Hempseed:
no need for a ban
Ever
since the use of hempseed for bait was introduced into this country by
Belgian refugees who fished in the river Thames after the first world
war there have been many mistaken theories spoken or written about where
the deadly bait is concerned and to the present day some commercial fisheries
ban the use of the bait.
Let me dispel some of those mistaken theories. Hempseed does not drug
the fish. It is not the part of the plant that produces drugs.
Hempseed cannot grow in the water and clog the water because it is treated
before it is sold to prevent this happening.
It is a cheap, very nutritious food which fish love and thrive on and
unless you throw in a really huge amount of stuff it all gets eaten up.
What’s more it is very easily prepared by simply leaving the seeds
overnight in a thermos flask filled with one third hemp and a similar
amount of boiling water.
Those people who tell us that fish become preoccupied with feeding on
hempseed and become less likely to accept other baits have some justification
for their belief, but this applies to any particle bait including the
ever-popular maggot.
Over the years I have not fished with hempseed on the hook a lot but just
used it as groundbait while presenting a different hook bait.
The big advantage that this bait gives the angler is that not only do
fish love to eat it but since it consists of so many small particles it
holds the fish in your swim for a long time.
Best used in summer, hemp does also work in winter and several kinds of
fish love it. Roach and barbel in particular are really fond of the seeds.