I Spent 13 Years Transforming A Neglected Lake Into A Thriving Fishery ❗

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Owning a fishery was always my dream and very few anglers get the chance to live that dream. I’m very grateful that I’ve had the chance to do it and despite its challenges, I wouldn't change the road we took, even if I could. Here’s a behind the scenes look into the amount of work that we’ve put into the fishery over the last 13 years. Hope you enjoy it 😊

[@aarondavies8486]

Thanks matt I have been wanting to hear your story about the joys and pains of your life as a fishery owner

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great mate, we've loved making that video, it's our most personal one and we'll have it to look back on when we retire (a long way from now!!) 😊

[@goonernumone8444]

You are lucky to have lived that dream however - you have made that dream a success & given anglers a amazing fishery, should be very proud Matt 👍

[@matthewcollinsangler]

@@goonernumone8444 Thank you very much Lee 🙏

[@anthonydobbe8574]

Great video would love see more where is lake please 😊

[@Onpointcarp]

By far the most valuable channel for learning. Your fishery looks impeccable and your enthusiasm is amazing. ❤

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you very much 😊 We've been lucky to meet a top fishery consultant that's been advising and steering us in the right direction.

[@IntrinsicPalomides]

I agree, also Cypography did a fantastic series with Simon Scott called "Seasons of Carp" which was incredibly interesting for learning more about the fish and their yearly life cycle.

[@imraduin]

I'm not even into carpfishing and all that, but I tune in to this channel every now and then because the videos are so informative and interesting. LOVE the way you prioritize a stable ecosystem in your lake.

[@SonOfVulkan]

What an absolutely amazing life you're living, being outside watching and working in nature must be so satisfying

[@dirkcludts3421]

Fantastic to see how much effort and love you put into the lakes. 👏

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Many thanks 😊

[@CarpAndMore]

That movie was so well done. Congratulations on the well maintained fishery. Hopefully one day I will be able to come there and try to net one of this beautiful fish’s ❤

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you very much for the feedback 😊

[@CarpAndMore]

@@matthewcollinsangler it was real pleasure to watch the whole video in the morning 👌🙏

[@paulroberts2625]

Fascinating and very informative video. Thanks for taking the time to put this together. Great to see a fishery owner who obviously cares about fish wellfare and has great knowledge. Well done!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 😊

[@TheBerendir]

Your accent has gone all funny Bamabass! But seriously you're living the dream I could watch this type of content all day, glad you popped up on my feed. You have another subscriber 👍

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 😊

[@paulking9144]

Great behind the scene insite to the daily work and effort it takes to run and manage a fishery.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear, thanks 👍

[@paulellam6926]

What a great upload, learnt so much from this, things that will make me able to appreciate the ecology of a fishery a lot more. I always learn from your uploads, and really appreciate it, hope to come and fish at your venue one day!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear Paul, thanks for the support 👍

[@stevenhughes4891]

Looks a great place to fish clean & tidy lovely surroundings great job

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 😊

[@thedude7319]

54:50 such a fresh cut

[@matthewcollinsangler]

😄

[@Comrade_Akimov]

This is what happens to 99.9% of public ponds: they are never cleaned, the stock is not managed, detritus accumulate and everyone is super happy and the ducks pooping in the water. It’s disgusting.

[@user-wo7rp6bc6t]

Agreed 👍

[@AaronCarpAngler-UK]

What an amazing fishery owner don’t anyone better suited for the job 🙌🙌🐳

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Very kind mate 👍

[@yaaleksche]

I'm excited to watch another video on this channel! Thanks for your hard work. You set an example and show what a place for fishing and quiet relaxation should be like. I learned a lot of new things and admired your humane attitude and care for all inhabitants and understanding of the balance in nature. Looking forward to the 2024 season and your new videos. Thanks again dear Matt! Strength and prosperity!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

That's absolutely wonderful to hear, thanks for the support 😊

[@markrayner6082]

Great video Matt and really good to appreciate the work you and Ren have put in to make Beausoleil such a great fishery. See you again one day 👍

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Much appreciated Mark 👍

[@whiteblackbird8494]

Very informative video. Thanks Matthew. As an owner of a 6 acre carplake in France it’s great to see the management of another lakeowner. I see many similarities... Here in the Vienne the same challenges with silt, bank erosion, overhanging trees, coypue etc. Last winter even a visit of an otter (electric fencing solved that problem) All the best and good luck for the coming season!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you very much and same to you 😊 I really enjoy sharing what it's like behind the scenes, as you know it can be really challenging.

