Hemp, this seed bait is probably the best known out of the seed baits group with many anglers knowing of or using it already to devastating effect, it is not a seasonal bait like many of the other baits but there will be times of the year when it will outscore all others especially for quality Roach, hemp can be used in many forms such as boiled (being the most popular) crushed (used in most if not all commercial ground baits) grilled (again used in ground baits) liquidised (after boiling and fed through a feeder, from a pole pot when fishing is hard or when the angler wishes to fish bread punch as well) hemp oil (also used to activate ground bait or additive for boilies and pastes) and last of all hemp butter which I don't suppose many anglers have heard of (rue left from process of crushing hemp and extracted from large hemp crushing machinery, usually very potent and full of amino acids)

There are many ways to cook your hemp and is largely dependant on the individuals preference as to which method they use, I will explain the most popular to you but it is worth experimenting with this bait yourselves to achieve maximum satisfaction.

Boiled hemp (microwave method), purchase your raw hemp from a seed merchants as this is by far the cheapest alternative !, in my opinion this method is the best way to cook your hemp causing minimum smell and with the utmost ease as you can control the cooking more easily and you do not have to watch over a hot pan in the kitchen, place hemp in a large bucket with at least three times the capacity of raw hemp you need depending on how much you wish to cook, flood with boiling water from a freshly boiled kettle so that you cover the hemp and have at least the same amount of water again over the top, stir, we will assume that you are cooking at least four pints, place in an 850 watt microwave on full power for twenty minutes remove and leave to stand for at least ten minutes, replenish the water supply as the hemp will have absorbed most of the water at this point, place back in the microwave for at least ten minutes or until most of the seeds are showing their white kernels and are well split open (up to twenty minutes) the seeds will continue to cook for at least ten minutes when you remove them from the microwave, leave to cool strain off excess water split into two pint denominations in clean polythene bags and place in the fridge until you wish to go fishing, the hemp should last about a week in the fridge but it is best done the night before you want to go fishing and taken fresh many anglers cook a good amount and then stock the freezer but I do not favour this method as when the hemp defrosts it destroys the clear sack around the kernel and then the kernel disintegrates, "not a good thing when fishing for quality Roach", when on the bank cover your hemp in clean cold water especially in hot weather or the seeds will shrivel and start to float, many anglers treat their hemp with bicarbonate of soda to turn the seeds black then add sugar to offset the bitter taste of the bicarbonate, I have never found this to be an advantage after fishing with hemp for some twenty five years the only thing that could give you a slight edge by doing this is the sugar content as this is really a sweet caramel base which Roach love.

Boiled hemp (pan method) follow directions above but boil in a large saucepan on the stove for probably an hour or more or until most of the seeds are split, check constantly and top up with boiling water regularly, be warned ! if you use bicarbonate of soda the cooking time will increase dramatically and you will have to simmer the hemp very gently skimming of the scum every ten minutes or so but be careful as the pan will easily boil over and make a right mess.

Hemp seed is a fantastic holding bait for all types of fish especially Barbel, Carp, Tench, Roach and Chub there are many theories as to why this is some say that the baits drug properties have a diverse effect on the fish and that they may get dependant on it's constant use ? but I find it hard to agree with this theory as it is only a theory and the seeds that enter the country are treated anyway, it's drug producing properties are diminished in the cooking process and it is more likely that by the very nature of the baits size and consistency it resembles a natural diet species like a pea snail or the likes that can be found in abundance and are eaten naturally by the fish as well as providing the fish with good quantities of amino acid, after all has it not been eaten by us far many years and the last time I watched a cookery programme they were making hemp seed salad !  which is apparently in vogue at the moment, "so the old saying goes I wouldn't give them anything I wouldn't eat myself"  doesn't it ? or maybe it should come with this health label "tested on humans" .

A gallon of hemp tipped into a river soon dissipates and looks as though you haven't put any in believe me I have done it many times, fish will often stay over this bait used on mass for many hours sieving out every last grain, if you do wish to try using hemp as a holding bait remember these simple rules, when you have put your hemp in do not overfeed your hook bait as the bites will become finicky only put in a few hook bait samples so that when the fish get preoccupied on the hemp they will come across your hook bait and the hook bait samples and take them with confidence, after some time if you want to put any more in wait until you are sure that the bites have diminished and put the rest in all at once so that the fish may come over it and begin feeding once more taking your hook bait as they feed, if you want to catch Roach or Chub up in the water keep a steady stream of it going in and loose feed a few hook bait samples now and again, you can get through at least four to eight pints in a five hour session especially on a commercial fishery but check the rules first as some have banned its use or have a bait limit, deadly hemp combinations include, hemp and caster, hemp and worm, hemp and tare.

Hemp can be used to produce your own specialist ground bait, it is very simple and often better than some of the stuff that you can buy, again purchase all of your hemp seed and crumb from a good seed merchant it is by far the best and cheapest way to produce good ground bait, you will need to finely grind the hemp in an electric coffee grinder or buy it already done again from a good seed merchant, I would only advise adding ground hemp to your summer mixes as it is used primarily to make the ground bait fizz and work whilst on the bottom, if you require a mix that will fizz well for fishing on the drop or with fairly buoyant baits then add the ground hemp 50-50 with some brown or red crumb, for a finer mix add 20% to 40% fine maize meal and the ground bait will disperse easily upon hitting the water or cloud from a pole pot when flooded with water you can add any flavourings that you like but do try and stick to the powdered variety when adding to the dry mix as this will distribute itself evenly throughout, good dry ingredients to try with this mix are, powdered aniseed, icing sugar, caramel, turmeric or garamasala for Roach, meat based powders such as OXO cubes, many different meat based casserole powders and powdered soups, fenugreek, coriander, mixed spice cheese and fish powders including fish meal for Barbel, Chub and Carp, Black pepper, sweet desert type powders in all flavours especially butterscotch for Bream and Skimmers.

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