Does anyone know any recipes for dough bait for trout fishing? We have recently discovered trout fishing and have the best luck with dough bait (on certain days it seems). The homemade dough bait that we purchase is pretty expensive. Thanks! T. Crockett

-- T. Crockett (pbandjallen@jcn.net), March 27, 2001

Answers

I looked through some books i have and here are a few i found. One is from steelhead.com.

Dough Ball recipe

1/2 cup corn meal

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup white Karo syrup

2/3 cup water

3 tablespoons water optional

3 tablespoons Peanut butter (optional)

Oil scents can be substituted for peanut butter

Cotton ball fibers Marshmallow creme (optional to add floatation)

food coloring (to get desired color)

On low heat mix water, syrup, food coloring, and peanut butter. (or oil substitute) After mixing corn meal and flour together slowly add to liquid while stirring. Stir while cooking until thick or water is gone. Mixture can be blended with marshmallow creme for floating baits. After mixture cools add cotton ball fibers to keep baits together.

One that will stay on the hook and can be cast into the swiftest water without difficulty, yet is soft enough for a delicate hook set, consists of equal parts of yellow corn meal and white flour mixed together plus enough water to give the mixture the consistency of biscuit dough. The mixture is dropped into boiling water a spoonful at a time and allowed to cook for 5 minutes or until it is cooked throughout. It can be tested by removing a good-sized lump and breaking it open; when the doughball is yellow clear through, it is done and can be removed from the boiling water to cool. As soon as it cools enough to be handled, all of the dough lumps are kneaded together into a large ball from which individual baits are pinched, as needed.

A favorite recipe among western Iowa anglers is:

2 cups of corn meal and 1 cup of flour mixed together.

one-half package of jello, 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1 tablespoon of vanilla into a pint of boiling water. Add the corn meal-flour mix to the jello. Remove and let it cool. Knead the dough bait into a single ball and wrap it in aluminum foil for refrigeration.

You should be aware that dough bait used in cold water -- below 55DoU F should be fairly soft since there is a tendency for it to become firmer when immersed in cold water. Likewise, dough baits kept in the refrigerator and then cast into warm water may become too soft. Additional flour will add firmness under these conditions. Also bits of marshmallow were suggested. I hope this helps.

Small baits are usually considered the best for carp. Some anglers prefer a small, round ball of bait placed on the tip of the hook only, while others use a pear-shaped bait and cover the entire hook. Both methods give excellent results.

-- Shau Marie (shau@centurytel.net), March 27, 2001.

Ignore the last paragraph. I was so busy typing i forgot to leave that out. :)

-- Shau Marie (shau@centurytel.net), March 27, 2001.

Wow... never knew there were recipes for dough balls!!! I think I'll try it -

I've always just used extra bread from lunch...

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 27, 2001.

Believe me Sue the stinky stuff we had luck with you would never have at your supper table! Maybe it was garlic, very strong! I copied the above, thanks, will try them all. I think they go for different things on different days and even times of day. My four boys will be happy to make their own. Any more appreciated as well. Thanks T. Crockett

-- T. Crockett (pbandjallen@jcn.net), March 27, 2001.

My husband uses Wheaties. The breakfast of Champions and Carp. Sometimes he makes them wet with red soda pop. Maybe they would work on Trout. You just mush them up with a little water and make a sticky ball. Pull off enough to go on a 14 treble hook and 2 pound test line and you have a fight. (With Carp that is...he has caught large carp 10 pounds etc. with this small hook and line...what a fight.)

-- Beth (ballen224@hotmail.com), March 27, 2001.

All stocked trout are raised on fish pellets. If you use whole kernel corn it will work the same, as your doughball that you bought. Happy fishing. My largest trout was 13 pd. 5 oz. Rainbow caught on whole kernel corn...good luck with your fishing.

-- Judy (inhishand65@yahoo.com), April 02, 2001.

There is a dough bait recipe sold on the web under the name "Monster Trout Bait" that you can find with a search.

-- Ed R. (trees@compuplus.net), July 10, 2001.