Buying Bait

[Ell]

To follow on from another thread and re-cap on a few things previously posted about the ins and outs.

1. Unless you\'re absolutely sure your local shop\'s got plenty, GIVE THEM A RING before you set off.
2. If the seas away, tides are spot on and / or there\'s a local comp then GIVE THEM A RING and put in an order.
3. Give up trying to work out the difference between grammes / oz\'s / pints and ****ing firkins \"How many worms in a bag?\" is a good way of working out price.
4. If you\'re checking out a new source of bait supply ALWAYS ask to have a peek first. A good dealer will be more than happy to show you his stuff. Mind if you insist on checking every deal for the next 45 years you may get a certain reputation! Saying that though I have taken bait wrapped and unseen from a (once) reputable supplier 40 odd miles to a difficult mark to get set up and be faced by a load of dead and dying worm.

edit - \"Treat yer worm like yer wimmin\" \"Stick em on a hook and throw them in the sea\" T-Shirts available ask TC.

[Edited on 2/3/2004 by Ell]

[TC]

SOME good advice, Ell.

I know I\'ve done my share of griping about the availablity (or otherwise) of bait and sometimes the quality, too.

But, as Ell says...if the sea conditions seem spot on, or there\'s gonna be a local comp on, there\'s bound to be a greater demand on the tackle shops to provide bait, so it would be sensible to order your bait in advance.
There have been times when I\'ve gone into a tackle shop and asked for 6 bags of lug and been told they haven\'t got any - only to overhear the guy next to me asking for the lug he\'d ordered earlier.

However, there have been times when I have been the guy who ordered his bait and overheard somebody been told \"sorry we haven\'t got any\".

As far as the T-shirts go.......ermmmm....I\'m stayin\' outta that one...lol



[Edited on 2/3/2004 by TC]

[Edited on 2/3/2004 by TC]

[willywetegg]

Ell mate as far as giving them a ring before you go I have done it twice with the same shop. I explained that coming all the way from Consett it was important, the first time I was fishing a comp the second one was a club match. Each time no bait. Each time I got the excuse that the bait had not arrived on the plane. A bit surprising when they had told me it was in before I left. Won\"t name them on here as it was a while ago and I had my say then. Very frustrating.

[Chippy]

I always order bait before I set off \'cos it\'s a long trip from Yorkshire to find they haven\'t got none.

Another thing worth saying Ell is that live worms and crabs apart, it\'s worth keeping squid, frozen worms, macky etc in your own freezer. That way you\'ve always got some bait. Except when you get to Durham on the A1 and get that sinking feeling you realise you\'ve forgotten it. I like to visit the same tackle shop every time, I know they\'ve got decent bait and won\'t let me down. Billys in North Sheilds and Reelsport in Hebburn are my local choices.

No

[crack-off!]

I have no hesitation in reccomending scotts in W/bay.You wont find better bait anywhere in the N/East and it is all on show in the display fridges so you can see what you are buying beforehand.

[alan]

I have no hesitation in reccomending scotts in W/bay.You wont find better bait anywhere in the N/East and it is all on show in the display fridges so you can see what you are buying beforehand.

Heard some excellent reports about them.

[willywetegg]

Crack-off I use Scotts all the time now and I could not agree more. It is nice to go into a shop and be made to feel welcome. They also have a fantastic supply of frozen bait as well which you can also see before you buy.

[tich]

Ihave got to agree with all of the above.. cracking bait. but dont tell anyone,or there wont be any bait when I want it\"\" Oopps to late\"\"Mind you He has some nice guns, if you want to argue about the last bag of lug(only joking, suppose you could use a luger??,, sorry )