Stu Redman shows why ‘the seed’ is the only bait you need when going in search of quality roach from commercials
TARGET carp with hookbaits like pellets and small bits of meat on a commercial fishery and every now and then you’ll hook into a quality roach. It could be anywhere between 8oz and 1lb, but an accidental capture on over-gunned gear isn’t much fun.
It stands to reason that if these fish are taking baits that are well down their list of favourites, there’s bound to be some that would be even more obliging if offered a bait that they crave.
You’ll be pumped with enthusiasm when you return to the venue armed with maggots, casters and refined rigs, but the initial adrenaline rush may quickly peter out.
That’s because the big redfins that you encountered previously are nowhere to be seen, with tiddlers smashing the bait to bits within seconds of the rig breaking the surface.
So, how on earth can you get among those better stamp roach when this happens?
The answer is to pin your faith in hemp.
A bait that has a long history of producing better-quality specimens, hemp is just as effective on commercials as it is on natural waters. That’s according to seasoned matchman Stu Redman, who’s used it on countless occasions down the years with highly impressive results.
“I remember when I was younger that if anyone in the tackle shop said they’d ‘won with hemp’, you knew that they were talking about quality roach,” explained Stu.
“Small fish don’t seem as interested in it, yet the big ones can’t seem to get enough of the stuff. It really is a win-win situation!”
Bait preparation
Maggots and casters are ready to use as soon as you buy them, but that never used to be the case with hemp. The grains needed cooking the night before fishing in order to sink, but fast forward to today and there are plenty of ready-prepared tins available in tackle shops that can be opened and used straight away.
The downside to this ‘modern’ type of hemp is the small size of the grains. Bigger pieces are far easier to hook and Stu has a little trick up his sleeve to single out these ‘hookers’. “I run the hemp through a riddle that has holes big enough for the small pieces to drop clean through, but which catch the ones I want for the hook,” he revealed.
“You’ll only need a handful of hooker grains for the day and if you have any more than that, you can freeze them in small batches and defrost them in warm water when you need them so that you are ready to get fishing quickly next time you get on the bank.”
If he has enough time on his hands,