[@anthonydobbe8574]

Whats pond called

[@matthewcollinsangler]

@@anthonydobbe8574 The lake is called Beausoleil Carp & Cats (www.frenchcarpandcats.com), anything else, just shout 😊

[@paulrichards1921]

Get rid of that otter. You don't want nature to visit your pond. LMAO. People are so clueless about nature. I bet your pond is more like a swimming pool than anything else.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

@@paulrichards1921 It's not an otter, they are coypus. Not a swimming pool, it's actually a carp fishing holiday business 😊

[@andymorgan457]

What a fantastic video, I've carp fished for over 30yrs and learnt so much from this 👏🏽 Looks and sounds a great fishery, I'll have to look it up.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear and thanks very much 😊 If you want to check out the venue, here's our website: www.frenchcarpandcats.com

[@chrislaney1591]

I’d love to fish your lake. I fish solo 90% of the time. Would it be possible to fish your lake?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

@@chrislaney1591 Hi Chris, just sent you an email 😊

[@benmochrie7832]

Excellent stuff! Learned loads from this. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 👊👊👊

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great, glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@jamesosborne4132]

Really Enjoyed watching that Matthew - great detail and a real insight into the hard work , effort and dedication that goes into owning a Fishery - Thanks 👍🏻🎣

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cool mate, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@trevorchapman9050]

This is amazing! Such depth of education. Thank you for making this!! 👏👏👏

[@veveritamace7670]

Wow !!! Fantastic too see how much effort you put too manage a fish lake especially for carp. I would also like to see in Romania managers like you. Good luck

[@CB-zr9fi]

Best carp channel on KZbin

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 👍

[@chrisjpainter]

Absolutely top drawer; thank you so much. I'm on the committee of a local angling club and we are lucky enough to own one of our waters, which is a small lake. It's down the road from me, so is my unofficial responsibility and this video's been a lot of food for thought in how we maintain it.

[@sidmac9071]

Great video so many so called carp angler's have no idea of what it takes to run a lake or how it all works you never stop learning about it all top work and long may it continue 👍

[@stottyplayzSHOW]

hi matt just a suggestion could you maybe use an underwater camera to check the spots there pretty affordable now and would be more accurate than the net?

[@theotherromfordpele8653]

First time I have posted on your channel Matthew, really informative video, for me, your best one yet.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 😊

[@Wizzywig2009]

thanks for taking the time and effort to produce such an informative video, well done on all that you do

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Much appreciated 👍

[@glennchuckie773]

Really enjoyed that Matt, thanks for sharing some of your journey and what a beautiful lake, definitely one to be proud of. 👌

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you very much 😊

[@peternufc81]

Man knows his fishing loved watching that would have liked to have seen more of the fish . Very nice fishery you own

[@Peter-m2u]

I enjoyed every minute of the video Matt, All interesting stuff, it's good to see you doing well out there in France

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you very much 😊

[@sharpepeter]

I am not into fishing in anyway, but found this video very interesting, Educational and an enjoyable watch. thanks

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Good to hear 😊 I’ve done a couple of others since that video you might enjoy too: I Spent 13 Years Transforming A Neglected Lake Into A Thriving Fishery ❗ kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXi4mqV-gMSCepY and From Stagnant to Stunning: How I'm Bringing My Lake Back to Life ⛑️ kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHSzoWSroLCkg6s

[@johngaines23]

Love your channel always learning and talking a different approach to carp fishing from watching your tips thanks for a great insight and good work into creating a wonderful lake

[@matthewcollinsangler]

That's great to hear, thank you, glad I can help you in your fishing.

