How to Make Chum
Many fishermen toil over the issue of whether to fish or cut bait. Anyone who has been in a hotbed of fish and run out of bait can easily relate to the problem. Fresh, live bait spoils over a short time if not used and leaves an angler without the best means of catching fish. Fortunately, there is a way to remedy the issue: Make chum.
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Things You'll Need
- Baitfish cut into chunks
- Grinder or processor
- Netting or flow-through bucket
Instructions
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1
Determine the species of fish to be lured. You can catch many types of fish using similar chum. Conversely, some fish may ignore the chum altogether, yet begin to feed on the baitfish that is feeding on the chum itself.
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2
Collect several milk jugs or buckets to hold the chum. Five-gallon buckets are common to hold a good supply of material.
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3
Catch as many baitfish as possible. Bluegills are common chum bait for catfish. Most baitfish, cut into chunks along with the organs and skins, will suffice. Allow the pieces to sit in the sun for some time before using. The more the fish parts rot and decay, the better.
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4
Pour grain or chicken feed into a five-gallon bucket and cover with two inches of water. Let ferment for about a month or two weeks at minimum. This process smells very bad as the grain rots. Drop this mixture into the area being fished to attract fish.
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5
Grind up herring, mackerel or any small fish that are available when chumming in the ocean. Process the cut up chunks through a table grinder or utility blender.
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6
Place the product into five-gallon bucket and secure a lid on it. Two of these buckets will serve a fisherman for a day or two.
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Tips & Warnings
Place the larger chunks of chum into a bucket with flow-through holes or netting and suspend over the rear of the boat. The chum dissolves and distributes as the boat progresses.
Spray a small amount of fish oils into the chum and allow it to be absorbed for better results.
Use caution when handling sharp instruments to cut bait.
