Paul Wells takes dough ball baits to a new level. WWhhaatt’’ss aa BBooiillee BBaaiitt??

ost ingredients for baits can Mbe found at natural, organic or health food stores, or food cooperatives. Search the Internet for the term “hair ” to learn how to fish off the hook.

50/50 Base Mix 8 oz. semolina flour 4 oz. soy flour 4 oz. yellow corn meal 5 ml. mulberry florentine or another strong fruit flavoring 5 to 10 ml. liquid saccharine 10 ml. corn steep liquor (corn flavoring) 1 ⁄4 tsp. garlic powder Story By P.J. Perea 5 to 6 large eggs Photos by Adele Hodde Bird Food Mix 6 oz. bird food (pellets not bird seeds) 6 oz. semolina flour 4 oz. soy flour he delectable aromas wafting For a different twist on 2 oz. whey 5 ml. butterscotch, vanilla or other from Chicagoan Paul Wells’ , and to keep the fish kitchen spell trouble, not for his creamy flavor guessing, experiment with crafting 5 ml. liquid saccharine waistline but for the target of an 1 homemade boilie baits. ⁄4 tsp. garlic powder T upcoming fishing expedition— 5 to 6 large eggs the , a plentiful, transplant - For either recipe: ed species that has taken over many OK to eat and what will one day have a Mix the ingredients in a bowl until a river and lake systems. hidden hook. stiff and slightly sticky dough has Wells’ kitchen concoctions are boilie “I recommend carp anglers fish formed. Roll into long strips, cut and roll baits, a European creation designed to slow- to medium-flowing waters at first into bait-sized balls. take advantage of the discriminating and bring only boilies until they are Cook the balls in a pot of boiling water until they float, hence the name “boilies.” tastes of the larger, smarter carp. Boilie confident in using them,” Wells said. Variations: Puff the dough in the baits differ vastly from the doughballs “Two of my favorite recipes, the 50/50 microwave for about a minute to create a and worms that commonly dangle from and bird-food mixes, have accounted pop-up bait that will float. Add food color many hooks by allowing the angler to for several 30-pound fish, a number of and fruit extracts to either recipe to cre - tailor an infinite variety of custom fla - 20 and 10 pounders, and dozens of ate a custom flavor/color combination. vors—keeping fish guessing at what is smaller fish.” July 2005 Outdoor Illinois / 9