Richard, nowhere in my post do I say that one bait is better than another, or do I say that processed baits are in any way superior, or inferior , I just point out that as with a lot of angling paraphenalia these days a lot of things catch anglers as opposed to fish
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I have every confidence that a home made bait with good ingredients will work , and you say yourself that just maybe they may only be as effective as more traditional baits .
That being said , horses for courses . Some of us get pleasure from different aspects of angling, if doing a “ Rick Stein “ with bait ingredients is your thing and it works for you then thats fine .
For a lot of anglers on a low budget I think maybe the idea of shelling out for custom made industrially produced processed baits may just be a bit more expensive than a loaf of Warburtons , or tin of sweetcorn, which as you say may be just as effective on any day .
Sad thing is that angling mags and papers seem to be hell bent on promoting the latest “ Wafter “ or whatever , and thus it may be that some anglers beginning their lifetime obsession may get blinkered by advertising .
Whatever your predeliction may be as far as baits and methods are concerned , the main thing , at least for me ,is that you enjoy your time at the waterside and dont be misled into thinking there is a magic bullet that will guarantee you results .
We all know the magic bullet doesnot exist .
David