Like any other Bait, groundbaits come in different types, colours and flavours. Groundbaits are mostly used for coarse fishing and can be a great way to attract fish into your swim and there are multiple ways to get it out there. This guide will cover the different types of groundbait, recommended groundbait and the best ways to get it into your swim.
WHAT IS GROUNDBAIT?Â
Groundbait is a type of loose feed that is used to attract fish towards your hookbait. It can be thrown in balls, catapulted or used alongside a feeder. It can come in different consistencies including either a finer mix or a more clumpy mix which can both have different effects when they hit the water. Groundbait can also have added attraction by mixing it with other types of loose feed, groundbaits or liquids.
GROUNDBAIT COLOURS
There's a variety of groundbait colours and some can work better in different situations. Brown is probably the most popular colour as it usually matches the bottom so fish don't get as spooked. Other common colours include red, black and green.
For winter months by far the most common groundbait colour is black. This is mainly due to the waters being more clear. By using a slightly fine black groundbait it will create a dark cloud where fish will feel more confident to feed as they will be out of sight from predators like Pike.Â
Green coloured groundbait is another popular colour which fish will feed over due to the natural colour. It's a common colour when fishing for larger fish like Carp, Bream and Tench. Â
Red coloured groundbait usually works best on commercial waters where the fish are used to other vibrant baits and don't feed on mostly natural foods. Red works great for Tench and Carp.
TYPES OF GROUNDBAIT
Crumb: Crumb usually comes in both brown and white colours and has been created from bread. Breadcrumb groundbait is typically the cheapest and is the best option for bulk feeding with the least cost. Crumb also works great for skimmers, roach and rudd during the winter months.
Sweetcorn: This type of groundbait is slightly less common and is created from ground down sweetcorn. The sweetcorn has a very strong scent and is great for attracting Bream and Tench into your swim.
Fishmeal: Fishmeal is one of the more common types of groundbait and is a popular ingredient in lots of groundbaits. It's usually a finer mix and is created from crushed fish carcases which have been dried. Although this type of groundbait doesn't create much action in the water it definitely attracts fish due to the strong smell.
Molehill Soil: This style of groundbait consists of the soil made from molehills. This ingredient is loved by fish as it's packed with active enzymes.
Method: The method style is a thicker groundbait which allows it to stick better to the method feeders so that it stays on during casts.
River: Groundbaits designed for river fishing are a lot denser than regular groundbaits so that it sinks to the bottom faster and doesn't wash away downstream.
Active: Active groundbaits are usually slow releasing and more active in the water. Hemp is an ingredient many active groundbaits include as some balls of hemp groundbait can be active for up to 30 minutes.Â
USING A METHOD FEEDER
Using groundbait with a method feeder is a popular way of getting it in the water. It allows a neat presentation with the hookbait aligned in the middle. Typically it's better to use a shorter hooklink so the fish feeding are less likely to ignore the hookbait. Although, on rivers because of the flow a longer hooklink can be used. In some cases anglers have used a hooklink of up to two foot so while the groundbait is getting slowly washed downstream it's going past your hookbait.Â
A popular groundbait used alongside a feeder is the Dynamite Baits Silver X which works great for lakes and canals. It is brown in colour and contains crushed pellets making it a great consistency for both feeders or balls of groundbait.Â
If you're fishing not too far from the bank then you can get away with throwing in balls of groundbait at a time by hand. This is a popular way of fishing during matches as it's fast and you could have as many pre-made balls of groundbait as you want. However, if you still want to use groundbait but you’re fishing at further distances then another technique is using a catapult. Â