INGENIOUS, IRRESISTIBLE
2014
TOP TINS
NEW RANGE OF HEMP & CORN TINS
FM R E E AGAZIN
E
PLUS
Tommy Pickering’s
Expert Tips
FROM OUR CONSULTANTS
Des Shipp
BUOYANT BAITS
Adam Wakelin
NEW MARGIN CARP
ULTIMATE BREAM FEEDER MIX
FEATURES
Andy Findlay
PELLET PERFECTION
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES • F1 RANGE GOES GREEN • NEW EXPANDER PELLETS
welcome
Creating bait for the modern angler is something which is at the very forefront of our thoughts when we look at designing new baits There is no substitute for quality ingredients which catch fish and the bait also has to be user friendly; by keeping to these principles we can design some of the best fish catching baits available. Looking back to last year with the introduction of baits like Semi-Buoyant Bandums and Bream Feeder we lead the way with bait innovation and this was reflected in the amount of anglers on the bank using our baits and catching fish on them.
For details on the full SONUBAITS product range, ANGLERs TIPS and videos visit:
Sonubaits
sonubaitscom
@Sonubaits
sonubaits.com
UK Address Unit C4, Stafford Park 4, Telford, Shropshire TF3 3BA Tel: 01952 210535 Fax: 01952 292906 sales@sonubaits.com European Distribution Centre Primo Distribution B.V., Kelvin Ring 27B-29, 2952 BG Alblasserdam, Netherlands Tel: 0031 78 6999593 Fax: 0031 78 6999594 Sonubaits.com is a division of Preston Innovations Limited Registered in England & Wales Registered No. 03318338 VAT No. GB451765831 Specifications and prices are correct as of February 2014. All specifications are approximate and may vary or be modified.
For 2014, we have looked at the range of bait which we have, and found out what the likes of Des Shipp, Andy Findlay, Tommy Pickering, Lee Kerry and Adam Wakelin are doing and how they feel we can enhance our existing range. One concept that all of them talked about was catching big carp in the margins, they all have different ways of going about it and different ways of using the products which we have in the range. The one clear thing was we didn’t have a product which suited them all and they were adapting baits to use in the margins, therefore we set about working out what would be best for them to use to catch an increased amount of carp from the margins. They all wanted attraction in the form of a cloud when it was potted or thrown in, but the main requirement was that the bait was heavy and remained in the swim when they had hooked a carp rather than being wafted away by the fighting carp. So after a few experiments to find dense particles
that fish liked we decided to concentrate on a mixture of de-shelled seeds. Once the shell has been taken off a seed it soaks up water very quickly and therefore this adds weight to the already heavy particle. We didn’t want large whole seeds in the mix as this could lead to a carp filling up and moving on before there is chance to catch it so we crushed the blended seeds to a small particle size which the carp would have to spend time grubbing around for. To these crushed seeds we added a large amount of fishmeal and coarsely ground fish pellets as carp are now so accustomed to fishmeal based baits. This created a groundbait which perfectly suited our anglers in their quest to catch more carp from the margins. This is just an example of the thought process that goes in to creating each one of our baits, which is why we always create baits with a purpose of catching more fish for anglers who use Sonubaits.
Ian Day
sonubaits.com @Sonubaits
sonubaits 2014
contents
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carp
contents
contents
tommy pickering on why it’s so good
ian russell explains the revolutionary new carp bait
04 | F1
51 | code red on the cover
06 | krill
45 | code red products
DES SHIPP ON WHY krill is IN HIS BAIT BOX
introducing our new code red range
20 | Understanding bait buoyancy
08 | bream
tommy pickering’s top tips
des Shipp on how hookbait buoyancy can play a huge part in winning matches
10 | salted nut crush
22 | boilies & pellets
andy findlay explains why this is no.1 for catching carp
perfect hookbaits every time
24 | s-pellets
11 | 50:50
with rod and line in mind
des shipp explains the benefits
25 | soft hooker pellets
12 | perfect feed pellets
no.1 for use on the pole or waggler
the best ways to use them
14 | super expander pellets perfect pellets every time
26 | pastes
one-to-one & fibre paste
see the results for yourself
43 | oozing pop ups
a totally new concept in pop ups
42 | floaters
everything you need for surface fishing
41 | hemp & hali crush
rich in oils and feed particles
40 | super carp method mix
for modern day anglers who want to catch more carp
28 | liquid flavours
15 | tins on the cover
boost your bait
new hemp and sweetcorn
39 | hemp ‘n’ hookbaits perfectly prepared tins
29 | flavour shakers
16 | tiger fish
andy findlay’s top tips
developed by tommy pickering
38 | action range
bait that really does bring action
30 | groundbaits
17 | margin carp
adam wakelin’s down the edge winner
Exploding fishmeal feeder & spicy meaty method mix
18 | groundbaits
30 | clothing
Match method & supercrush expander
19 | supercrush green
44 | code red catch gallery
the highest quality crushed koi pellets
shirts, hats & towels
31 | buckets & accessories
buckets, bowls, meat cutter & bait pump
specimen contents
37 | cheesy garlic on the cover phil spinks reveals his winning bait
35 | spicy sausage
ade kiddell explains how he gets the best from the spice
33 | barbel & carp
the best baits range for specimen fishing
32 | oozing barbel & carp pellets to help the fish find the bait /sonubaitscom
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f1
when i’m targeting f1’s using groundbait, i’ll always pick up sonubaits f1
match THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR QUALITY INGREDIENTS WHICH ARE PROVEN TO CATCH FISH. FROM NEW PRODUCTS TO CLASSIC BEST SELLERS, YOU’LL FIND ALL YOU NEED HERE
tommy pickering
Catching big weights of F1’s or Skimmers is something that comes naturally to Tommy Pickering. Here’s why he thinks the F1 range is so good… F1 has been one of my favourite flavours for a couple of years now. The sweet smell is adored by fish, and the wide range of baits allows me to fish a whole host of methods. I’m going to run through a few of the different baits in the range and why I use them. The groundbait is what I use the most. It has a multitude of uses, for catching F1’s
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up in the water, to fishing for shy-biting skimmers in the cooler months. When I’m targeting F1’s using groundbait I’ll always pick up Sonubaits F1 Green. The F1 Green Groundbait is new for 2014. I’ve been testing this groundbait with huge success. Some venues respond much better to green coloured groundbait – this is where the F1 Green can give you the edge needed to win matches. The sweet taste and fishmeal @Sonubaits
f1
F1
base is the perfect attractor for these fish. If I’m fishing shallow at shorter ranges I like to really overwet the groundbait, creating slop. When you flick this over your shallow line the slop creates a fish attracting sound, along with cloud of smell that hangs in the water column. The only real food item is your hookbait; a 6mm F1 Feed Pellet. There’s no denying that fish love pellets. They are easily digestible, and good for the fish – not forgetting that they make a brilliant bait. When I need to fish shallow at longer distances by pinging pellets, the F1 Feed Pellets are the perfect choice. These pellets smell so good that you could eat them, and where allowed they definitely give you an edge over people using standard coarse pellets.
