Keith Sykes explains how to get the best from your favourite particles, and puts to bed some common misconceptions about their use…

1

2

3

4

5

1. Hemp

WHAT WILL IT DO? Probably one of the most popular seed baits. Good-quality hemp will offer a nice visual attraction with its white kernel, and give off a lovely oily plume that will travel up through the water column.

HOW DO YOU USE IT? No question, hemp is a great one-seed fix, but it also works well with tares, and of course, a few grains of sweetcorn, or salty maize, to give it a little additional visual appeal.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE IT? Simply soak for 12–14hrs, then boil, bring to a simmer and cook until the seed splits—with good hemp, this will be after 20–30 minutes. You can spice it up by adding chilli flakes or fenugreek powder. If you are adding rock salt, do so after cooking.

HOW DO YOU LOOK AFTER IT? Hemp is excellent for freezing, and if you use really salty water (saturated), then the hemp is preserved for a time. Fresh hemp seems best; you don’t want the oil to go rancid.

COMMON MYTH… Supposedly, hemp is effective because it mimics water snails; have you ever seen hemp move, or release amino acids?

2. Oat Groats

WHAT WILL THEY DO? An underrated mass bait that can be tailored to specific fishing situations—excellent over silkweed—and you can make it super visual. On the flip side, too much too quickly fills ’em up.