Frederic Melton
Cheese is a popular bait for freshwater fishing and is said to be particularly effective when fishing for chub, carp, tench, and barbel. Some sources suggest that strong-smelling cheeses such as Danish Blue or Blue Stilton are the best options, while others recommend softer cheeses like Philadelphia, mixed with bread or groundbait to form a paste. Fishermen have also had success with Kraft Cheddar, cutting it into 1cm cubes and threading it onto a hook.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effectiveness as bait | Cheese is a good bait for freshwater fishing and can be used to catch carp, catfish, chub, barbel, tench, bream, mullet, flathead, garfish, and tarwhine. |
| Types of cheese to use | Strong-smelling cheeses like Danish Blue or Blue Stilton are preferable. Other options include Philadelphia, gouda, and cheddar. |
| How to use | Cheese can be cut into cubes and threaded onto a hook, moulded onto the hook as a paste, or placed beneath the hook. |
| Advantages | Cheese is easily obtainable and can be flavoured with curry powder, paprika, or other flavourings. |
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What You'll Learn
Cheese is a good bait for carp and catfish
Cheese is a popular and effective bait for carp and catfish. Its strong smell and appealing taste make it a favourite among fish, and its versatility means it can be used in a variety of ways to lure your target species.
When using cheese as bait, the key is to ensure it stays on the hook. Soft cheeses like Philadelphia can be mixed with bread or groundbait to create a paste that can be moulded around the hook, ensuring the point is still exposed. This method is also suitable for firmer cheeses like cheddar; simply push the hook into the cheese, leaving the point visible. For smaller hooks, cutting the cheese into 1 cm cubes and threading them onto the hook is a good approach, while larger hooks can accommodate multiple cubes.
If you're after carp, consider using Gouda cheese, which has a texture that holds up well on the hook. Avoid smoked Gouda or varieties with seeds. Alternatively, you can use a "'hair'" rig, where the cheese is placed on a short strand of thread beneath the hook, so when the fish eats the cheese, the hook is also sucked in. This method helps prevent the cheese from falling off the hook and ensures a secure catch.
While cheese is an effective bait for carp and catfish, it's worth noting that some anglers use it sarcastically, particularly those who target different species like salmon and steelhead. Nonetheless, cheese can be a fun and easily obtainable bait option, especially for those new to fishing who want to try something other than traditional baits.
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Soft cheeses like Philadelphia are used as bait
Cheese is a popular bait for freshwater fishing. Soft cheeses like Philadelphia are used as bait, typically by mixing and moulding with a piece of bread or a small amount of groundbait to form a paste. The cheese can be flavoured by adding spices like curry powder or paprika. This type of bait is effective when ledgered, float fished, or free lined, and it works well for catching fish species such as chub, carp, tench, and barbel.
When using soft cheese as bait, it's important to ensure that the hook point remains exposed. This is because cheese tends to harden in water, and if the hook point is not showing, it can be more difficult to set the hook when a fish bites. To attach soft cheese to the hook, you can mould it into a paste and then roll or thread it onto the hook, making sure the point is exposed.
One method for using soft cheese as bait is to mix it with bread or groundbait to create a paste-like consistency. This paste can then be moulded around the hook, ensuring the hook point is still exposed. This method is often used for ledgering, float fishing, or free-lining techniques and has proven effective for various fish species.
Additionally, you can create a hair rig by threading the soft cheese through a needle and attaching it to a short length of line below the hook. This method ensures that when the fish takes the bait, the hook is also sucked in. The "hair rig" technique is especially useful for soft cheeses that may not stay on the hook directly.
Some people also recommend using strong-smelling cheeses, such as Danish Blue or Blue Stilton, as they can be more attractive to certain fish species. However, when using soft cheese, it's important to consider its tendency to harden in water, so leaving the hook point exposed is crucial for effective hook setting.
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Strong-smelling cheese is preferable
Cheese is a great bait for fishing, especially for freshwater fishing. It is also an effective bait for chub fishing and catching barbel, carp, tench, bream, mullet, flathead, garfish, and tarwhine. When it comes to cheese as bait, strong-smelling varieties like Danish Blue or Blue Stilton are preferred. The rationale behind this preference is that the stronger the smell, the more attractive the bait is to fish.
The species of fish you are targeting will determine the size of the hook you use, but regardless of the type of fish, it is essential that the hook's point remains visible even when the cheese is attached. For softer cheeses like Philadelphia, mixing and moulding with bread or groundbait to form a paste is recommended. This paste can then be flavoured with curry powder, paprika, or other spices, although some anglers prefer the natural smell of the cheese.
