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TEAM MAINLINE BAIT FAVOURITES – DAVE LANE Posted by Dave Lane

Our Team Mainline anglers reveal their favourite, go to baits...

HOOKBAIT

My hookbait choice has changed a bit over the years but I do have a couple of main ones that I never go angling without. On the pop-up side of things, I love a Milky Toffee white hookbait, I think it fishes perfectly alongside Cell loose feed.

My choice for wafters, which I use a lot on a standard ‘stripped back coated braid rig' would have to be the High Impact Salty Squid, I have caught a ridiculous number of fish on these, including every fish I had from a three year stint on Wraysbury Two.

BOILIE

Again, this has changed over the years and, to be honest, I didn't think I would ever change from the going bait of the era, such as Activ-8 or Grange etc but I have. I used to love the Hybrid and caught so many fish on it, including the Burghfield Common but, as soon as I change lake, I tend to go straight back to The Cell.

It is such a successful bait and so widely used that it has become almost a natural bait for the carp to find in a lot of waters. On K1 for example I couldn't imagine ever trying to fish against it as it dominates that water year after year. In winter, a bucket of chopped cell with Cream Smart Liquid and a dash of Baileys Irish Cream is pretty much the ultimate bait as far I am concerned.

LIQUID

I have used liquids on my baits for many years now and regularly ‘air dry' my main bait and then coat it in liquids. The particle dips, boosted with some Activator of the matching, dedicated flavour, is my go-to method. Not only does it add attraction but also, in summer, it helps keep the bait fresh on longer sessions. In the winter, however, as I have already mentioned, I mix Cream Smart Liquid with a little Baileys and fish this all over my Cell chop mix.

One other liquid that I use a lot is Salmon Oil, especially on floaters but I also add it to a particle mix. I can't imagine trying to fish on the surface in windy conditions without the added benefit of Salmon oil, not only does it flatten the surface off, but the fish just seem to love the taste and it out fishes untreated floaters every single time.

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