then swell in size which can lead to fish deaths if this happens inside the fish's gut. That said, don't let this put you off using particles because if they are prepared correctly then they can be devastating

The preparation phase is crucial with particles, the reason why particles are so effective is that during the preparation stage (which usually requires some degree of pre-soaking and boiling) the oils and attractors from within the particle are released. This can transform a bland and boring seed or nut into a rich mix of flavours and attractors.

Ever since particles have been used in fishing, anglers have put their own 'twist' on how they prepare particles ranging from adding a teaspoon of salt or sugar to adding chilli or garlic to the cooking water. By adding these extra ingredients at the preparation stage means that the particles will absorb and take on these flavours and can give you that all important 'edge' over other anglers.

  Many anglers tend to fish with an assortment of particles rather than just one type. This provides the fish with a variety of food sources of different sizes, textures, flavours and colours and will increase the fish's confidence in feeding over a bed of particles.

I personally buy my dry particles in bulk and prepare them myself. Buying them in bulk from a pet store rather from a tackle shop can be considerably cheaper.  My favourite particle mix is a  pigeon mix called "Irish".

This mix contains a good selection of large seeds such as maize, maples as well as some smaller ones.
I also buy my Hemp seed in bulk from the same supplier.

Even though I soak both of these for 24 hours prior to boiling them, they are soaked separately as this is were I like to add my own flavours and seasoning and if you add certain seasonings to hemp such as salt and some spices prior to boiling it can stop the hemp from splitting and you want the hemp to split.

What you add to the rest of your mix is entirely up to you, I tend to add similar attractors to the boilies I'm using. If I using Krill boilies I will add some Krill oil to the mix. you are only limited to your own imagination.

Once the mix has been soaked I boil the particle mix for about 30 min until the maize and the maples just start to soften and not to soft that they go to mush I want them to retain there shape and give the Carp something to crunch.

The Hemp is boiled until it starts to split this can vary but it usually starts to split after about 35 - 40 min.

Once the mix is ready I like to add some chopped and whole boilies to the mix and I do this the night before I go fishing this allows the boilies to soak up all the oils and juice's from the mix.