I’m a great one for the sloppiest, smelliest bait buckets that you can imagine. I think if it comes to crucian carp, tench, rudd and even mirror and common carp, scent, colour and variety can really pay dividends.
I’ll probably start with a good helping of hemp in that bucket. All these species absolutely adore the little black seeds. It’s then that I’ll begin to add all the yummies!
I’ll almost certainly put some casters into the mix, for sure. Then I’ll source some small pellets, usually 4 or 6 ml. these will go in, soften up and break down to give even more luscious scent.
I might put in more seeds like tares and there will definitely be corn going into the mix too. I might add scalded maggots and who knows, even a few bits of worm.
I like a big bucket and I like to add to it frequently. I probably won’t use all the contents on a single session but bring the bucket, half full, home with me. I will add to it for the next session and keep the whole thing going for weeks on end sometimes. By the end, it’s fermenting, fizzing and absolutely loaded with flavours.
This isn’t like hoity-toity fly fishing for sure but it really works for coarse fishing. Just make sure your bucket of goodies is well away from the house itself. I keep mine firmly in a steel dustbin in an outhouse safe from mice and well away from any passing humans! Concoctions like these are for fish and fishers alone!
