Bait making...

[Terry Harman]

I have made my own boilies for some time now and I do it exactly as you described 1 egg mixes fresh before a session. The bait is at its absolute best made literally hours before its cast out.
I have never used any rolling devices I just hand roll my own dumbbell shaped boilies to the desired size. Always worth keeping a smidge of the paste leftover for a wrap or two.
You won’t go far wrong with a JB basemix.
He does some good ones with barbel in mind like the big rivers, taste, bio shelfish and if you like a spiced mix the Bombay mix has proved it’s worth with barbel on many occasions.
Here’s a few of mine straight out the pan. The most important thing is not to over cook them. The centre should still be soft and paste like with a hard crust.
View attachment 12554

They look similar to mine rich John baker frost and flood .....I tend to do a one egg mix the day before I go takes about 20 mins

 

[Richard Isaacs]

They look similar to mine rich John baker frost and flood .....I tend to do a one egg mix the day before I go takes about 20 minsView attachment 12625

That looks a nice bit of presentation there Terry.

 

[Terry Harman]

I’m very fussy with rigs ...the hook length was something I was trying when the river was low and clear...I would say it improved catch rates especially when using maggots

 

[Alex Fowers]

I definitely recommend the Gardner equipment . I only make small batches at a time the evening before fishing usually 3 egg mixes. I found the Gardner sausage roller with the smaller rollaball table perfect for small batches. Also a lot easier on space than the larger table.

 

[Julian Griffiths]

They look similar to mine rich John baker frost and flood .....I tend to do a one egg mix the day before I go takes about 20 minsView attachment 12625

Dare I ask where the he'll you got that hook link material from? Never seen anything like it...Well maybe once when I unblocked my bath plug hole

 

[Terry Harman]

Dare I ask where the he'll you got that hook link material from? Never seen anything like it...Well maybe once when I unblocked my bath plug hole

You can get it online Julian it’s called mimicker they also do a leadcore version

Mimicker - Katran Fishing Line

"Mimicker" series is designed for catching fish in clear water where even a good leadcore and a hook link in bottom colours alerts a cautious carp. In that case, fish often ignore even tasty baits. As all fish live amongst weed and grass, by using "Mimicker" leadcore with hook...

katran.co.uk

 

[Neil Smart]

You can get it online Julian it’s called mimicker they also do a leadcore version

Mimicker - Katran Fishing Line

"Mimicker" series is designed for catching fish in clear water where even a good leadcore and a hook link in bottom colours alerts a cautious carp. In that case, fish often ignore even tasty baits. As all fish live amongst weed and grass, by using "Mimicker" leadcore with hook...

katran.co.uk

First saw this at a Barbel Society meeting here in Tewkesbury a few years back, demonstrated by Dave Mason, of course it could be argued a fish could be spooked by it, some say it's better what they can see (mono , braid) rather than sense something odd here?

 

[Terry Simner]

They used to sell it years ago in one of the mail order magazines..reckon it would be good, if you still had weed left in the river you fish. That is no good for the Teme or the Severn I agree about the spooking off line that's not seen..like a cobweb spooking you when it's not seen or expected.

 

[Simon Haggis]

They look similar to mine rich John baker frost and flood .....I tend to do a one egg mix the day before I go takes about 20 minsView attachment 12625

is this going on the Christmas tree?

 

[Terry Harman]

I hate Christmas .....that IS the Christmas tree

 

[Joe Winstanley]

Two mentions of the C word and it's not even November. I thought this site was moderated!

Bah and indeed humbug!

 

[Alex Warren]

Sorry to go off topic from the OP, I got some of this stuff recently. Looks the part on the spool, if a little light in colour.

I tied up a rig with it and used it on a session last week, more as an experiment than anything else (water was coloured). Once wet, it went surprisingly dark in colour and once ‘brushed’ in the direction of the hook (replicating the effect the flow would have, presumably) took on the appearance of a slightly scruffy & thick length of very dark wool.

Fair play to those who have used it and got results. I’ll give it another bash when the river is low and clear next season, but for me, first impressions weren’t great...