carefulcarping Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 I've always bought my boilies from a tackle shop, but really feeling the linch on my wallet, i was told about a bait maker in my area. I went down today to enquirer about how much he sells a kg of pellets for. But when I walk in there was bait everywhere, I felt like a kid in a sweet shop! So after buying me pellets he told me he sells boilies for 6 quid a kg which ain't too bad and whatever flavour I want. But he sells frozen an shelf life, now obviously the stuff in tackle shops are shelf life, I think, because they may of already have being frozen. Anyway, which is better to use? Shelf life or frozen? And why? He also does fresh too, but it's 5kg minimum, and I only use 1-2kg of boilies a session because I don't do any night fishing. Somebody help please! I'm lost in the world of boilies Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studley Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 if you only do short sessions just buy them as you need them, i fish long sessions so i buy in bulk and freeze them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carefulcarping Posted July 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 if you only do short sessions just buy them as you need them, i fish long sessions so i buy in bulk and freeze them. Ok, but by frozen or shelf life as I need them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studley Posted July 20, 2011 Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 just buy shelf life mate, il use shelf life for short sessions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carefulcarping Posted July 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2011 just buy shelf life mate, il use shelf life for short sessions Cheers mate, is there much of a difference between shelf life and frozen or is it easier to keep then fresher on long sessions with frozen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samcfc Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 i think the difference between shelf life and frozen is that a shelf life bait has a preservative so it stays fresh and doesnt need to go in the freezer, and a freezer bait is fresh and better for the fish. (if i am wrong can someone correct me) hope this helps sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 i aint used shelf life bait for years mate, all that preservative in them to me aint good taste, smell or nutritional wise tbh. go and smell the same baits in frozen and shelf and see the difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carefulcarping Posted July 21, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 Right, so were saying frozen are better than shelf life? Next question, (sorry I'm full of them) if I picked up a kilo frozen baits the day before my session and let them defrost over night, will they be ok for the next day? Also, if I took 3 kilo and only used 2 kilo, can you refreeze them? Thanks for all your answers for my previous questions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisesox Posted July 21, 2011 Report Share Posted July 21, 2011 FROZEN You been to Quailty baits then Ross? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carefulcarping Posted July 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 FROZEN You been to Quailty baits then Ross? Yes Chris! I have, bloke who was there was cracking and seemed like a great place! I bought some pellets from there, just done a 48 hour session on the Avon and blanked, obviously don't and the pellets as we all tried everything and couldn't catch, but il be needing to get some boilies soon, and didn't no whether to get shelf life or frozen, but looks like il be getting frozen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salokcinnodrog Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 For years Shelf life were definitely the "poorer" partner in fishing, being mostly attractor baits that were laced up heavily with preservatives as Gaz has said, or even airdried baits being done at home. However since the advent of time in the early 00's, some shelf lifes have come on to be a reasonable food source. With those issues it was best to fish shelfies as basically an attractor, using around 6 or 7 baits around the hookbait; Yet now with those good food baits being available in shelf life form it has taken them onto new levels. Frozen baits were nearly all good food source baits, but keeping milk protein frozen baits fresh and working for a longer session than 2 days was a nightmare. Fishmeals and Birdfoods tended to have a longer bankside life, and when the outside started to turn sticky and develop a white "mould" they were often at their most attractive, and indeed even many baits now are at their best in this state. Shelf lifes still don't have this sticky mould state as they do have preservatives, or even been totally air dried. Some may be sticky as a natural preservative is sugar, but they are unlikely to go off on you, although going rock hard is usual. Me personally although I do occasionally use shelfies, I still prefer frozen baits, I like this 4day stickiness that is when that they are at their most attractive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carefulcarping Posted July 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 For years Shelf life were definitely the "poorer" partner in fishing, being mostly attractor baits that were laced up heavily with preservatives as Gaz has said, or even airdried baits being done at home. However since the advent of time in the early 00's, some shelf lifes have come on to be a reasonable food source.With those issues it was best to fish shelfies as basically an attractor, using around 6 or 7 baits around the hookbait; Yet now with those good food baits being available in shelf life form it has taken them onto new levels. Frozen baits were nearly all good food source baits, but keeping milk protein frozen baits fresh and working for a longer session than 2 days was a nightmare. Fishmeals and Birdfoods tended to have a longer bankside life, and when the outside started to turn sticky and develop a white "mould" they were often at their most attractive, and indeed even many baits now are at their best in this state. Shelf lifes still don't have this sticky mould state as they do have preservatives, or even been totally air dried. Some may be sticky as a natural preservative is sugar, but they are unlikely to go off on you, although going rock hard is usual. Me personally although I do occasionally use shelfies, I still prefer frozen baits, I like this 4day stickiness that is when that they are at their most attractive. You are full of knowledge! Thanks again for another helpful answer! It looks like frozen are the way forward in life! I look forward to trying some out next week, goodbye shelf life's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgart Posted July 24, 2011 Report Share Posted July 24, 2011 if I had a large refridgerator at home I would personally love to go for freezerbaits. But I dont Anyone has any good tip on how you convince your other half why you need a very large and bulky refridgerator that she will most likely not even use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted July 25, 2011 Report Share Posted July 25, 2011 You live in Norway, can't you just keep them in the garden? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hnv Posted August 19, 2011 Report Share Posted August 19, 2011 The difference between a shelf-life bait and a freezer bait of the same type is huge. Shelf-lifes are loaded with various preservatives and often contain elevated levels of attractors and flavours. The smell, texture, palatability and overall quality of frozen baits is far superior to the equivalent shelf-life version. Shelf-life readymades do have their uses but I prefer fresh frozen baits every time (I even prefer air dried bait to shelfies). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattyslost Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Frozen over shelf everyday!! Shelf life are full of preservs and are not a great option for the fish. Even if you are foing short sessions buy 5kg frozen and then take what you need. I will never go back to shelf life boilies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carefulcarping Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Frozen over shelf everyday!! Shelf life are full of preservs and are not a great option for the fish. Even if you are foing short sessions buy 5kg frozen and then take what you need. I will never go back to shelf life boilies Cheers, since making this thread, i have used only frozen boilies, which has consequently upped my catch rate, also i can get them cheaper than going to a tackle shop for tenna a bag of shelf lifes. Cheers again to everyone who posted on here and helped me. Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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