baits and give you an edge. For fishing with pellets shallow, I like to pour a helping of the F1 Liquid over the dry pellets, giving them a coating of the irresistible sweet liquid. With the development of commercial fisheries, more and more pellets, and fishmeal based baits are being used instead of the more traditional cereal based baits when targeting skimmers. Without using any fishmeal based baits; you run the risk of not doing enough to tempt the fish to your peg. This can spell disaster in a match.
The first bait I reach for is the F1 Green groundbait. This light fluffy mix contains a mixture of fishmeal, finely crushed pellets and the all-important sweet flavouring that skimmers adore. By simply adding 2 pints of water to the 2kg bag, mixing thoroughly and riddling the groundbait you’ll create Where you can’t use F1 Feed Pellets and have to purchase the fishery’s own, there are a simple easy to use groundbait for any a few little hints and tips that can boost your skimmer fishing. If I need the mix to hold more particles, such as dead maggots or casters and be balled into the swim; simply add a little bit more water to the mix. When fishing in the depths of winter or on natural, clear venues I’ll swap the F1 Green Groundbait for F1 Dark. This black mix makes the fish feed more confidently on the bottom in clearer venues without spooking fish from your peg. I’ll either fish a dead maggot or an F1 Soft Hooker Pellet over the top of the groundbait. /sonubaitscom
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F1 available in » » Supercrush Groundbait » » Dark Supercrush Groundbait » » Green Supercrush Groundbait NEW! » » Flavour Shaker » » Liquid Flavour » » ONE-to-ONE Paste » » Fibre Paste » » Band’ums » » S-Pellets (6 & 8mm) » » Soft Hooker Pellets (4, 6 & 8mm) » » Feed Pellets (2, 4 & 6mm)
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krill
Krill 4mm Pellets are my first choice when fishing to islands on snake lakes des shipp
a view to a
KRILL available in
krill
You only need to look at catch reports in Angling magazines to see how effective Krill baits are. Des Shipp explains why Krill is always in his bait bag.
The Sonubaits Krill range has been possibly the best bait I’ve used over the past couple of years and it’s sure to be my number one choice for years to come. This small shrimp like animal is the main food source for many species of fish all over the world and when used in groundbait, pellets and liquids it can transform your average catches into match-winning catches. The Krill groundbait is hugely versatile; it can be used for cupping in on the pole, moulded onto a Method feeder, - 6 - sonubaits.com 2014
or even used as a carrier for lots of particles such as corn, maggots or casters. I add a big squirt of Krill Liquid to the water I’m using to mix my groundbait. This gives it a little edge over other anglers using purely lake water to mix their bait. The feed pellets are the perfect size and shape for pole fishing. The 2mm and 4mm pellets are irresistible to small carp, bream and tench. The 6mm Krill Feed Pellets also make great baits for fishing shallow. Their dense nature makes lots of sound
when it hits the water and they are very visible in even the most coloured water. The new Krill Corn is deadly when fished over a bed of Krill Groundbait. I like to start with three balls of groundbait and half a cup full of Krill Corn. This lays a super fishy bed of bait down that no fish could pass by.
» » Supercrush Groundbait » » Flavour Shaker » » Liquid Flavour » » ONE-to-ONE Paste » » Fibre Paste » » Band’ums » » Semi-Buoyant Band’ums » » S-Pellets (6 & 8mm) » » Soft Hooker Pellets (4, 6 & 8mm) » » Drilled Boilies (8 & 10mm) » » Mixed Method Boilies » » Semi-Buoyant Oozing Boilies (8mm) » » Paste Pellets » » Pellet O’s (8 & 12mm) » » Feed Pellets (2, 4 & 6mm) » » Krill Corn NEW! » » Hemp + Krill NEW!
Make sure you try Sonubaits Krill this year; I’m sure you’ll agree about how effective it is when the scales arrive! @Sonubaits
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How we make the perfect krill groundbait
Our best selling Krill groundbait contains four main ingredients - three types of pellet, unique to Sonubaits, and a krill powder, each one contributing to the final winning combination
Hundreds of tonnes of pellets are held in stock. Lowoil, floating pellets are a favourite as they are high in attraction, easy to mill and produce a soft, fluffy texture
Fresh krill meal is shipped directly from Norway. For environmental reasons, each bag carries the name of the ship and date when the crustaceans were caught
Each ingredient is weighed out separately, then tipped into a giant hopper attached to an auger with a massive internal screw to mix them together
The mix is then ground up, steel teeth rotate slowly, milling the ingredients and pushing them through a sieve
The mesh sieve size dictates how fine the crumb and particles are, the sieves vary from 1mm to 11mm. Krill is produced using a fine 2.5mm sieve
The milled ingredients are then transferred into a blending machine and krill powder is added. It takes about 20 minutes and ensures uniformity of batches
The groundbait is then transferred to tote bags. Small product runs ensures that the groundbait is always fresh and made to the same high quality
Labels are then added to the bags, before the groundbait is weighed in, bagged up and heat-sealed
The groundbait bags are now ready to send out to tackle shops. In the last year we sold in excess of 44 tonnes of Supercrush Krill alone!
