Drastic Plastic: The Great Hookbait Debate

Let's talk about ‘plastic fantastic’ baits. Whether it’s the classic yellow corn, rubber maggots, or those imitation snails, almost every angler has a bit of Enterprise Tackle (or a Korda/NGT equivalent) tucked in their box. They’re durable, they’re buoyant, and frankly, they catch a lot of fish.

But there is a bit of a catch—and not the good kind.

The Welfare Worry

A lot of fishery owners are calling time on artificials. The logic is simple: if you suffer a crack-off, that plastic bait stays on the hook forever. It doesn't break down like a real boilie or a bit of natural corn. This means the rig stays ‘active’ on the lake bed, posing a constant snagging risk or potentially damaging the mouths of any fish that picks it up.

Lessons from the Weedcutter

We recently had a long chat with Steve French from Weedcutter, and his take was a bit of an eye-opener. Steve spends his life dragging snags and clearing weed out of lakes across the UK. He’s seen first-hand the mess that lost plastic rigs can cause when they get tangled in underwater obstacles.

It’s the reason we’ve decided to move away from them on our own waters. When you see the damage a 'forever-fishing' rig can do, it makes you think twice about what's on the end of your hair.

Where do you stand?

We’re curious to know what the Fenland regulars think.

• Do you reckon fish welfare should always come first, even if it means losing a tactical edge?

• Or do you feel there are already too many rules in carp fishing today?

Drop your thoughts in the comments below. In the meantime, if you need reliable, 'proper' bait that won't fall foul of the bailiff, check out our range of ‘real’ food baits from Nutrabaits, Mistral and Sticky Baits in the webstore. 

#FenlandFishing #FenlandTackle #FenlandTackleExchange #WhyPayMore #fishingUK

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