One of the most common debates that takes place on the riverbank, apart from the tales of the one that got away, is what kind of fishing bait to use; do you make your own or buy it, and is there anything out there that we haven’t heard of before? We’ve all heard of the common types; the worms and maggots and shrimp, but we’re always keen to find out if there’s one magic bait that will have those fish flocking.
It turns out that fish aren’t nearly so picky as us humans and there are even some non-food items that will attract them too, so we thought we’d put together 14 of the most unusual fishing baits that you can use; some might surprise you; some might disgust you, some might even make you hungry, so let’s take a look.
1. Soap
Not your average snack, small chunks of soap have been used to catch fish, particularly catfish, for centuries. ‘Pure’ soap works best, with no added chemicals or fragrances and while it’s not part of a balanced diet for a fish, they’re apparently attracted to the tallow in the soap. It’s surprisingly easy to make yourself too.
2. Cereal
Turns out the most important meal of the day is loved by fish too. Crushed cornflakes release a scent that fish love and wheat biscuits can be mixed into a paste. Throw in some muesli too to really reel them in.
3. Slice of Bread
Fish love bread, particularly carp, so it’s great on a slow day when you want to lure them to the surface. A great, cheap option that’s readily available, bread stands out in murky water so the fish can easily spot it and it’s a great way to use up stale bread.
4. Marmite
You either love it or hate it, and it turns out its mix of vitamin D, yeast extract and salt make the fish love it. It’s a great dip for baits and works well with boilies. It can be used as it is to coat large pellets or mixed with water to soak bait.
5. Gummy Worms
Like a lot of us, fish seem to have a real soft spot for sweets, and gummy worms are a great alternative to your usual bait; their bright colour and shape seem to be really appealing to fish, maybe because of the similarity to worms or minnows.
6. Chicken Nuggets
This might not seem like the best thing for a balanced diet, but in 2017 an American angler landed an 11lb, 24.5-inch-long bass using a chicken nugget as bait. Fish are apparently attracted to the strong smell of fried chicken, and who can blame them?
7. Eyeballs
Hold onto your stomachs for this one, because certain fish, particularly bass, perch and trout, love the smell and taste of a fish eyeball. You can’t use them for too long though or they get too soggy to bite. You can go back to your lunch now.
8. Marshmallows
Something a bit more relatable for us humans are marshmallows, especially the mini ones. They’re great as surface baits as they’re buoyant, durable and easily visible. They’re also fairly cheap and if you have any leftover, you can make s’mores.
9. Spam
Who doesn’t love a bit of Spam? Fish certainly do as they’re attracted to the oils and smell, and it’s been used for years to attract chub, barbel and carp. Cut it into cubes, put it on a hook and you’re ready to go.
10. Peanut Butter
With its mix of sweetness and nuttiness, 100% natural peanut butter is perfect for making bait balls, and you can use it as a paste or add it to bait mix; you could even use your leftover sandwiches from lunch. All kinds of fish love it, particularly carp, bass, trout and catfish.
11. Dog Food
Weirdly, catfish love dog food, as do carp, and if you pour a bit of the gravy into the water, it will help the fish find the bait quicker. Or you could use dry dog food and mix it with some flour and water to make a dough. Just don’t tell Fido.
12. Steak
Roach, chub and carp all enjoy a nice bit of steak, but we’re not talking about an expensive grass-fed fillet complete with triple-cooked chips, onion rings and peppercorn sauce, just a sliver of frying steak will do on a hook.
13. Yorkshire Puddings
We’re a big fan of this one, being based in Yorkshire, but it seems that carp, chub and rudd are also fans of the good old Yorkshire pud. They’re robust enough to stay on the hook for several casts and they’re a good substitute for breadcrusts.
14. Macaroni Cheese
Tench, carp, roach and rudd all love the soft, paste-like texture of macaroni cheese and it’s pretty much guaranteed that nobody else on the riverbank will be using it, although anglers have been known to use cheese before.
We’re all after that elusive bait, the secret one that is guaranteed to bring all the fish to your yard, but it’s also tempting to stick with what you know works. But if you like experimenting every so often, hopefully these have given you some ideas. Just remember to be mindful of what you’re putting in the water and don’t use anything that could pollute the water or break any local fishing laws.
You might also want to think about taking out fishing insurance so that your equipment is covered. We offer three types of flexible fishing insurance, all with a range of standard benefits that include Public Liability, New for Old and Personal Accident. Give us a call, or check out our website and get a free, no-strings quote that will have you hooked.
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