For firmer cheeses, like cheddar, breaking off a piece and pushing the hook through it, leaving the point exposed, is a simple and effective method. If the cheese is too hard to pierce easily, rolling it between your fingers to soften it first can help. This softened cheese can then be moulded onto the hook as a paste, ensuring the hook's point is still visible.
When using strong-smelling cheese as bait, it is important to consider the method of attachment carefully. One option is to use a hair rig, where the cheese is threaded onto a short "hair" beneath the hook, so when the fish takes the bait, the hook is also sucked in. This method helps to secure the cheese and prevent it from falling off the hook, a common issue when using cheese as bait.
While cheese is a popular and effective bait for fishing, it is important to note that it may not be suitable for all fishing situations or species of fish. In some fisheries, for example, the use of cheese as bait may be considered sarcastic or a joke. Additionally, for beginners, it is often recommended to start with more traditional baits like worms before experimenting with cheese.
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Rigging the cheese is simple
Rigging cheese as bait is simple and can be done in several ways. Firstly, it's important to note that any type of cheese can be used as bait, but strong-smelling cheeses such as Danish Blue or Blue Stilton are preferred. The species of fish you're targeting will determine the size of the hook you use, and the cheese should be fitted onto the hook with the point still showing.
If you're using a firm cheese like cheddar, break off a piece from the block and push the hook into it, ensuring the point remains exposed. You can also roll the cheese between your fingers to soften it and then mould it onto the hook as a paste. If you're using a soft cheese like Philadelphia, mix and mould it with a piece of bread or a small amount of groundbait to form a paste. You can even add some curry powder, paprika, or other flavourings to enhance the attraction.
Another method is to cut the cheese into 1 cm cubes and thread them onto the hook, leaving the hook point and barb outside the cube. This technique is especially useful when chasing larger freshwater fish species that require a larger hook. Simply adjust the number of cubes on the hook accordingly.
Additionally, you can try using a hair rig. In this method, the cheese is not placed directly on the hook but on a short "hair" beneath it. This way, when the fish sucks in the cheese, the hook gets sucked in as well. To set this up, thread the hair through the cheese with a needle to avoid breaking it.
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Cheese is good bait for freshwater fishing
Cheese is a popular and effective bait for freshwater fishing. Its use as bait is not only limited to sandwiches! Cheese is easily obtainable and can be used to catch a variety of freshwater fish species.
Cheese is a great bait option for chub fishing and is also effective for catching carp, barbel, tench, and catfish. It is also used to catch bream, mullet, flathead, garfish, and tarwhine. The rigging of the cheese is simple and can be done by cutting it into small cubes and threading it onto a hook, ensuring the point and barb of the hook are exposed. The size of the hook will depend on the species of fish you are targeting.
When using cheese as bait, it is important to consider its texture. Soft cheeses like Philadelphia can be mixed and moulded with bread or groundbait to form a paste. Harder cheeses like cheddar can be broken into small pieces and pushed onto the hook, or softened by rolling between your fingers and then moulded onto the hook. It is important to ensure the hook point is exposed, as cheese can harden in the water, making it more difficult to set.
Strong-smelling cheeses are preferred, such as Danish Blue or Blue Stilton. However, any type of cheese can be used, and the choice of cheese may depend on the species of fish being targeted. For example, gouda has been recommended for some species, while cheddar works for certain species in Canada. Cheese can also be flavoured with curry powder, paprika, or other spices to enhance its attractiveness to fish.
Cheese can be used directly on the hook or as part of a hair rig, where the cheese is threaded onto a "hair" beneath the hook. This ensures that when the fish sucks in the cheese, the hook is also sucked in. Cheese is also a good additive for making cheese paste baits and can be combined with other baits like luncheon meat.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, cheese is a great bait for fish, especially freshwater fishing. It is commonly used for catching carp, catfish, chub, barbel, tench, and bream.
Strong-smelling cheeses with a softer texture, such as Danish Blue, Blue Stilton, or Philadelphia, work well. However, some people also use harder cheeses like cheddar by softening them with heat or mixing them with bread.
You can cut the cheese into small cubes and thread them onto a hook, ensuring the hook's point and barb are exposed. Alternatively, you can mould the cheese into a paste and attach it to the hook, or use a "'hair'" rig, where the cheese is threaded beneath the hook.
Cheese can be challenging to keep on the hook as it may crumble or fall off, especially if it's a harder variety. It also tends to harden in water, making it more difficult to pull the hook through on a strike.
