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Mainline Active Maple 8 - RIP

Neil Blood

Neil Blood

Senior Member
I see that Mainline have stopped selling Active Maple 8 boillies and base mix. During the last 10 years this bait has caught me plenty of doubles and several PB’s. Eclipse, Enigma, Waka’s, Lamprey………….. boillies all came and went (as the next big thing), but I stuck with Maple 8 and it always gave me year round results. It really was a confidence bait for me!

I know that others rated it for Barbel too.

Looks like I need a new fav bait :(
 
Stickybaits Vortex has a similar maple scent (I appreciate that scent doesn't mean it's a similar bait though) with a hint of fenugreek too. I've been too busy using it for carp to give it a try for barbel, but I've been tempted.
 
I can honestly say maple8 was the worst bait I've ever had the mispleasure to use!

(although i'm of the opinion that bait performance is directly influenced by the water its sitting in - which may be why others have an opposite opinion)
 
Like Marty, I never rated Maple 8 at all, yet others rave about it. There must be a reason for peoples differing opinions on a particular bait, and I wonder if it is all a matter of confidence based on pure luck on the first outing using that bait. I can think of no other logical reason.

I recall being absolutely devastated when the original Mainline Grange bait was 'improved'. They carried on selling what they still referred to as the Grange (after a key ingredient apparently became unavailable), but neither it, nor the new versions of it over the years, have been a patch on that original. Again, no doubt others were not impressed by that bait at all.

Cheers, Dave.
 
David Gauntlett said:
I wonder if it is all a matter of confidence based on pure luck on the first outing using that bait. I can think of no other logical reason.
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I dare say it can be a reason, but I can offer another. A few seasons back I was using a bait that had been developed as a barbel bait. On my local river, which also happened to be local to the bait company concerned, it went really well, despite it hardly being used in massive quantities. The chub were rather partial to it as well. I took the same bait to the Trent and it was all but ignored.

Different waters respond to baits quite differently. I've seen that when fishing for barbel and carp. Whilst it's easy to think that it's all down to the amount that might get shovelled in, I don't think it's always the case.
 
Possibly Chris...but what could the reason for that be? For instance, I really cannot believe that something like the Ph of a given water has much to do with it. That would mean that the popularity of a bait would surely be noticeably regional, which doesn't seem to be the case. Bit of a puzzler I think :D

Cheers, Dave.
 
David Gauntlett said:
Possibly Chris...but what could the reason for that be? For instance, I really cannot believe that something like the Ph of a given water has much to do with it. That would mean that the popularity of a bait would surely be noticeably regional, which doesn't seem to be the case. Bit of a puzzler I think :D

Cheers, Dave.
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Just look at the reaction on here when people talk about garlic Spam. Many love the stuff, plenty don't. I suspect that the river(s) an individual fishes plays its part. Barbel behave differently in different rivers, why shouldn't they have different tastes? I don't think there's any need to think too deeply about it, water chemistry and all that stuff.
 
What you make your own Maple 8 Ade?
 
I'm curious, where people don't rate the bait, are you talking as a Carp or Barbel bait? I've heard plenty of people slag it off as a Carp catcher, but where Barbel are concerned I found it an instant bait wherever I tried it. I also used in the River Dove for a number of years which included repeat captures so it didn't blow either.
 
Lads/Ladies, you,ve got to realise, the producers cater for the carp anglers, not the barbel angler. If it ain,t working for the carp boys, who buy tons of the stuff, the producers ain,t gonna keep it going for the barbel angler, who may buy a kilo every 2/3 years, regardless whether it catches barbel or not.
 
Active maple 8 was the dogs wotsits, the original grange was probably the best bar none! My summer secret weapon, NRG is discontinued too, the Cell, caught me 1 fish, not a barbel bait, but slaughters most carp waters, most, but not all????
Active8 is good, but loads out there, good luck with yourchoice of replacement!
peter
 
It's interesting how many baits change and look and smell different over time. Liked Active Maple 8 and did my usual - buy several kgs of base mix and bung in freezer for future use. Just wonder how much of a racket withdrawing baits is. Seems like some manufacturers are phasing out base mixes, frozen baits and going (presumably to keep energy costs lower) shelf life.
The original Grange was talked about in whispers for barbel many moons ago - think it was when you added two liquids to the basemix - not the one of later times.
I wonder weather there is a massive difference in Active 8 and Active Maple 8? Active 8 and Active Maple 8 has been good for me.

Cheers
Bob
 
Bob Gill said:
It's interesting how many baits change and look and smell different over time. Liked Active Maple 8 and did my usual - buy several kgs of base mix and bung in freezer for future use. Just wonder how much of a racket withdrawing baits is. Seems like some manufacturers are phasing out base mixes, frozen baits and going (presumably to keep energy costs lower) shelf life.
The original Grange was talked about in whispers for barbel many moons ago - think it was when you added two liquids to the basemix - not the one of later times.
I wonder weather there is a massive difference in Active 8 and Active Maple 8? Active 8 and Active Maple 8 has been good for me.

Cheers
Bob
Click to expand...

Hi Bob,

Yes, as you say the original Grange had two liquids to add to the base mix...inventively called 'parts 1 and 2' :D One was a small bottle containing a clear liquid (never did find out what that was)....the other was a much larger bottle, which contained the best version of CSL liquid I have ever come across. It had a lump of dark brown sludge in the middle, and you were not supposed to shake it, just let it break down naturally. Wonderful bait, one of the best I have ever used, possibly THE best.

Fond memories of that one.

Cheers, Dave.
 
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