Expander Pellets - A Guide to Preparation.
Soft pellets are available ready prepared from tackle shops, normally sold in small tubs. This is a great bait to have always available in your tackle box should the need arise. They are however very easy to prepare, easy to flavour (should you feel the need to) and are much cheaper if you make your own.
Expanders are bought as a hard pellets, that needs to be soaked to make them soft, so you can get your hook in. As the pellets soak and take in water, so they expand, which is where they get their name from.
You can just soak them overnight in a container, making sure they are well covered with water. This will allow them to expand and make sure they are still covered by water.
They can however be prepared in a few minutes, using a pellet pump. The pump forces the air out of the pellets by creating a vacuum. As the vacuum in destroyed, the water replaces the air that was forced out of the pellets. So they expand fully within a few minutes and are ready for use. Pellets pumps are available from most tackle shops for between £15.00 to £20.00.
They are a very soft bait, so they will not withstand heavy casting. They are however ideal for pole fishing. Most coarse fish seem to love them including carp, tench, bream, chub, barble, roach and rudd. They are a great bait on commercial type fisheries.
Preparing Expander Pellets with a Pellet Pump.
Expander pellets are available in different sizes, so the following is only a guide.. 4mm is ideal for a size 18 hook, 6mm for a size 16 or 14 hook.
Method.
A pellet pump consists of three main sections:
1/ The pump handle.
2/ The lid, which has a release valve in the middle
3/ The container that holds the pellets and water.
There are different types, but they all follow the same
idea.
I'm going to use "Ringers Bag-Up" pellets. Many different brands are available and I know a number of good anglers who swear by different brands. However I have done very well using this type. They are easier to hook and stay on better than some others, they also catch fish. I'm using size 6mm.
I like to fill the container about a quarter full. Don't add to many.
Pour the dry pellets into the pellet pump container.
Add the flavour, or crumble your Oxo into about 300ml of water. Give the water a good stir to ensure the flavour is well mixed.
It is possible to flavour your pellets. You can use a liquid
flavour or something like an Oxo cube.
When the water is first added, the pellets will float.
Pour the water into the pellet container, so it is about two thirds full.
After you have finished pumping you will see plenty of air bubbles just above the pellets. This is the air you have removed during the pumping. Notice that the pellets still float, they have not yet absorbed water.
Place the lid on the pump container and place the pump handle over the central valve. holding the handle firmly on the lid, pump the handle up and down about 20 to 25 times, to remove the air from the container.
The pellets are not quite ready yet, as they have not fully absorbed all the water they can. I leave mine to soak for about another ten minutes to quater of an hour. Make sure they are well covered by water.
I sometimes but them into a separate container at this stage,
so I can make some more while they soak.
Release the valve at the top of the container lid, to let air back in. As you do so water enters the pellets to replace the spaces left by the air. As you release the valve you will see the pellets sink to the bottom.
If you want to give them another few pumps, it's up to you. Simply place the handle back on the lid and give it another 20 or so pumps.
The finished pellets. I know they look a different
colour, but they are the same.
The pellets can be stored in a plastic bag or in a container
with the lid on. Pour away excess water first.
If you are going fishing the next day, place them in the
fridge overnight.
These pellets have now been stood in their water for about ten
minutes and has can be seen, they have expanded further and are ready
for use.
Preparing Expander Pellets - The Video.
I've also prepared a video, which should help clear thing up if there are any points your are not sure of.
A Few Final Points.
As mentioned above, you can make expander pellets without a pellet pump. Leave them to soak in a container overnight. Make sure they are well covered with water, so they have room to expand and still stay covered in water.
If your flavouring your pellets, make sure your chosen flavour dissolves in the water. If your using something like an Oxo cube, you will need to use warm water to dissolve the cube in. You can always then (having dissolved your cube), let the water cool down before pumping.