Bait

Highly buoyant pop-ups made with two complementing flavours and colours to create two-tone, highly attractive hook baits. RRP: £6. 99Contact: 0330 333 4888 or www. dynamitebaits.

Superb boilie hook baits with an outer layer that breaks down quickly, adding another dimension of attraction both visually and with flavour leakage. RRP: £6. 99Contact: 07808 210537 or www. oldghostbait.

Pure liquidised crayfish and silkworm chrysalis, with added amino acids and feeding stimulantsRRP: £8. 29 per 400ml bottleContact: 0300 303 1012 or www. marukyu. co.

Bird-food-based high-attract food baits with a pungent, natural pineapple aromaRRP: £9. 99 per kiloContact: 01527 405410 or www. berkley-fishing. com.

Heavy liquid additives that sink to the bottom, infiltrate the substrate and pump attraction into the areaRRP: £10. 99Contact: 01684 294511 or www. banksidetackle. com.

Winter bait is very important. With fishmeal-based boilies often containing high levels of fish oil, bird-food-based baits are much more digestible and during the winter months the carp will still eat plenty of a good-quality bait. The Berkley Gulp! range of boilie offers many flavours for all times of year but our particular favourite, the Coco and Banana, would make an excellent winter bait. Made from natural ingredients, the sweet coconut aroma mixed with the banana flavour is sure to catch plenty of carp.

I’ve been impressed with these super-buoyant hook baits because they’re well rolled, stay popped-up for ages and smell fabulous. The white colour remains for long periods – a colour that I’ve always thought works well. I’ve had a few fish on them already, including a couple from the river, so I am well sold on these baits so far. RRP: £7.