sprats

[davidbennett]

been using fresh sprats from the supermarket £1 for about 12
these look like roach and give some scent of - good for drop and draw - better than losing £10 rapala each time you snag up!

[fenboystu]

do you not find them a bit on the soft side for repetitive casts ? We used to use them many years ago on the north level in cambridgeshire ledgered and popped up they were a great bait at the time now they seem to like something different ;D ;D

[Izzetafox]

I found smelt to be tougher, not as oily or as cheap but lasted more casts.

[fenboystu]

Smelt are a cracking bait thats for sure and being tight ;D on "runs" waters i tend to use them more than once i know people will say your not getting the best of them but my thoughts are if they`ll happily pick up dead fish one with teeth marks in it aint gonna make no difference.

[db]

Yout right but i ve put abit of elastic round the sprat/hook like you do with sea fish baits - seems to do the trick

[greygoose]

Tried sprats and found them very soft, had to wrap them up with elastic, never tried smelts although I know many swear by them. Found herring good for atracting bites but just as awkward to use, I have found trout quite good.

[Izzetafox]

Some speak highly of blueys I have tried them, very oily. Never had a run.

Herring like sprats ok for static and one cast but burst very easilly.

I did see some very small joeys last winter they might be worth a try.