A posting on carp.net from Shears 04/01/01

Bonding and Breaking of Pack Bait by Gary Shears

Hi Charlie........I was getting to reply, but Bob has you on the right track. As Bob noted, the pack-baits have ingredients in them that either help "bond" or "break" them......

Some "easy" to find bonders for you to give a try to.........Flour--- will bond like cement, use very little......Rye Meal---- same as flour.........Cake mixes------- same as flour, but has flavors and sweetners in it........Cookie mixes-------again, use sparingly..........Soy-Bean Meal--- Use all you want of this, it is both, it bonds great, but always breaks when used on it's on......Blended Loaf Bread----- Make as Bob said, will usually bond any bait, but too much will "lock" up a bait.......

Cooked Cracked Corn---- If cooked to the "googy" stage, will bond baits , again don't add much of this to your base mixes, they will lock them up to the point of not breaking at all.........Instant Grits------ When lightly dampened, will bond any bait.

A few "breakers" that are easy to find and use.........Cracked Dry un-cooked Corn------ Great breaker, but if you over use, your baits won't pack into a ball well enough to cast out....... Millet----- Same as cracked corn.........Dry rice---- A cup full of instant minute rice will work wonders, ( little tip, blend a cup in your blender before adding to baits, will almost look like the bait is "sizzling" when breaking).......again I will suggest Soy-Bean meal------ It will break most any baits, it is a good "error proof" item to use in pack-baits, it does both, breaks and bonds.........

Dry Corn meal---- When added dry to mixes, it almost makes them a grainy texture, helping them break.......Wheat Bran----- A very light flaky ingredient, when added to baits, it doesen't effect packing very much, but after it starts getting wet, it triples in size, and explodes any ball of pack-bait........

These are just a few , like I said, easy to find and use , pack-bait ideas, hope it helps some.........

Shears