/sonubaitscom
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bag up on bream
I like to use Sonubaits Corn on the hook when bream fishing, I keep mine covered in neat Bream Feeder Liquid. The extra flavour is actively hunted out by the Bream tommy Pickering
bag up on
bream
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@Sonubaits
bag up on bream
How to Create Tommy’s ultimate Bream Feeder Mix
If there’s any angler qualified to talk about baits for bream its England Feeder Team manager, Tommy Pickering. Here’s what he uses to bag up on bream Feeder fishing for bream is one of my favourite tactics, and I’ve spent many years trying to get an edge over the anglers that I fish against. One way I found that puts a big increase on my catches was the bait. After working with Ian Day at Sonubaits we came up with what I believe to be the ultimate bream groundbait – Bream Feeder. Other bream groundbaits weren’t right, and most had been the same for many years, so a modern bream mix was the way forward. The colour was a big part of this groundbait, yellow seems to be a really effective colour for targeting bream. The bait is very easy for the fish to spot on the bottom, and once the hookbait is presented over the top it makes it very easy to see. The flavour and smell of this groundbait is incredible, the buttery sweetcorn smell and hint of fishmeal smells good enough to eat and the fish love it too. During the development we tested various levels of fishmeal and other flavours before settling on what we thought was the most effective mix. The groundbait is hugely versatile, you can use it in more traditional style feeders such as an Open End Feeder, Distance Cage or Dutchmaster Bullet Feeder, or it can even be moulded around a Method Feeder. When there’s a large shoal of bream in your peg, line /sonubaitscom
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bites can be a real problem, a lot of the time the activity of the fish wafts the light groundbait up in the water and spreads it over a large area. We’ve made sure this happens less with Bream Feeder. Using a variety of different ingredients that settle back onto the bottom very quickly, stopping bait spreading everywhere and creating problems, reducing the amount of false pulls on the tip from fish knocking the line. Mixing Bream Feeder is easy; follow my simple step-by-step guide and you’ll have the mix perfected in no-time. As soon as you get to your peg you should mix your groundbait, it’s important to give the bait time to settle and allow the water to fully absorb into the particles in the mix. Without letting it settle you may start fishing with overwet stodge, or groundbait that is too dry and you don’t want to waste valuable time adjusting the groundbait.
Empty a bag of Bream Feeder into a Sonubaits Bucket
Fill a 2 pint bait tub full of lake water
Squirt a good amount of Bream Feeder Liquid into the lake water
Slowly add the water while vigorously mixing the groundbait
Leave the groundbait to settle for 20-30 minutes
Using a riddle, remove any lumps from the groundbait
If you wish, add some particles such as maggots or corn to the groundbait at this point
The end result should be a buttery sweet smelling mix, ready to catch some fish
Bream feeder available in » » Groundbait » » Liquid
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salted nut crush
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The mix of roasted nuts, fishmeal and salt makes it irresistable when used in conjunction with the matching flavoured band’ums andy findlay
nuts
Andy Findlay explains why Salted Nut Crush is number one for catching carp Carp love nuts! It’s well documented, have a flick through any carp books and you’ll see countless references to carp that have been caught on all manner of different nut baits. I’ve been using nut based groundbait for a number of years with great success and there’s one reason why – it catches big fish! The blend of nut flours in this mix has been tested and tweaked until we felt that the carp really wanted this groundbait as soon as it entered the water. The addition of salt enhances the flavours, just like a chef would add salt to season the food they are cooking, maximising the indredients to their full potential. When I head to a venue with a good stock of bigger carp, this groundbait always comes up trumps. It seems to catch the bigger fish every time. The unique nutty - 10 - sonubaits.com 2014
aroma of this groundbait will make you want to eat it! The slightly sticky mix is perfect for moulding around a Method feeder. By simply adding 2 pints of water to a full 2kg bag of Salted Nut Crush Groundbait, leaving for 20 minutes and then passing through a riddle you should have perfectly mixed groundbait. With a good firm press the bait will withstand some huge casts and stick around a Method feeder until it touches the bottom where the fish are waiting. Its heavy particles also stop the bait wafting around and disappearing when a few big carp enter the swim, keeping them concentrated around your hookbait for longer. Couple this with a matching Semi-Buoyant Band’um for the ultimate Method feeder combo. Mixed slightly drier, it makes the perfect groundbait for cupping in, and it can hold big particles such as corn when targeting big carp on the pole.
Salted nut crush available in »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
Supercrush Groundbait Flavour Shaker Liquid Flavour ONE-to-ONE Paste Fibre Paste Band’ums Semi-Buoyant Band’ums Soft Hooker Pellets (4, 6 & 8mm) Feed Pellets (2, 4 & 6mm)
@Sonubaits
50:50 method:paste
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50:50 method:paste available in » » original » » natural
The Method feeder is possibly the most widely used feeder technique in the country. It’s easy to use, and effective, but how many times are you missing bites? A couple of years ago, while fishing the Method I was getting a few pulls on the rod tip but they were not materialising into a proper bite. Once this had happened, the tip was motionless and this led me to thinking that all the bait had been dislodged from the feeder, so I needed to come up with a groundbait which would withstand the initial attention of the fish and keep the bait on the feeder long enough for the fish to take the hookbait. This lead to the concept of a new harder, stickier method mix groundbait for venues where this occurs. This is how 50:50 Method:Paste was created. The high pellet content creates a very sticky groundbait that can be compressed, hard onto the feeder. This means it will withstand the impact of casting and also the carp knocking the feeder, so you can fish knowing that the groundbait is still on. It is not just a bait for the Method as the name suggests. The high fishmeal and pellet content lends itself perfectly to creating paste for the pole. Whether you prefer a sloppy or stiffer paste mix, both can be created from this bag, by simply adding more water. The 2kg bags allow for both paste and a groundbait mix to be made from just one bag! The versatility of this groundbait means I always have a bag or two with me as it covers a multitude of venues where Method or Paste fishing is going to be the tactic that will win the match. After the success of 50:50 Method:Paste Green there is now a lighter coloured Natural version. Some waters respond better to a lighter brown coloured mix and this ticks all the boxes! Don’t lose out on fish due to finicky bites – Try the 50:50 Method:Paste Groundbaits and start winning more matches. /sonubaitscom
50:50 the versatility of these groundbaits means I always have a bag with me Des shipp
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perfect feed pellets
perfect feed
pellets We’ve enlisted the expertise of Andy Findlay, the brains behind the Flatbed Method feeder, Pellet Feeder, Banjo Feeder and the Pellet Cone to explain why, and how you need to be using Fin Perfect Feed Pellets this year.
