The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I’ve heard that geranium and aniseed oils are good to mix with roach bait like maggots. Does anyone know please how much oil to mix with a pint of maggots?
Many thanks gentlemen….

Archie Braddock is an acknowledged expert in this field and it might be worth searching out books to find his advice and recommendations .
One to look at is "Fantastic feeder fishing"
Hope that helps...

From memory of watching my grandfather back in the early seventies he would put a couple of drops of aniseed oil into a tub of maggots and then give them a good shake. It certainly seemed to work as a he caught many fine roach from the rivers Medway and Beult here in Kent. The down side though was that the smell attracted the odd dog which was off the lead into his swim causing havoc on occasion….

A sprinkling of garem mosala is also good for roach Tim

Many thanks gentlemen - that is all very helpful information. I’ve also found some clips on YouTube that deal with the practicalities. Ive never tried any additives, but I think that it is time I did…..

Don't forget hemp oil!

Thank you sir. I am trying to assemble two or three powders to try with maggots and two or three oils, such as the hemp oil you mention, to use with bread crumb.
I got some turmeric and coriander powder this morning, so I will give these a try in a day or two. Ive never used anything like this before so it’s all a bit of fun really.
Clearly some of the YouTube anglers take it all very seriously…..

Try powdered egg. It's unbelievably fantastic. Just dust a bit on your maggots whilst they're fresh from the shop .

Another way of “anointing” maggots is to riddle out the bran/sawdust and then put in a large handful of your favourite pellets (is it OK to mention pellets on this Forum?).

The maggots become imbued with the scent of the pellets and the pellets, in turn, develop the, er, flavour of maggot. The pellets tend to soften and become unusable on the hook, even with bait bands but are OK as loose feed or they can be mashed in with crumb groundbait. Either way, they compliment each other and the fish feel confident in taking one or the other.

BB.

I once knew a balliff on the Kentish Rother who fished a paste bait for chub which he'd previously left wrapped in geranium leaves for a couple of days. He said it was very effective and suggested I should give it a try. I never did but maybe one day...