Crayfish-proof boilie hookbaits
If you have a crayfish problem on your chosen fishing lake, they can be an absolute nightmare.
I started making my own crayfish-proof boilie hookbaits, as artificial baits are banned on my syndicate.
The boilies will certainly not stop those crayfish, but they will slow them down.
The hookbaits are rolled to 24mm with added egg albumin, then air-dried so they are rock hard.
This makes hard work for the crayfish to whittle down and buys some time to stay fishing for those carp. Definitely an edge in my book, and you get to use real bait.
I use my own basemix, which is a birdfood-type bait that will be in the free offerings as well. Completely match the hatch, which I add 20% egg albumin to the dry basemix and mix well.
I also stick to fruit flavours rather than fishy flavours. I do believe the crayfish will react more to fishmeals and fish flavours, etc.
Like I said, it’s about slowing those crays down. You will not stop them!
Making Your Crayfish-Proof Boilies
Crack your chosen amount of eggs in a large bowl. I tend to use 3 large eggs because I’m making 24mm boilies; it soon will use up that mixture!
I then add the chosen flavours, which are fruit flavours and sweetener, and a teaspoon of fruit powder, all at manufacturer’s recommended levels. (Please read the bottle’s guidelines or check their websites for more information.)
A little salmon oil to help rolling, in this case 10ml to the 3-egg mix.
Next step, using a spoon, add some boilie basemix gradually and stir it in the mixing bowl with a fork. The idea is to let the mixture blend nicely with the flavours evenly. Keep adding the basemix until you can no longer use the fork for mixing. Now get ready to get your hands dirty! But you can use rubber gloves if you like, surgical or mechanics-type rubber gloves, etc., if you really don’t want the smell on your hands.
Start adding the basemix in the bowl again and kneading the paste with your hand until it’s not sticky.
Next, give your worktop a light dusting with some boilie basemix and start kneading the paste on the worktop.
As soon as it’s not tacky, it’s ready to roll into a big sausage. That way, I can add it to my boilie gun.
The boilie gun I use is a rechargeable battery caulking gun I purchased on eBay. It makes very easy work, but don’t worry, there are cheap basic boilie guns, non-battery ones, you can use also.
My boilie gun is fitted with a nozzle for the 24mm boilie table, which I roll on.
When the boilie gun is loaded with the large sausage of paste, I simply gun the sausages out on the worktop, ready to be rolled.
The sausages are then rolled on a small Gardner Tackle 24mm rolling table. They’re inexpensive and brilliant. I do recommend all the Gardner Tackle rolling tables. They’re reliable and they have been around for years.
Next step, let’s boil the boilies.
Get yourself a saucepan and boil some water. When the boilies hit the water, they need to be constantly boiling and cooking; don’t let them simmer!
The secret is to not add too many boilies to the saucepan and keep the temperature fairly high on your cooking ring.
The 24mm boilies, I boil for 4 minutes. I want those boilies really firm.
My boilies are dropped gently in a vegetable basket tray. Most have been sourced for free from pubs and restaurants, as they usually dispose of them. They’re great for air-drying.
You can also place them on a clean tea towel if you like to take the water off.
The air-drying process is usually a week or more, at room temperature, in a dry, rodent-free location, but also watch the dog or cat don’t eat them!
Some anglers will put the boilies then in a bucket with salt to firm them up more. I tend not to; I’m happy as they are.
That’s it. You now have boilies which will slow down those crayfish. Not bulletproof, but I’ve got whole nights out of them and caught loads of fish on cray waters using them.
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