May/June 2007

Kevin Tomlinson with a recent Special Crab Plus capture from Island Lake

Doesn’t time fly, it only seems like a couple of weeks ago that I was writing the March edition.

First of all before I go any further I would like to thank each and every one of you who has taken the time to submit a catch report. These reports are invaluable to us. Not only do they confirm we have the baits right but also they say so many more words than we can.

I know the baits are all exceptional fish catchers but everyone is going to expect me to say that. Coming from you, the customer… well it speaks absolute volumes. Thank you so much.

Another massive thank you is in order for the kind words I have received following on from the monthly ‘Bait Quest’ (clever use of title words don’t you think?) series I have been writing for Carpworld.

If there is a bait orientated subject you would like to see covered, then email me here at shaun@questbaits.com and I will see if I can stretch the subject into a article.

My fishing time as has again been very limited but I have been fortunate being remarkably lucky on the few short trips I have managed. Most of this fishing has been done with Martin Ford the editor of Carpworld. Because I very much wanted to use ‘on location’ shots for my Bait Quest series Martin has been kind enough to keep sacrificing the odd afternoon and sharing bank space with me.

I finally managed to get back to the Mangrove for a last go right at the end of the season. I hadn’t managed to get over there since January 1st but eventually I managed to drop everything and shoot over for two nights with a day trapped in-between (a very long session for me these days).

It had occurred to me before I went that Tiger Nut Crunch was the only boilie in the range that I hadn’t caught a Mangrove carp on. Main reason was simply that I had never used it at the Mangrove!

So, I took nothing else with me and ended the season with another one of those gorgeous classic English commons. That completed my full house captures on the whole Quest range at the ‘Swamp’.

My last fish of the season from the Mangrove – Tiger Nut Crunch

Last week I received an invite from Tim Paisley and Martin Ford to spend a night on nearby Birch Grove. I have visited Birch many times but had never had the chance to fish it before. So, obviously I took the opportunity with open arms. Plus it allowed me to complete my two days compulsory work party’s on the Mangrove in one weekend with a night on Birch thrown in-between.

Not knowing the carps habits on Birch I felt a little uncertain as to what bait to take and what method to employ. It is very difficult when you have a factory full of bait choosing what to actually use. Normally I end up using surplus bait which didn’t quite make a full bag.

I felt a bit unsure what to do so formulated a game plan before I left home which consisted of minimal baiting as I was only going to be on there for a very short night session. Not wanting to disturb the fish by casting around with a marker float I decided to rely on the natural subtle pulling power of the bait itself. In fact I relied on the whole range with stringers made up from one of every flavour of boilie we do. Mixed colours and mixed flavours.

The idea for this came about after so many customers coming to the counter and saying things along the lines of. “Cor, that smells nice, what is it”?

One of every bait on a stringer!

Actually you can never put your finger on it – it is a combination of everything. So, I decided to give the carp everything in one small package.

The following morning I was smiling in front of the camera twice. One with an original mirror, a gorgeous big scaley fish – the other a 22.08 common. The un-decided approach utilising each and every bait had worked a treat.

Well, that’s skimmed through my last few short sessions. What have we been working on here at Quest Baits?

Machine Rolling
To be fair we have been absolutely up to our necks keeping on top of production but can now proudly state that we are machine rolling the whole range of boilies. We experimented with the Special Crab Plus and the new Pineapple Crunch. The quality of the rolling has been that good that we have decided to push the boat out and put the whole of the range through the machines. Same bait but slightly different sizes. We are now supplying the whole range in 15 mm and 20 mm. The quality is spot on. I had always been lead to believe that the type of baits we supply (quality food) couldn’t be rolled on machines. Well, we have proved they can and would you believe the only ingredient we have had to drop from a couple of the baits has been semolina!

Gorgeous scaley fish on my first ever trip to Birch Grove

Fluorescent ‘In Your Face’ Range of Pop-Ups
We have also been perfecting some fluorescent ‘in your face’ pop-ups to go with our range of boilies. Same flavours but fluorescent colours.

These are now available in either small pellet shape or conventional round 14 mm.

Special Crab Plus and Rahja Spice – Fluorescent Pink
Fruity Trifle – Fluorescent Red
Smokey Fish – Fluorescent Pale Orange
Pineapple and Tiger Nut – Fluorescent Yellow

Oh yes, The Pineapple pop-ups are also available now in standard yellow as well as the Fluorescent version.

Bits and Bob’s
Due to several requests from you the customers we have also added a few other bits to the range with Tiger Nut Extract and thick syrupy liquid Molasses in 500 ml bottles.

It was never our intention to offer the blends of flavours we use but are now considering doing this for anglers wishing to make their own hook baits etc. Watch this space….

Special Crab Plus
I mentioned in the last newsletter what we had done to the Special Crab Plus in regards to improving its make up. Well, the reports we are now getting back are absolutely astounding. We definitely went the right way changing the fish meal in this one and increasing the Robin Red content. What was once a outstanding bait has now become quite a phenomenal one – just check out the catch reports!

Pineapple Crush
Now available in both 15 and 20 mm. What can I say other than again check out the catch reports. Yes, we have a bait those horrible Poisson Chat’s don’t like… but the carp do!

If you are visiting anywhere this summer plagued by Poisson then make sure you take a bag with you – even if it is only for hookbaits to allow you to get a little sleep that will only be interrupted by carp.

If you want a brilliant in your face single hook bait or stringer bait then the Pineapple will again work well this way too. I was keen through the winter for anglers to try this bait over here and very instant it appeared to be. Designed to put Poisson’s off but lots more uses than that. A high flavour level, bright coloured bait the carp can’t miss.

Other new products

Still out there developing, trying and testing.

We are constantly working on new product and have our small army of field testers and consultants to help us along with these. I am managing to sneak off fishing a little more than I could last year albeit very short over night sessions, but I am still managing to get out there.

Well there you have it for this instalment. Plenty more to come, but for now I’m itching to get off and get cast out somewhere – I have something I want to have a play with.

Thanks again to everyone for your support. I will sign off as always.

Best fishes – Shaun Harrison

Your Comments please
We strive to offer the very best service we can and welcome any comment you may have. You can email Shaun direct at shaun@questbaits.com