Sardines or Sprats as bait

[smartmp]

Anyone ever tried these as bait?

[OuTkast76]

Not yet but I bought a load of fresh sprat from makro on sunday for 32p to try next time im out, They are very soft so will need a bit of bait elastic

[<(Andy2009)>]

Tried sprat once and the whiting went mad for it haha (in typical whiting fashion ). Still got lots of greater Sandeel/launce left from summer, had good success with it for both whiting & codling, as well as many other species.

[codcatcher3000]

have had small codlings and plenty whiting on whole sprats and half sprats. best hooked thru gob and let the hook exit the body . then lash on with bait elastic. ... their also very tasty fried with just a flour coating.

[Davey1970]

have had small codlings and plenty whiting on whole sprats and half sprats. best hooked thru gob and let the hook exit the body . then lash on with bait elastic. ... their also very tasty fried with just a flour coating.

a too like them on toast,
they must be ok as bait though, belonging to the oily fish family, they will give of sent trail.
plenty elastic.

[Lynnzer]

Tried them a couple of times but the crabs destroyed them before a fish got to them.
I use a pennel rig with a treble hook on it, head hanging downwards.
Have some in the freezer still and will be using them tomorrow.

[CHUKKA]

Fresh sprats should be firm. They are excellent for tipping off for whitings and flats, dabs seem to love them. With sharp knife they can be filleted.

[OuTkast76]

Not firm enough to blast out on an unclipped rig without bait elastic

[Geodark]

Strangely enough I have a load in the freezer that I was going to try this weekend - Sainsbury's were selling them off for 50p a while ago. Thinking about heading over to St Marys on sunday morning to give them a try

Got a couple of rainbow trout in there that have been frozen for months - don't know if they will be worth trying since they are an oily type fish as well.