When planning a trip to your local fishery, the chances are that you’ll have some form of pellet bait packed into your bag ready to go. Pellets are possibly the most commonly used bait by anglers, they have a huge number of uses, they can be stored for much longer periods of time than natural baits and most importantly of all – the fish love them. Fin Perfect Feed Pellets are the first choice of many top anglers, including myself, and with a list of uses as long as your arm you’d be silly not to use them. Here’s just a few examples of why and when you should be using them.
on the method
pellet feeder perfection
play the banjo
Possibly the most commonly used feeder of all is the Method Feeder, since the introduction of the Flat Method Feeder and Mould, the popularity of this method has increased massively, due to the ease of attaching your bait to the feeder. Pellets can give you a real edge on the Method Feeder. Sometimes the fish just won’t respond to groundbait and using softened pellets is the best way to get them feeding. 2mm Fin Perfect Feed Pellets are the perfect choice for the Method. They sit perfectly onto the frame of the Method, creating an aerodynamic pile of feed. By preparing these pellets with the use of Stiki Pellet, they will withstand longer casts, and stay on the feeder until it hits the bottom.
As the name suggests, pellets are the perfect bait for using with a Pellet Feeder or new Sticky Pellet Feeder. When I designed the first pellet feeders I wanted it so that the carp can only get at the feeder one way, this is the perfect tactic for when there are a lot of fish in your peg as it really concentrates them into the feeder. The enclosed frame of the Pellet Feeder allows you to use bigger pellets, without the fear of them coming off on the cast. By using bigger 4mm Fin Perfect Feed Pellets in the feeder you can really get the fish going and a 6mm Fin Perfect Feed Pellet makes the ideal hookbait for the Pellet Feeder. By covering your 4mm pellets for 3-4 minutes, draining off the water, and allowing them to absorb the water you should have lovely soft pellets that will stay packed into the feeder on the cast.
In the cooler months, the Banjo Feeder can be a devastating tactic, when the fish don’t need large amounts of bait. By simply pressing pellets into the feeder with your palm you can create a compact mouthful of bait, just the thing to catch a cool water fish. 1mm Fin Perfect Feed Pellets are just the job for the Banjo Feeder, their small size allows them to fill any gaps in the feeder and keep the hookbait in the feeder during the cast. When the 1mm’s break down on the bottom they create a pile of feed that is very attractive, but carries little feed to fill up the fish. The Banjo feeder’s side wall gives added protection to your bait when it hits the water. With a Method feeder, the impact can break off bits of pellets, acceptable in the warmer months, but not when its cooler.
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@Sonubaits
perfect feed pellets
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fin perfect feed pellets available in »» »» »» »» »»
1mm 2mm 4mm 6mm 8mm
flavoured feed pellets available in »» »» »» »»
How to mix the perfect stiki pellets
f1 (2, 4 & 6mm) krill (2, 4 & 6mm) salted nut crush (2, 4 & 6mm) tiger fish (2, 4 & 6mm)
Stiki Pellet A powdered additive which makes softened pellets stickier Treated pellets are easier to put onto a Method feeder and will withstand the impact of a cast, but still break away from the feeder when it lands on the bottom.
Empty a bag of 2mm Fin Perfect Feed Pellets into a bait tub
Using the spoon provided, add 10 spoonfuls of water to the pellets
Stir the pellets to give them an even coating of water
Add one spoonful of Stiki Pellet to the pellets
Mix thoroughly and allow them to absorb the powder and water
After 10 minutes the pellets will be perfect and ready to use
/sonubaitscom
The more Stiki Pellet you add the stickier they become.
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Super expander pellets
Super Expander Pellets perfect hookable pellets every time
super expander pellets available in » » 4mm » » 6mm
Quickly and conveniently prepared in a pellet pump these Super Expander Pellets create the perfect soft pellet every time. They can easily be coloured or flavoured by adding any of the Sonubaits range of flavours or a food colouring to the water in the pump. They are equally effective as loose feed or on the hook. Unlike many expanders, Super Expander Pellets also keep their shape well and are the perfect hookbait for carp, tench, bream and crucians. Most people struggle with keeping expander pellets on the hook, but by following these simple steps below it will become a thing of the past and you’ll spend more time with a bait in the right spot, or playing more fish! Don’t worry about trying to remember it all – it’s also printed on the bag!
How to Make the perfect expander pellets
Place the required pellets in a bait pump and fill with water
Pump pellets and leave for 30 seconds before releasing valve
Pellets should sink, if not repeat previous stage
Pour off most of the water so it just covers the pellets
Pour pellets and remaining water into a bag and knot so there is no air
Leave for 30 minutes and they will be ready
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@Sonubaits
tins
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hemp tins available in »» »» »» »»
Natural Hemp Hemp + Chilli Hemp + Garlic Hemp + Krill
Hemp Tins
Sweetcorn Tins
Ready to use, perfectly cooked hemp
Perfect for hooking and feeding
Selected Hemp seed and our special cooking process ensures none of the natural oils, sugars or attractants are lost giving you perfectly cooked; ready to use hemp. Hemp has always been a fantastic bait and can be used by itself or mixed with any groundbait or pellet to create a feeding area which holds fish for longer as they grub around to pick up all the seeds. Hemp with the addition of chilli flakes has also been a favourite for many years amongst carp anglers, the spicy taste can often trigger an intense feeding reaction.
