Learning to make and use pack baits is a game-changer for carp, freshwater drums, and some catfish. People tend to use dough balls, worms, and chicken livers. At times these are great. Yet, a good pack bait is a solid performer. This type of bait brings the fish to your hook almost every time.
How to Make Pack Baits
Pack bait is easy and inexpensive to make. They take 3-4 ingredients many people have in their homes.
- Rolled Oats
- Creamed or Kernel Corn (creamed corn works better)
- Panko Bread crumbs (optional)
- Flavoring (optional but highly recommended) Vanilla, Anise, Strawberry Jell-O, Molasses, or a commercial made.
- Water if needed to achieve proper texture and firmness. Corn Syrup is an alternative.
Dump a 14-ounce can of creamed corn into a bucket, add 1/2 container of oats, and mix well. Add a cup or two of breadcrumbs if desired. This will make the mix too dry, add a few teaspoons of flavoring and mix again. Add water or corn syrup until the mix is firm and sticks together well.
This makes a nice supply of pack bait. Store in the refrigerator to keep fresh for up to 7 days. This article contains more recipes for pack baits.
How to Use Pack Baits
The rigging of a pack bait is simple but slightly different than what you may be used to doing with other baits. The pack bait falls apart in the water. It acts like chum to draw fish in faster. The technique allows you to get around laws against chumming. Check your state’s law on using the bait. It is placed on the hook and usually is not considered chumming since it is on the hook.
Using a suitable hook, place a few kernels of corn on the hook. I use a size 6-8 octopus hook with a light leader of 8-10 lb. test strength. Carp have sensitive mouths and become line and hook shy after being caught a few times. After the corn is on, form a walnut-size ball of pack bait over the corn on the hook. The hook and pack bait need to be on the bottom. Rig your weight and hook correctly to achieve placement. Use longer leaders on your hook.
Cast the bait out in the water. The pack will fall apart in 15-20 minutes. Reel in if you do not get a bite and repack. Cast to the same spot. This technique works best keeping the bait in the same place. Use as many rods as allowed or possible. Cast each into a different location. After about an hour or less fish will be on the bait. You need to watch your rods. Once the fish grab the corn with your hook they take off fast.
Setting up the Rods
You must be ready or losing the rod is likely. A bait runner setup is highly recommended. Set the drag very light, allow the reel to run in reverse, or use a bait runner reel. Make sure the line comes off easily. This is a safety measure to prevent rod and reel loss. You will likely need to reduce the number of rods when the fish start feeding.
Conclusion
This style of fishing is simple, inexpensive, and productive for carp, drums, and catfish. You do need to use the correct rigging. Then you need to be patient, for about an hour. Afterward, be prepared for a feeding frenzy in areas with good populations of the species. You will have to use only 1-2 rods when the fish start feeding.