Pellets.

[Chris Hammond]

I'm feeding some small halibut pellets (4,6 and 8mm) into a little stream with a view to fishing them on the hook eventually. Is anyone able to tell me how to make durable hook-baits (Other than just drilling them through) from the actual pellets please?

Ideally Some method for making them soft and rubbery?

[Monts]

When we used to fish MF for the big Crucian's we used small Sonu Baits hookable pellets Chris, I'm sure the fish won't mind the slight difference. As we fed small halibuts and float fished the soft ones over the top.

[Steve D]

To fish the same pellet on the hook you could always use a pellet band Chris.

[wilkie]

I use a Pellet band that suits the size of pellet that I'm fishing

[Chris Hammond]

When we used to fish MF for the big Crucian's we used small Sonu Baits hookable pellets Chris, I'm sure the fish won't mind the slight difference. As we fed small halibuts and float fished the soft ones over the top.

Yeah I think that's likely to be my best option Jason. I have some that a mate recently gave me to try.

[Chris Hammond]

To fish the same pellet on the hook you could always use a pellet band Chris.

Yes that's another option cheers Steve. I'm trying to keep the presentation as tight as possible.

[Chris Hammond]

I use a Pellet band that suits the size of pellet that I'm fishing

Cheers Wilkie.

For some reason I thought there was a method of making standard pellets soft and rubbery?

[Mike J]

When we used to fish MF for the big Crucian's we used small Sonu Baits hookable pellets Chris, I'm sure the fish won't mind the slight difference. As we fed small halibuts and float fished the soft ones over the top.

Yeah I think that's likely to be my best option Jason. I have some that a mate recently gave me to try.

I also tried pellets and cut some bands from float rubbers, mounted a few at leisure so I was good to go when needed.
But of all the baits Ive tried flake reigns supreme on moving water.

.

[Kev Berry]

Dynamite do soft Durable pellet hook baits....had loads of fish on them.
From 4mm..12mm
Hook or hair rig
They slowly dissolve giving off a gunky trail for the fish to home in on

[suffolk si]

Dynamite do soft Durable pellet hook baits....had loads of fish on them.
From 4mm..12mm
Hook or hair rig
They slowly dissolve giving off a gunky trail for the fish to home in on

Those were the magic barbel magnets Kev

[stubbojo]

I use a Pellet band that suits the size of pellet that I'm fishing

Cheers Wilkie.

For some reason I thought there was a method of making standard pellets soft and rubbery?

might be well wrong ...pellet vacuum pump thingy ........does these things draw in scents and flavours .....never used one though

[Bob Watson]

Scrape one side of the pellet with a knife blade to flat, do the same with another and superglue them to a hair rig. If you want to be even more technical you can cut a groove to accept the hair, I just tie a couple of overhand knots in the hair to act as a stop.

[Chris Hammond]

Cheers chaps. It seems I must have imagined the method of making hookbaits from standard pellets. I might be confusing it with the bread paste method?

Anyway I have a pack of ready mades to try that a pal gave me so I will try those.

[jeff smith]

I make a stiff paste from pellets Chris and it’s an extremely effective bait for various species.
Small pellets work best but, because I buy ‘donkey choker’ 22mm in bulk, I just pound a batch with a club hammer to break them down.
Stick some in a bucket , just cover them with boiling water, then leave overnight.
In the morning , knead into a stiff paste. It can be moulded on the hook, or used slightly watered down as a slow release ground bait moulded around a lead or feeder.
Any left over must be frozen quickly otherwise it will develop mould but, in my experience can be defrosted and re used several times.

[Chris Hammond]

I make a stiff paste from pellets Chris and it’s an extremely effective bait for various species.
Small pellets work best but, because I buy ‘donkey choker’ 22mm in bulk, I just pound a batch with a club hammer to break them down.
Stick some in a bucket , just cover them with boiling water, then leave overnight.
In the morning , knead into a stiff paste. It can be moulded on the hook, or used slightly watered down as a slow release ground bait moulded around a lead or feeder.
Any left over must be frozen quickly otherwise it will develop mould but, in my experience can be defrosted and re used several times.

Thanks Jeff I'll give it a try.

[Kev Berry]

Scrape one side of the pellet with a knife blade to flat, do the same with another and superglue them to a hair rig. If you want to be even more technical you can cut a groove to accept the hair, I just tie a couple of overhand knots in the hair to act as a stop.

I used a small file to do that Bob.....or if on a stoned swim just rub on the rocks. I used a sliding loop on hair rig to hold em together.
Strangely I find fishing two pellets like this usually outfishes just using a bigger pellet

[Bob Watson]

Scrape one side of the pellet with a knife blade to flat, do the same with another and superglue them to a hair rig. If you want to be even more technical you can cut a groove to accept the hair, I just tie a couple of overhand knots in the hair to act as a stop.

I used a small file to do that Bob.....or if on a stoned swim just rub on the rocks. I used a sliding loop on hair rig to hold em together.
Strangely I find fishing two pellets like this usually outfishes just using a bigger pellet

Me too!

[ChrisR2010]

Not tried it on pellets but to make mixers soft enough to hook a small amount of water in a polythene bag ( sandwich/freezer bag ) seal and give good shake so that all the mixers have come into contact with the moisture. Leave over night and job done. It could work with pellets albeit they are harder and I would expect less absorbant. Might be worth a go ??