High grade sweetcorn, perfect for fishing and selected for its size, texture and taste. The ideal bait for hooking and feeding. Suitable for all species of coarse fish, with four colours and flavours there is a corn to suit every fishing situation.
sweetcorn tins available in »» »» »» »»
Natural Corn Krill Corn Scopex Corn Strawberry Corn
Hemp with the addition of crushed garlic is perfect for barbel anglers looking to introduce a bed of feed on a river which creates a strong flavour trail through the swim pulling fish towards the baited area. Hemp with the addition of Krill is perfect for all species of fish, especially on heavily fished venues where the fish have a liking for fishmeal baits and particles.
I mix chilli hemp with natural corn for a perfect big carp feed tommy Pickering
/sonubaitscom
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tiger fish
tiger fish groundbait is perfect for cupping in loose down the margins when after big carp lee kerry
tiger fish available in »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
Supercrush Groundbait Flavour Shaker Liquid Flavour ONE-to-ONE Paste Fibre Paste Band’ums S-Pellets (6 & 8mm) Soft Hooker Pellets (4, 6 & 8mm) Feed Pellets (2, 4 & 6mm)
easy
Tiger Fish is a mix developed by Tommy Pickering; it is a blend of Tiger Nuts, pellets and fishmeals designed primarily for carp It’s a sweet-smelling mix that came about after various discussions and observations from specimen carp fishermen, who were all convinced about Tiger Nuts and their effectiveness. As the Tiger Nuts are crushed it releases the natural sugars and oils which are what the fish want. The Tiger Fish combination has been phenomenal and won various matches around the UK. It’s great for carp, bream and even F1s. Tiger Fish groundbait is best mixed overdamp for Method feeder work, but works just as well mixed normally for general
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feeder and pole work. Try adding Tiger Fish liquid, or Tiger Fish Flavour Shaker to the dry groundbait to give it an extra boost. It is easily mixed on the bank, by simply adding 2 pints of water to a 2kg bag. Make sure you mix the bait thoroughly to distribute the water through the mix. All that you need to do then is give the bait half an hour to soak in the water fully, pass it through a riddle and you’re ready to fish. Matching your hookbait to the Tiger Fish Groundbait is easy with the S-Pellets, Soft Hooker Pellets or Band’ums. @Sonubaits
margin carp
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Margin Carp a new mix designed for catching lumps down the edge We all know that a match can be won or lost in the last hour as the often bigger fish move to the edge and start feeding confidently, this is why it is so important not to neglect the margins. Carp are attracted to groundbait and they will come in and feed confidently if the area is primed. The problem with this is if you have a couple of fish with their heads down and their tails up, then very quickly this groundbait can be disturbed and cloud up in the water. It is often pushed out into open water, making the feeding fish harder to catch as they will not be feeding on the bottom in a tight compact area. Bearing this in mind it is important to use the right groundbait, and because of this need, Margin Carp was born. A mix was wanted which could be used straight from the bag for feeding down the edge, it had to have plenty of small but heavy particles in it so as when they are disturbed by feeding fish or a hooked carp they don’t move far and drop straight back down keeping the area tight and leaving plenty of food for the other carp to feed on so keeping them in the swim. It is important that the size of the particle is fairly small otherwise the fish can move in and fill up on the large particles and move on before having a chance to catch them. With the wakelin small sizes of crushed particles it makes a great noise when it is cupped in loose from a height, also creating cloud in the swim as it drops through.
I like to mix it as soon as I get to my peg, it allows more time to absorb water and become heavier adam
down the
edge /sonubaitscom
The best ingredients for this are different seeds but it also had to have dense crushed fishmeal pellets in to attract the carp, the seeds had to be crushed to allow them to soak up water quickly when mixed as a groundbait and make them heavier to keep them on the bottom when stirred up by feeding fish. The seeds used are de-hulled as this removes the shell which makes them soak up water more easily and because the light shell has been removed it makes them much heavier, perfect for fishing margins. The colour of the groundbait had to be fairly neutral to match the bottom of most lakes with a few bits of colour added to generate interest and keep the carp grubbing around. - 17 -
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match method mix & supercrush expander
perfect
match Match Method Mix
Match Method Mix Dark
The ultimate pellet based Match Method Mix for use on commercial fisheries
A dark version, The groundbait mixes and performs exactly the same as the original
Designed for use by the modern match angler who wants to fish the Method on commercial match venues with confidence. With full, easy to follow mixing instructions on the pack it is simple to create the exact mix that Michael Buchwalder and Neil McKinnon use. The mix is based on the highest quality pellets and fishmeals available. Its consistency is such that it stays on the feeder through the cast and impact with the water. Once the feeder has hit the bottom it breaks down quickly, building up the swim and keeping the fish there without overfeeding them.
The darker colour offers an edge when fishing in shallow water or up to features such as islands or far marginal edges, as fish are less wary of dark groundbaits in clear water as it allows them to settle. This also makes it a good winter mix. The particles attract the fish into the area creating competition without overfeeding them. Free in both bags is a Preston Innovations Inline Flat Method Feeder. The groundbait performs perfectly with this set up and because of the streamlined shape of the feeder, accurate casting is much easier.
FREE INSIDe
Supercrush Expander
Add some Stiki Pellet to make the mix stickier. A great tip when fishing with a Method Feeder - 18 - sonubaits.com 2014
crushed expanders create a base of an extremely effective groundbait This mix can be used as a light fluffy mix or even an inactive, heavier mix by adding more water. It doesn’t fill fish up due to being very light. Great for using on a Method Feeder in shallow water, on the pole, or even mixed up sloppy and cupped in to create a fish-attracting cloud. @Sonubaits
supercrush green
match
GO
green r e l l e s best supercrush green available in »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
Supercrush Groundbait Liquid Flavour ONE-to-ONE Paste Fibre Paste Band’ums Paste Pellets Soft Hooker Pellets (4, 6 & 8mm)
Supercrush Green Made from the highest quality crushed Koi pellets and added attractors Designed as an all-round groundbait for anglers targeting anything from carp to big bream or even skimmers, tench and F1’s. It can be used in various different ways depending on the fishing situation. Mixed on the dryer side, Supercrush Green makes the perfect feed for Skimmers and F1’s, or for shallow water. The groundbait breaks down and creates a spread of bait for the fish to feed confidently on. With a little bit more water, the Supercrush Green Groundbait becomes even stickier, forming a brilliant Method Feeder mix that will reach the bottom. The fine particles break down evenly on the bottom creating a fish attracting feeding zone. The high crushed pellet content makes it the perfect option for venues that are dominated by anglers fishing with pellets.
