stephenwright97

Well Salokcinnodrog, that really clears up a few things. A clear example of comment by experience. Thanks.

This is a bit of a brainstormer.Good point Newmarket.... Mooseman has got me thinking. His comments have made me think about something else. Maybe we should be boiling our baits in spring water or water from the lake were fishing....no additives and no horrible fluoride or chlorine...

I like your train of thought Mooseman. I have not a clue what happens to the ingredients of the bait when its been submerged in water for two days,chemically react with each other? I cant even begin to think about the other points you make,but they do somehow seem relevant. The main point of washed outs is that they are less associated with danger by Mr carp for obvious reasons.Its that simple. However,I think your right,the whole profile of the bait must change. The reason I soak mine in spring water is to have them absorb all the water they can so that they do not take on the silt flavour I fish in. This works,its not foolproof but its good. I cant remember which carp guru suggested this but it was in an article on washed outs.

One important thing with washed outs is they absorb water. When a new bait goes in it sucks in the smell of the lake bed. That is in itself a problem if the lake has that horrible muddy or silty smell. Reel your baits in on this kind of bottom after a couple of hours and they already have the tinge...Baits that have already been soaked in spring water( not tap it has all sorts in it) have already absorbed what they can hold,so they do not get soaked in the lake bed smell. This could ( i said could) be another edge,baits retaining their flavour. I also think that shallow soaking,with the water flavoured with the bait flavour would reduce attraction loss even further... There again I could be completely wrong, as I say the proof is in the doing not bashing out ideas on a keyboard..

Carp sense of smell is extremely strong. That is why most bait makers use very distinctive flavours and this has worked really well,thats why they sell so much of it. I think we have to consider the way carp feed on boilies, there sense of danger and what they associate with danger around boiled baits. Lets face it, on most carp waters boilies and pellets are like a natural food, the only thing they feed on (apart from particles and other human foodstuffs) that puts a hook in their mouth. So washed outs are end of session foods left over. No lines,no leads,no leaders just bait (unless the swim is permanently occupied and in this case i would never fish it). so going to a water with washed outs to begin with could (i say could) have an edge. I have managed to make washed out fishmeals with robin red and made hook baits using less robin red that mimick the washed outs in colour. Good thing about this they have remained stiffish so dont fall off the hair when cast at distance. The hook baits are balanced using some pop up mix. Going to give it a go on a two day session from tomorrow. All i want is an edge that puts a few more fish on the bank. If I can fish with three rods I will experiment as much as I can with two of them!,its interesting.

I have a sneaky feeling washed outs are very much about texture... It is so different. How long does the average angler stay in a swim? One maybe two nights. Not long enough to tell about using washed outs,especially if the swim is topped up during the session. Best time to use washed outs could be on Mondays and Tuesdays !!

Good point,one that I had not thought of....However, a busy lake will see all sorts of different baits, The texture of washed outs is so different and not associated with danger but your point is very valid and true. If a lake is seeing ten tons of Cell every weekend then washed out Cell would seem to be the answer, or would it?

I have read a couple of interesting articles about the success of washed out baits. The results seem good enough to give them a real good go. Anyone on here tried them? There was an interesting bit about washing out baits and putting them in a soak as normal and then using them...