Any unusual baits you've tried on natural waters?

[SUFC]

As hook baits, I was thinking of ORZO which is pasta in the shape of a grain of rice (par-boiled of course). I imagine it's easy to hook and looks kind of like a maggot or even caster if dyed.
Has anyone tried and succeeded on unusual baits on natural waters, canals in particular?

 

[Silver fan 82]

As hook baits, I was thinking of ORZO which is pasta in the shape of a grain of rice (par-boiled of course). I imagine it's easy to hook and looks kind of like a maggot or even caster if dyed.
Has anyone tried and succeeded on unusual baits on natural waters, canals in particular?

When I was a kid I remember my grandad telling me bacon rind is good. I tried it on the small river we used to fish but caught nothing!

 

[Scribe]

About 30 years ago i used Uncle Bens savoury microwave rice on the canal, that used to get the roach going with a maggot on the hook, I guess it would work well with pinkies in Winter.

 

[Louis D]

When I was 13, I remember my dad trying to persuade me to use rice while winding me up that the shop had run out of maggots. He even suggested using a marker pen to put a feed spot on each grain - that was the limit, he couldn't keep a straight face.

Otherwise, jam sandwich - Mother's Pride, Hartley's pineapple - I was 17, it was January, Bristol Avon was about 4 foot up at Bathford. 4 lb 2 oz chub in a winter league when blanking, instant section win and only beaten by a couple of flukey bream - some people get all the luck ?

 

[Arry]

Used to try marshmallows... and glace cherries... never caught much on em on account I used to eat most of em

 

[squimp]

Tench on lettuce out of a cheese sandwich.

Tench on a sultana out of a sticky bun.

Carp on baked beans and more regularly curried baked beans (tinned).

 

[Silver fan 82]

I was wondering if anyone has ever tried marzipan?

 

[ukzero1]

Not tried this on canals or rivers, but try mixing a little 5 spice (from supermarkets) in some paste. Seems to work o.k. on stillwaters.

 

[ukzero1]

I was wondering if anyone has ever tried marzipan?

Tried the pink marzipan on our club waters to no avail.

 

[Millers Thumb]

Licquorice has always been my secret bait.

 

[Simon R]

Remember buying a bag of marshmallows and taking them down to the local club lake as a floating carp bait.
Started on my usual mixers and had a few carp interested before trying to cut the marshmallow in half and mounting it on the hook - finally got the sticky mess attached and lobbed it out.
I catapulted a few loose mallows out and the carp entirely ignored them - in fact even the ducks, which could be a bloody nuisance at times and would fight each other for a soggy dog biscuit, completely ignored them. Not an experiment I'm in any rush to repeat.

Simon

 

[Dave]

@kevin o connor used Irish Marzipan on a water and emptied the place

I've tried boiled rice before as a substitute for maggots but it didn't work. Sugar Puffs have done so, especially when floated for Carp

 

[62tucker]

Used to catch loads of crabs in a crab net with bacon back in the day. And also on bit of old string found lying on the pier tied to hook.
Silver paper on a hook for pike and perch.
Chewing gum for trout.
A button on a piece of thread and a net for sticklebacks. Wish I was that young again

 

[Jonathan Sutcliffe-Bland]

Chopped Udon Noodles. The New 'Punch'?

 

[Marker50]

Worst bait ever.limpet off rocks.
At bridlington as a kid.

 

[RMNDIL]

Cherries - shop bought preserved in sugar - for Rudd

 

[richard83]

I won a junior match on a natural venue using baked beans. Crucians, tench and skimmers went mad for them. Just washed the sauce off and were easy to use on the pole.

 

[RedhillPhil]

Licquorice has always been my secret bait.

....until now

 

[PJG]

Haribo sweets - it is amazing how much they swell up.
Gungo peas.
Pasta
Pearl barley

 

[tincatim]

Had some good days on elderberries many years ago. Once won a junior match with 15lb of roach just feeding hemp and elderberries from the bush which overhung my peg. It’s always worth a go if you find something like that on the bank, same with blackberries too. Some will fall into the water so the fish should take them.