/sonubaitscom
A good helping of Supercrush green liquid Flavour gives my groundbait an edge Neil McKinnon - 19 -
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understanding bait buoyancy
understanding
bait buoyancy
With carp becoming bigger and wiser, match anglers are having to think of different ways to put more fish in the net. Des Shipp believes that hookbait buoyancy can play a huge part in winning more matches.
band’ums available in »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
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F1 Krill Pineapple Salted Nut Crush Strawberry Supercrush Green Tiger Fish White Chocolate
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understanding bait buoyancy
semi-buoyant band’ums available in »» »» »» »» »»
Krill Pineapple Salted Nut Crush Strawberry White Chocolate
match
The past couple of years have seen a shift in the tactics that angler’s use to target commercial carp. Much like the introduction and widespread use of pellets, these carp soon become wise to certain tactics used by anglers. With some fisheries holding three or even four matches per week, the fish soon switch off; this is where a change can work to your advantage.
Why Buoyancy? From speaking to friends that are carp anglers and having watched carp angling DVD’s, carp fishermen are obsessed about the buoyancy of their hookbaits. They target very pressured fish which see lots of the same baits, day in day out, and the anglers have had to adapt to try and trick these fish. This is becoming much the same on commercial fisheries. Now, using a hookbait to balance out the weight of a size 14 PR C1 hook might sound absurd – it’s not! We all fish matches to win; it’s the main aim of the game. To do that you need to get the fish to pick up your hookbait and the hook to catch hold, in turn that will lead to more fish in the net, and more money in your back pocket. So surely making the hookbait the first thing to enter a carp’s mouth should be top priority!
Critically balanced After a few lengthy chats with bait guru, Ian Day at Sonubaits I managed to get some some small semi-buoyant hookbaits made to use on my next few trips. Eventually after a couple of small tweaks and great success we had a finished product - Semi-Buoyant Band’ums.
makes a hookbait that will only just float when dropped in water, attach it to a hooklength however and you have a critically balanced hookbait des shipp
Similar in shape to the original Sinking Band’ums, these little beauties are made from a different mix than bottom baits. Created using both pop-up mix and standard bottom bait mix this makes a hookbait that will only just float when dropped into the water, attach it to a hooklength however and you have a critically balanced hookbait. By attaching the Semi-Buoyant Band’um to your hooklength it will sit just above a Method feeder, Banjo feeder, or Pellet feeder primed and perfectly placed. It’s the first thing that the carp will see, and because it is virtually weightless, will be the first item sucked into the unsuspecting carp’s mouth. Fish on!
Bottom Baits From what I’ve said about buoyancy already, you might think I’ve gone buoyant bait crazy but don’t get me wrong, I do believe that standard baits still play a huge part in commercial fishing. When fishing venues with lots of F1’s, Method feeder fishing can get very frustrating; a few short taps on the rod tip, with no bite forthcoming can often trick anglers. So, by using a very sticky groundbait such as Sonubaits 50:50 Natural you can almost weld the bait to the feeder, making it hard for the finicky F1’s to ruin your presentation. In this situation the sinking Band’um or other hookbaits such as a Drilled Boilie or 6mm Pellet are much more effective; they stay in place whilst the F1’s are attacking the feed close to the feeder. You don’t have to use them straight out of the tub either. Giving them a light covering of liquid flavour will give them an extra boost.
/sonubaitscom
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boilies
Drilled Boilies drilled boilies available in
make hair rigging a boilie quick and simple
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Each pot is supplied with two free Korum Quickstops on hook hairs, a Korum Quickstop Needle and enough boilies for a few good sessions catching plenty of fish. Boilies are usually hair rigged and often when putting a baiting needle through them they will split or fracture causing them to be weak and come off the hair. At Sonubaits we have eliminated that problem by predrilling the boilies for you, making them easier to use.
Krill (8 & 10mm) Pineapple (8 & 10mm) Tutti Frutti (8 & 10mm) White Chocolate (8 & 10mm)
Mixed Method Boilies perfect hookbaits for Method Feeder Fishing Their durable structure makes them perfect for hair rigging or using with a bayonet. Because of their durability they are also ideal for use on the straight lead or bagging waggler. Their strong fluoro colours make them the perfect hookbait which feeding fish pick out.
mixed method boilies available in »» »» »» »»
Krill Pineapple Tutti Frutti White Chocolate
Each pack contains both 8mm and 10mm hand rolled baits, so the quality of them is second to none.
Semi-Buoyant Oozing Boilies A new concept in match fishing watch g zin h t e ooonline effects
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8mm semi-Buoyant oozing boilies available in » » Krill » » Pineapple » » Tutti Frutti
They are filled with high leakage feeding stimulators which creates a mist of attraction directly around the hookbait, and because they are buoyant the mist of feeding attraction that drops from the bait settles around the feeder. Their tough, durable texture makes them perfect for hair rigging or used with a bayonet. @Sonubaits
pellet o’s & paste pellets
match
pellet o’s available in »» »» »» »»
Crab (8 & 12mm) Halibut (8 & 12mm) Krill (8 & 12mm) Spicy Sausage (8 & 12mm)
Pellet O’s pre drilled hookbait pellets available in four flavours Each tub contains enough hookbaits for a good number of sessions and also contains two free Korum Quickstops pre tied on barbless hooks and a Quickstop needle so the hook can just be tied on and they are ready to be used. These have been very successful for carp and barbel.
a great carp hookbait andy power
paste pellets available in »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
/sonubaitscom
Bacon Grill Catmeat Fishmeal Halibut Krill Supercrush Green White Fish
Paste Pellets all the properties of paste but in a pellet hey can be T squeezed and moulded to any shape required, and wrapped round baits and because they are made from paste they are easy to hook or hair rig.
