Cheese
Two advantages of using cheese as a fishing bait are 1. It’s easily obtainable (just buy some when you do your weekly shopping) 2. It can be used all year round to catch various fish.
Using cheese as a fishing bait is fairly simple and any type of cheese can be used as a fishing bait but preference goes for the strong smelling cheese such as Danish Blue or Blue Stilton.
The species of fish you are after will dictate the size of hook to use and the cheese should fit on the hook with the point still showing.
If using firm cheese such as cheddar then break off a piece of cheese from the block of cheese and push your hook into it and leave the point showing. Simple as that.
Rolling a piece of cheese between your fingers will soften it and it can then be moulded onto the hook as a paste. (make sure the hook point is showing) .
I use cheese straight on the hook but it can be fished hair rigged. If using cheese as bait on a hair rig treat the cheese as you would luncheon meat as the line can cut through it easily.
Soft cheese such Philadelphia is also used as a fishing bait but this is used by mixing and moulding with a piece of bread or small amount of groundbait to form a paste. The cheese can also be flavoured by adding some curry powder, paprika or other flavouring. I don’t personally flavour cheese, preferring the natural smell of the cheese.
Cheese is an effective bait when ledgered, float fished or free lined and cheese is a very effective fishing bait for chub, carp, tench and barbel.
I mentioned making sure the hook point is showing when putting cheese on your hook – the reason I mention this is because cheese has a tendency to harden in the water and if the hook point is not showing this can make it harder to pull the hook through the cheese on a strike.
Tip.
Cheese is also a good additive for making cheese paste baits.
Soft cheese such Philadelphia can be used as a fishing bait but this needs to be mixed and moulded with a piece of bread or small amount of groundbait to form a paste. The cheese can also be flavoured by adding some curry powder, paprika or other flavouring. I don’t personally flavour cheese, preferring the natural smell of the cheese.
