Dynamite Baits "Rod Hutchinson" Peach & Mango
and "Terry Hearn" Banana Nut Crunch Boilies

Dynamite Baits have been supplying boilies now for a number of years and a lot of anglers are using them to great effect all over Europe. With names such as Frank Warwick, Terry Hearn, Nick Helleur and newly re-signed Jim Shelley, using them in their angling, it is blatently obvious that they catch fish - and lots of them. For 2010, Dynamite Baits have launched several new baits including one range that is a blast from the past.

UKMA recently recieved some review packs of a selection of these baits and put them through their paces both on the bank and in the office.

In 2009, Dynamite Baits acquired the Rod Hutchinson brand and set about relaunching some of the all time classic baits that Rod used to supply himself. Rod Hutchinson needs no introductionm at all to any angler with a glimmer of knowledge about carp angling, as Rod was one of the pioneers who took Redmire apart in the 1970's. On the back of this Rod also developed a range of baits that proved to be awesome fish catchers and anglers across the UK all clamoured to get them from their local tackle dealers. After a couple of decades in the business, the baits were dropped for one reason or another, and anglers moved onto to other baits that were available off the shelves. For 2010, after the acquisition, Dynamite Baits and Rod Hutchinson have bought back several of the all time favourite baits.

UKMA recieved the Peach & Mango with Maple Cream shelflife baits, as well as the accompanying pop-up's and glug. The bags themselves have been put together in typical Dynamite Bait's style being of a foil material with a clear panel at the base. These bags instantly attract the eye in the shop, but also keep the bait in top condition whilst they are on the shelf. As with any of the Dynamite Bait's boilie range, the shelflife baits are in the exact same condition after several months in the bag as they are when first packaged at the factory.

Upon closer inspection of the baits, the make up of them looks to be a milk protein base with a little birdfood added to it. The addition of birdfood will help flavour and attraction seap out into the water quicker than a fine, high quality pure milk protein basemix. The flavour levels are not overpowering as with some shelf life baits, and the taste of the baits is not synthetic - something that a lot of shelf life baits taste like. The aroma of the baits is also very "wife" friendly so if some do get spilt in the car on your travels, you are not going to be kept in the dog house (although you could get away with saying that it is a new air freshener - just don't ask us how long you will get away with that one!). The orange colour is not too overpowering and is not one of the hi-viz day-glo colours that anglers generally will use in coldwater. These baits can be used with confidence all year long.

The second bait that UKMA were sent was the new Terry Hearn Banana Nut Crunch. Banana is one of those old school baits that a lot of companies seemed to have forgotten about. Based on a nut meal base mix, along with some birdfood and milk proteins, the base mix allows for the flavours and attractants to leak out of the bait over a period of time. A dark yellow in colour, the Banana Crunch is not one of the blatant bright baits that anglers only use in winter, making this - like the Peach & Mango baits - a perfect all year round bait. Once again the aroma of the bait is not overpowering, and very wife friendly. I asked my fiancee to taste one (purely as I don't like banana!), and she said they were just like banana flavoured sweets but not as sickly. If she likes them, then they have to be good to eat!

The pop-ups that accompany the bottom baits look almost identical to the bottom baits being only slightly lighter in colour to the bottom baits. The bouyancy of them is unbelievable! During the testing we found that a 15mm pop-up held up a 15mm bottom bait! To get the baits balanced we needed to add putty to a sliding float stop under the bottom bait or if the angler wanted the bottom bait hard on the deck, pieces of leadcore inner could be pressed into the bottom bait to add weight. Generally pop-ups are more over-flavoured than the equivalent bottom baits, but the taste of the baits was no more powerful than the baits straight out of the bag - which is one touch that we did like. UKMA would have no hesitation in saying that these off the shelf pop-ups are more than adequate for use with Chod or hinged stiff link rigs. The pots that the pop-ups are sold in hold more than enough baits to last even the most proficient fish catching angler several months.

The accompanying glugs were another item that we liked here at UKMA. Again, they were not overpowering in taste, and the viscosity of the glug is not too thick, but not too thin so it leaks off the baits instantly in the water. During a margin test, the glug was present on the bait after 5 minutes of being placed in the water - which is something that we can only think is an advantage.

We have been out on the bank on a short day session and we would love to say that we emptied the lake, but due to the recent adverse weather conditions no fish decided to pick up the baits (and this was the same for every other angler on the lake). We will be putting the baits through their paces in a couple of weeks time (hopefully the weather will be better & the fish feeding!), and update this review as soon as we have done so.

All in all, on first impressions, we were impressed with these baits, but only a true long term test and correct bait application will tell for true effectiveness.

For more information on these baits or any other in the Dynamite Baits range, please click the image below to visit the website.