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s-pellets
S-Pellet Feed
S-Pellets
perfectly matches s-pellets
with rod-and-line in mind
Available in 2mm and 4mm, S-Pellet Feed is packed full of fish oils and fishmeal, just what the fish love!
S-Pellets have a tougher texture than Super Expanders or Soft Hooker Pellets. They can be cast out using a feeder, bomb or waggler and reeled in on more than one occasion and still be as effective as the moment you hooked it.
Great for use on Method Feeders, through a cage feeder, in a PVA bag or even thrown in by hand around a waggler, they are guaranteed to pull fish into your peg.
s-pellets are the perfect texture for hair rigging or using with a quickstop
The nutritionally balanced pellets are packed full of oil containing some of the best fish-attracting flavours that you can buy. Designed specifically to pull fish into your swim and trigger an aggressive feeding response, S-Pellets can be directly hooked or hair-rigged to suit your presentation. Whether you’re using S-Pellet Feed, F1 Pellets, Tiger Fish Pellets or even Krill Pellets you can match your hookbait to the feed that you’re using. A sure way to gain the fish’s confidence.
andy findlay
s-pellets available in »» »» »» »» »» »»
Crab & Mussel (6, 8 & 11mm) F1 (6 & 8mm) Krill (6 & 8mm) Original (6, 8 & 11mm) Strawberry (6, 8 & 11mm) Tiger Fish (6 & 8mm)
s-pellet feed available in » » 2mm » » 4mm
Hali Hookers 50% more fish oil than a standard halibut pellet Hali Hookers are suitable to be hooked or hair rigged without the need for drilling. Loaded with a secret blend of fish-friendly attractants and light and heavy fish oils.
s-pecial - 24 - sonubaits.com 2014
hali hookers available in » » 6mm » » 8mm » » 11mm
@Sonubaits
soft hooker pellets
match
perfect for carp, skimmers, f1’s and bream as they are full of attractants which leak into the water des shipp
soft hooker pellets available in »» »» »» »» »» »»
/sonubaitscom
F1 (4, 6 & 8mm) Fishmeal (4, 6 & 8mm) Krill (4, 6 & 8mm) Salted Nut Crush (4, 6 & 8mm) Supercrush Green (4, 6 & 8mm) Tiger Fish (4, 6 & 8mm)
hook ‘em
Soft Hooker Pellets
Number one pellets for use on the pole or waggler These soft textured pellets go through a unique manufacturing process, so that we can ensure that the pellets are consistently perfect without going mushy or drying out and crumbling. There are no chemical preservatives used in the process too! Sonubaits Soft Hooker Pellets have been labelled as the very best ready to use hookable pellet available by anglers such as Des Shipp (England International), Andy Power (UK Champ) and Tommy Pickering (Former World Champion).
These Soft Hooker Pellets can easily be threaded onto your hook, oozing with flavour, then shipped out or cast to your swim. Their soft texture means that the hook will pull through the pellet on the strike, allowing the hook point to penetrate - essential when fishing for skimmers or F1’s. You can also match your Soft Hooker Pellet to your groundbait or feed pellets with the huge range of flavours available. An essential bait bag item that every commercial fishery angler should have. - 25 -
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one-to-one paste
How to mix the perfect one-to-one paste
Take an equal amount of water and paste, and pour them into a bait tub
Mix the paste and water together thoroughly to create a sloppy mix
ONE-to-ONE Paste easy to mix Mixing paste to the correct consistency is something that a lot of anglers struggle with. Either ending up with a bowl of sloppy mess, or a lump of bait that resembles a concrete block.
Leave the paste to stand for 30 minutes to fullly absorb the water
Flatten a pinch of paste, place your hook in, and mould around the hook – you’re ready to fish
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ONE-to-ONE Paste is extremely easy to mix. By simply using the same amount of powdered paste mix and water, pouring them both into a bait tub and mixing thoroughly, you’ll have a perfect tub of paste. This may seem too sloppy when you mix it, but by simply leaving it for 30 minutes to fully absorb the water you will create the perfect paste for fishing on a pole. The best way to use your paste is to take a piece the size of a grape, roll it into a ball, put your thumb in the middle to make an indentation and put the hook in the thumb print. Fold the paste over the hook and mould round it, this is then ready to place in the free Paste Pot included in each bag, on the end of your pole. Designed by Andy Findlay, he recommends that you place a few Fin Perfect Feed Pellets in the bottom of the pot before shipping out to help feed your swim and keep the fish occupied while you are playing fish!
one-to-one paste available in »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
F1 Green Krill Natural Salted Nut Crush Supercrush Green Tiger Fish
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fibre paste
match
Fibre Paste no longer a tactic just for pole fishing Fibre Paste allows the angler to fish with paste on the pole, but also gives you the confidence to use this unique bait on both the Waggler and Feeder. Normally if paste is fished on a rod it has to be made so stiff that it will stay on for the force of the cast, this then means that the hook will not pull through the paste, therefore making hooking fish more difficult.
Use Fibre Paste on the pellet waggler for big carp and watch your catch rate soar! michael
Once you have mixed the paste, make it into a ball and just tear a pinch off and simply hook it on, it does not need to be moulded, buchwalder this way it leaves a rough edged paste unlike any other. Once it is in the water small particles of the paste begin to fall away enticing fish to feed, this also feeds the swim. The paste has a unique texture with a soft and fluffy consistency and is easily presented at distances of over 60 yards.
fibre paste available in »» »» »» »» »» »»
F1 Krill Natural Salted Nut Crush Supercrush Green Tiger Fish
Fibre Paste sinks slowly which means it can be cast on a waggler at cruising fish and it will fall slowly giving more time in the feeding zone. It is a presentation which fish won’t have seen before and therefore will not be able to resist.
