Three top SUMMER DIP COMBINATIONS

WORDS & PHOTOS: Neville Foord Here are three excellent dip combinations, not only for February but for the entire summer that can be used with success at any dam. Experienced bank anglers know that when it comes to using dips the general rule is to use the base flavours for different seasons. For example, strong flavours are used in winter and sweet flavours in summer. Taking the application of dips to a higher level however, they can be used in combinations that lead to a winning recipe. Here are three such combinations. EUCALYPTUS AND PINK SWEETS This combination is not generally encountered; indeed some anglers will still think that these dips do not belong in a combination, but the opposite is true – this combo has many followers and our own staffers and correspondents have often put it to the test, with considerable success. This is a strong, sweet combination that produces a light green cloud in the water. It attracts muddies and carp and can be be used effectively throughout any given day. What makes it somewhat different to other combos, is that while it is effective in warm weather, it also delivers great results on unexpectedly cool, rainy days. The secret to using this combination is the various amount of the two ingredients: When it's cold and windy, you use put more of the eucalyptus and less of the pink sweets, but in warm weather on clear, sunny days, use more pink sweets and less of the eucalyptus. The eucalyptus is there to attract the fish's attention while the pink sweets entices the fish to take a bite! APPLICATION Place the eucalyptus on the feed ball first so that it soaks in slightly, then apply the pink sweets, that is usually thicker and more syrupy, on top of it. This will ensure that the pink sweets ‘protects’ the eucalyptus as it sinks through the water column so that its aroma spread more slowly as the feedball breaks open on the bottom. RED BERRY MOLASSES AND TCP/GARLIC This is a nice combination specifically for muddies, although at times carp also find it attractive. The dark, red colour of the berry molasses settles together with the feedball and hookbait on the bottom, after which it takes quite a long time to dissolve. It combines well with the strong flavour and aroma of the TCP/Garlic which contains a lot of green fluorescein that ‘shocks’ the water but subtly ‘bleeds’ on the bottom to attract the fish's attention. The berry molasses is much like the pudding after a nice meal – even on a full stomach there’s always space for something sweet! The correct description here is ‘stimulation’ and that is exactly what the berry molasses does – it stimulates the fish's taste and smell senses and before long the hook is in its mouth! This combination works really well throughout the day, warm or cold, rain or shine. The only aspect you need to be careful about is the amount of TCP/Garlic you put on. Start with a little and increase as the day progresses – you can always add more, but it's impossible to take away. APPLICATION To derive the most benefits of this combination, apply the two dips next to each other on the feedball. This ensures that the fluorescein creates the initial cloud as the feedball hits the water while the strong flavours of both are released into the water column as it sinks. There will still be some aromas and flavours on the bottom that slowly ‘bleed’, but this is where the berry molasses comes into its own. Because the molasses is so thick it will sink to the bottom and slowly release the flavour, but its full potential actually takes place when a fish starts mouthing it. As the fish bump against the feedball the flavour spreads more and more while the pieces that break down and remain behind keep the sweet flavour in the water for longer, which the fish continue to search for as it seeps into the mud. However, you actually create a feeding spot for the fish that keeps them busy for a long time without them physically being able to eat any food. WINTERGREEN BANANA AND CARAMEL Nobody really knows why banana and wintergreen work so well together, but what is more important than that is the fact that it works! Fish are crazy about it and especially carp find it highly attractive. The caramel that is combined with it is a brilliant attraction that produces a moderate green cloud in the water. This is a sweet combination that yields good catches all year round in most dams in the country. It is one of those ‘go-to’ combinations that you can always return to if or when other combinations don't seem to work. It works equally well in cold as well as warm conditions and is especially effective at the start of the day in the morning. You can't easily overdo it with this combination so you don't have to be too careful with its application. The banana/wintergreen mixture adheres quite well to the feedball, but will wash down in the water column and give off only a subtle flavour on the bottom. The thick caramel sticks very well to the feedball, especially when you spread it with your finger, and will sink to the bottom with the feedball and release the flavour there. APPLICATION You can play around with the application of this combination and as mentioned above you can't exactly overdo it, therefore the application is very easy. Basic guidelines would be to use less in the morning and as the day progresses and the wind picks up you increase both concentrates, and even ‘flood’ the feedball with the dips later in the day to get results.

Three top SUMMER DIP COMBINATIONS

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