Premier Baits Winter Blend Boilies

It is fair to say that for the vast majority of Europe, winter now has us firmly within its grip. When the first frosts start to whiten the ground and the bankside, a lot of anglers look to change their baits from the ones they have been using during the warmer months for something that is more suitable to the low water temperatures.

With this in mind, UKMA have been in contact with several bait companies and asked their views on what bait from their range they would recommend to anglers who are thinking of changing their bait for the winter.

Premier Baits had no problems in recommending us their Winter Blend baits that have been developed by themselves in-house to tick the boxes that anglers look for in a winter bait. So with this recommendation, we placed our order to bring you this review.

The Premier Baits Winter Blend is based on a blend of birdfood and milk proteins which are easily digestable to the fish in the cold temperatures. The milk proteins in the baits give a very high nutritional value to the bait which is important for the fish's immune system for when the water temperatures start to rise again. Experienced anglers will know that it is in the spring when fish are most likely to pass away. I am not saying that it is the anglers baits that are at fault, but that a good nutritional bait eaten over winter will only help to keep the fish healthy in the same way that a good diet in a human will aid good health.

The appearance of the Winter Blend is a unique one. Premier Baits have gone against the traditional whites, yellows and oranges that are generally used in coldwater baits, and opted for a washed out blue/green colour. This colour difference could be the factor that decides if the fish picks the bait up as it is something completely different to what most anglers have been putting in (other than the ones on the Winter Blend!).

The flavours that have been used in the Winter Blend are hard to put your finger on to exactly what they are. Each sniff of the baits changes your mind to what flavours are used even when you think you have got it. Premier Baits wouldn't tell us what flavours were used other than they are fruity. To my sense of smell, the Winter Blend baits smell of a creamy fruit with tones of apple amongst other fruits (no I have not been on wine tasting courses or been drinking it!). It is again, a unique aroma that I have not smelt before, but it is one of those smells that just screams CARP in low temperatures.

We were sent 10mm freezer baits and the accompanying pop-ups (in 10mm also). A lot of bait companies don't like rolling 10mm baits (and as I used to roll my own baits I can fully sympathise with them!), but Premier Baits had no problems in providing us with both in 10mm. The 10mm pop-ups are quite bouyant, and a size 8 Korda Kaptor Wide Gape hook balanced perfectly with the hook lying flat on the deck with the 10mm bait sat above it. The 10mm pop-ups are perfect for snowman setups with a 14mm bottom bait or used as a "wafter" style setup. Unless a small hook was used during my tests, I couldn't say that the pop-ups would stand proud against a putty counter weight or used on a Chod. As we only have the 10mm baits to hand, other results may be different with the larger sizes (the larger sizes in the other Premier Baits products we have been sent in the past have all been very bouyant).

Final Thoughts

As with the rest of the Premier Baits that we have been sent, the Winter Blend look like a top bait that will work on the vast majority of waters over winter. I like to be different to other anglers on the venues I fish, and it works out well for me most of the time, and the unique colour anf flavour of the bait ticks all the boxes for a winning formula. I honestly cannot wait to get out on the bank in the cold weather (yes I am clinically insane!!!) to get one of those "old girls" on the bank from my target venue.

If you wish to give Premier Baits Winter Blend a try, you can order the baits direct from their website, and 10kg of Winter Blend in 14mm to 24mm, will cost you a superb £65 (£6.50 per kilo!) or 20kg for £120 (£6.00 per kilo!).