EA Bait production...... Anyone remember???

[Graham Elliott]

About 45 years ago, if memory serves me correctly, the Environment Agency actually produced at bait mix that could be moulded.
Almost black in colour.

It worked really well on tricking the carp at the difficult South Lake in Woodley Berks. As well as some notable Tench.

Anyone old enough to remember it? The name?

Would love to get the recipe.

 

[Rob Moore]

The EA made bait? It must have been a predecessor body because the Agency were formed in late 1989 (when the Water Authorities were privatised).

 

[Joe Winstanley]

National Rivers Authority (NRA) perhaps?

 

[Graham Elliott]

Maybe it was a river Authority?

Not imagining it. Quite a lot about it in the Fishing rags at the time

 

[Graham Elliott]

It was sold in a soft black block wrapped in foil that I think was silver and red.

 

[Terry Simner]

Yeah, I remember buying some black stuff wrapped in silver foil years ago. Yeah, it was good stuff, man

 

[Jon Young]

Yeah, I remember buying some black stuff wrapped in silver foil years ago. Yeah, it was good stuff, man

I think that stuff came from Morocco Terry not the EA

 

[Neil Smart]

Yeah, I remember buying some black stuff wrapped in silver foil years ago. Yeah, it was good stuff, man

 

[Bill Walford]

About 45 years ago, if memory serves me correctly, the Environment Agency actually produced at bait mix that could be moulded.
Almost black in colour.

It worked really well on tricking the carp at the difficult South Lake in Woodley Berks. As well as some notable Tench.

Anyone old enough to remember it? The name?

Would love to get the recipe.

If you’re after it Graham it must be good stuff…put me s down for a bucketful

 

[Tim Marks]

There was a late ‘70’s carp bait marketed as ‘Black Magic’. Are you thinking of that ?

It was sold as a powder and made a sticky mess when rehydrated -but it caught fish.

It was sold by Dick Weale and Len Bunn - two top carpers from East Anglia. Not sure about any EA connection except maybe the geographical one !

 

[Graham Elliott]

Wondered how long....

No seriously, with the average age of members on here someone must remember it, excepting those that tried the other stuff.

 

[Graham Elliott]

There was a late ‘70’s carp bait marketed as ‘Black Magic’. Are you thinking of that ?

It was sold as a powder and made a sticky mess when rehydrated -but it caught fish.

It was sold by Dick Weale and Len Bunn - two top carpers from East Anglia. Not sure about any EA connection except maybe the geographical one !

Not that Tim. This was a block that was pliable.

It was definitely a Regulating body that sold it.

It had a faint liquorice smell

 

[Tim Marks]

It was worth a try !

I can’t recall any other black baits that were sold commercially.

A friend and I made a dark coloured bait a few years back in an effort to dissuade bird life from finding the bait. Only problem was that the dark additive was really strong and at that level the carp wouldn’t eat it ! Once we worked out the issue and reduced the level by 75% we had a really good bait. But it wasn’t black…….

 

[Andrew Richardson]

It was sold in a soft black block wrapped in foil that I think was silver and red.

Oxo cubes?

 

[Graham Elliott]

Oxo cubes?

Very similar texture and appearance but sweet smelling

 

[Dave Durrant]

Graham, if anybody knows it would be Lord Wilson.

 

[Graham Elliott]

Graham, if anybody knows it would be Lord Wilson.

I asked Dave Steuart today, as he was here, but never sold it in the shop. Fred Wilton and Brian Harris to ask yet.

Will send Mike a message

It's really annoyed me not to find out so far.
Hoped some of the OAPs on here could remember, so not too hopeful.

 

[Bob Gill]

RH did a bait that was black, sweet and spicy with Ultraspice and Leaf Spice EA back in the 2000's. One of his mixes was black and sticky I seem to remember?
Cheers
Bob

EDIT more like the 80's

 

[Tim Marks]

John Baker would probably remember - he was already in the bait trade by then…..