Bait

As an avid user of Proper Job’s excellent hook baits, which are always brilliantly rolled and boast superb flavour ranges, I was excited when these two new versions landed at TC towers. The first tub we opened were the Scopex & Strawberry, a combination that seems less popular than it once was but which is a devastating bait, especially in cold conditions. They smell terrific, which isn’t always a barometer that they’ll work, but I know that Kevin Heal at PJPU uses only the best flavour/attractor combinations so I have no doubt that these will be effective. Second up is the wonderful Chocolate Orange, which is an absolute winner.

Having seen the need for a highly nutritious shelf-life bait that involved no need for a freezer, the Code Red offers both the fresh, high-quality ingredients of a freezer bait, mixed with the instant attraction and hassle-free use that a shelf life is so renowned for. As soon as the baits hit the water they are pumping out attraction. Whether it be from the high-quality pre-digested fishmeals in the base mix, or the liquid liver that has provided attraction and flavour to the bait, Code Red works on so many levels. Unlike traditional shelf-life boilies, which can be rock hard, these are easily breakable by hand, with particular attention being made to preventing breakage when baiting up with a throwing stick.

• Creamy nut-based bait suitable for all-year-round use• Available in six colours, including purple (shown here)• Available in round and barrel versions with matching pop-ups includedRRP: From £8FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO: www. simplybaits. co. uk.

The first thing that struck me about these bright hook baits was the sheer number of baits in each tub. Call me a dullard, but I emptied a tub and counted 136 back in. That’s phenomenal value for money for any hook baits. There are four flavours in the high-viz versions, namely Peach & Pepper (orange), Pineapple & N-Butyric (yellow), White Chocolate (erm, white, obviously) and the hugely successful Buchu-Berry (pink).

• Hi-viz green, slow-sinking, fake-maize hook baits• Mouthwatering citrus aroma • 10 pieces per pack with matching hair stopsRRP: £2. 49FOR MORE DETAILS GO TO: www. korda. co.

• Mixed tubs of round and barrel-shaped pop-ups• Four colours – yellow, black, orange and red• Sweet Tiger, Secret Slammer, Butyric-C and Black Buzzer flavoursRRP: £TBCFOR MORE DETAILS GO TO: www. dynamitebaits. com . .

I’ve long been a fan of the PJPU range of pop-ups and use them extensively in my fishing. When these two flavours landed on my desk I immediately thought: “Winter winners”. They’re both from PJPU’s classic range of flavour combinations and each smells absolutely fantastic. The Tutti Frutti is an absolute classic and is available in a range of sizes in orange, yellow, off-white and magenta.