Is there something you could recommend as bait?

Question:

Hi Stuart,

Is there something you could recommend as bait which we could buy before we come, and which could be a safe bet for fish? We know we for sure will get some nice fish anyhow, but maybe you have some extra tricks.

Kind regards,

Michael Hansen. Denmark.

Stuart’s answer:

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the email. Regarding bait, if there was a better bait we would be using it, as our job is to make sure the angler catches! The only bait that does really well here are Dendrobaena worms, and if I could stock them I would. We have a wormery going but it is a year off producing enough for bait. We do sell boilies here that work well, but you need to put at least 5kg a day out to do really well on them, and most people can’t be bothered. Extra tricks always makes me chuckle! 90% of guys coming here fish chuck it and chance it style – very few take the time to check the depths and fish to a chosen spot. Carp and Mekongs like a depth of around 5m over sand, and red tail cats, tiger cats and wallago all like silty channels, so if you plumb the depth, feel the bottom with the lead and fish these spots, that’s those fish sorted. As for arapaima, where you see them roll is where they are feeding that day, so cast at the range they are showing. Now those are extra tricks, or common sense if you like! But 90% of anglers still turn up, chuck it out and expect a big fish, while 10% reap the rewards. Little edges like bringing a tub of cream pop-ups in bright white work well, as do stinky fish pop-ups. So for that edge, plumb the depth, bait regularly, and accurately. Poor bait in the best spot is better than good bait in a poor spot.

Best regards,

Stuart.