How to make the perfect fibre paste
Pour half a bag of Fibre Paste into a bait tub
Add half a pint of water to the Fibre Paste
Mix the Fibre Paste and water together thoroughly
Leave the Fibre Paste to rest for 20 minutes
Pull off the required sized piece of paste
Simply hook it on and cast it out!
/sonubaitscom
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match
liquid flavours
liquid flavours available in
Liquid Flavours add extra flavour to groundbaits, pellets, maggots, meat and corn
»» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »» »»
Bream Feeder CSL F1 Halibut Krill Monster Crab Pineapple Salted Nut Crush Scopex Strawberry Supercrush Green Tiger Fish Tutti Frutti
The Liquid Flavours can be used when preparing bait at home, or on the bank to give your bait an added advantage. Particularly effective on heavily fished match venues, they enhance the bait with a flavour which is highly soluble in water, this disperses from the bait and brings fish to your peg.
How to supercharge your feed pellets
Pour the required amount of pellets into a plastic bag and squirt a small amount of liquid flavour into it
Blow air into the bag and give it a good shake. Allow the pellets to dry for a day, soaking in the liquid
The pellets will have drawn in loads of flavour to give you an edge
How to give your groundbait a boost
Add your dry groundbait to a big Sonubaits Groundbait Bucket, put the required amount of water in a maggot tub
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Add a generous helping of your chosen liquid flavour to the water and mix thoroughly to disperse the flavouring
Add the water bit-by-bit until you reach the desired consistency. Leave to absorb, then riddle the groundbait and you are ready to catch some fish!
@Sonubaits
flavour shaker
match
fin’s top tips for using flavour shakers
shake
Boost your paste hookbaits by adding a matching Flavour Shaker before you mix it
it real good
Dampen your pellets then roll them in Flavour Shaker to give them an irresistible coating
Flavour Shakers enhances groundbaits, pellets and bag mixes With so many anglers using the same baits week in week out, gaining a bit of an edge can help increase your catches and put more fish in the net. Flavour Shakers open up many possibilities to increase the pulling power of the bait you are using, from adding to your groundbaits, or even boosting meat, maggots or pellets. These Flavour Shakers contain huge amounts of pulling power and raw flavour. There’s a huge range of different flavours to try, allowing you to tailor your bait to the species you are fishing for. Grab a pot and get shaking – you’ll definitely see just how good they are.
/sonubaitscom
flavour shakers available in »» »» »» »» »» »»
Cheesy Garlic new! F1 Salted Nut Crush Spicy Sausage Super Krill Tiger Fish
Give yourself an edge by adding a generous helping of Flavour Shaker to your dry groundbait
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exploding fishmeal feeder, spicy meaty method mix & clothing
Exploding Fishmeal Feeder A hemp and fishmeal based groundbait for the modern feeder angler A modern feeder mix which is based on hemp and fishmeal. Due to the particle sizes it explodes out of the feeder providing a perfect feeding area. The speed at which it comes out of the feeder means you can very quickly build a swim with regular casts. Exploding Fishmeal Feeder can be mixed quite dry which means that it will empty from the feeder even more quickly. It can be used as a straight mix or can be used for plugging the ends of your feeder when introducing other baits into the swim.
Clothing Polo shirts The stylish Sonubaits Polo Shirts are perfect for keeping you cool in the warm summer months. They feature an embroidered Sonubaits logo on the front and back and are made from 100% cotton. Available in L, XL & XXL.
Hats The Sonubaits Peaked Cap is essential to cut out the glare from the sun, in both cooler and warmer weathers. Featuring the Sonubaits logo on the front and back, this cap is also adjustable for a comfortable fit. New to the range for 2014 is the Sonubaits Beanie Hat. This black, super-warm beanie will keep your ears toasty on cooler days. It also features a fleece inner strip, for maximum comfort and stops the itching found on other beanie hats! Finished with the Sonubaits logo, this product can be worn on or off the bank.
Towel
Spicy Meaty Method Mix An all-round groundbait perfect for targeting specimen fish such as carp, bream, tench and barbel It can be used in a number of different ways depending on the fishing situation. For use on the Method Feeder simply add 2 pints of water to the bag of groundbait and mix thoroughly, leave this for 45 minutes to allow the groundbait to fully absorb the water and riddle. It is equally suitable for use in cage feeders or can be balled in when mixed slightly dryer. - 30 - sonubaits.com 2014
Measuring 80 x 45cm the smart looking Sonubaits Towel is ideal for wiping fish slime and groundbait from your hands.
Why not send us your catch pictures wearing your Sonubaits Clothing? You might even make it onto the Sonubaits website @Sonubaits
buckets, bowls & accessories
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Spodding & Bucket Set Bagging Buckets Multi-storage The 5 litre Bagging Bucket has a removable tray that clips securely into place, perfect for carrying your bag mix in the bottom and storing pre made PVA bags and rig components in the top.
everything to make consistant groundbait The set contains a mixing bucket, a bowl, a riddle and a lid. The riddle is made of quality metal and the lid is made from a wipe clean material which clips into place under the handles. The lid also has a zip for easy access to the inside. Everything can be carried to the swim mixed and ready.
Groundbait Bowls
The 16 litre Spodding Bucket has a removable inner tray that clips into place, perfect for carrying your spod mix in the bottom and a selection of spods or mixed groundbait in the top.
space savers Ideal for mixing smaller quantities of groundbait, these bowls are easy to store as they don’t take up as much space as a bucket.
groundbait bowls available in » » small » » large
Meat Cutter creates Uniform luncheon meat pieces Cubes meat with ease, giving you perfect regular shaped pieces for hooking and feeding with a catapult.
/sonubaitscom
Bait Pump meat cutters available in » » 8mm » » 10mm
for perfectly prepared expanders or introducing colours and flavours The Bait Pump lid features a vacuum indicator button that shows when the air has been removed and a month/day indicator to show the age of the contents. The pump is also ideal for keeping casters fresh.
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