[@sifishes]

Loved that video. That is a serious amount of work you have to do to make the fishery what its become. Top job to everyone involved, especially you Matt. 🎣

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you very much mate 👍

[@erikstevens6165]

Not many have an aquarium they can patrol on foot. Fascinating. Thank you for your excellent filming and narration. Completely different environment than what I’ve fished up here in the PNW but just as interesting.

[@gordonrazey]

Excellent video - Thanks for sharing Matt - Keep up the good work 👍

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thanks very much 😊

[@DavidHuff-n6g]

Great Management Guys.

[@EricB_LakeOneal]

Very glad I found your channel! I manage my 5 acre lake here in USA. Very cool to see how all of the best management strategies apply the same way even across the Atlantic. It is a ton of hard work to make something excellent, but being able to share an amazing fishery with friends and family is a joy.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

It certainly is and we really enjoy sharing our journey and our life with guests that stay at the lake. All the best with your lake 😊

[@IntrinsicPalomides]

I love this kind of video, so interesting to see what's involved behind the scene's of a fishery. One day i'd love to have my own big pond/small lake to make a great home for some fish.

[@markrobbins7043]

Such an insight. Thanks for sharing Matt. Brilliant.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear that mate, thanks 👍

[@xionerebus]

Another very informative video Mathew.

[@spartacus72]

What a Super Video Thanks for making it. 5 STAR

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear! 😊

[@kevlar4384]

The fish and the fish really looks absolutely stunning liveing the dream

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@FishingwithSteveIreland]

Great video!! very interesting and informative. Your fishery looks great. 👏🏻

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thanks very much 👍

[@markIburgess]

Thanks Matt for a very interesting video. It gave a great insight to what you have to do running and maintaining a fishery. Your fishery looks a wonderful place, maybe I'll see if I can persuade a couple friends to come over for a week with my son and myself.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear mate 👍 If you need anything, you know where to find me 😊

[@BIGGGESTAL]

Fascinating thank you

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cool 😊

[@Chxrlie95]

wow, didn't realise how much work goes into keeping a lake! great video.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 😊

[@Sushi2735]

Bravo! Just amazing! Thank you!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

You're welcome, glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@WHURobKip]

Very informative. Thanks

[@garylowe8601]

Great video an cracking good insight into what should be done at all lakes .

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cool, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@andystafford7073]

Matthew - just to add a comment re. wind lanes. The waves created actually increase the surface area of the lake and disrupt the surface tension, thereby giving a double whammy to help gas exchange. It's not only oxygen in but also methane etc. out.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Good point, thanks 👍

[@grumpygrandad1216]

Thank you for doing this video, I found it very interesting and informative. I knew owning a lake or lakes was a massive undertaking, but I certainly did not expect this amount of work. How you find time to fish yourself is beyond me lol. Really really interesting and I thank you again for making this video it was a great watch

[@matthewcollinsangler]

That's really great to hear 😊

[@paulstokes2473]

Great video-very informative

[@garyendall]

What a brilliant video Matt ! Feel I’ve learnt so much about the lake ecosystem Thanks so much for sharing such indepth and detailed information. Wish you all the best for a successful 2024 season.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you very much, I really enjoyed sharing the journey we've been on.

[@markward8216]

Fantastic insight to fishery management. Interesting video😊

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 😊

[@grahamlong6870]

I have posed the question many times in that how much the fish eat, and how much is left to ferment, and thus polluting the water. Given that most anglers put far too much bait in, ostensibly to attract the fish, how much remains, thus actually harming the water and putting the fish off, or worse, especially in the warmer summer months when there is much less saturated oxygen.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

That’s a very good point and I talk in detail about how much carp eat in this video. Personally, I don’t want loads of bait going in my lake at the wrong time of year and it’s a dialogue I have with my guests each week. Most anglers ask for bait recommendations and that way I can explain what quantity makes sense for the time of year and what species they target. It’s definitely something for each fishery to manage.

[@iangrabham692]

What a video! 🙌. And what a lake! 👌

[@clivelogsdon1492]

Great video Matthew

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 👍

[@ankrapek12]

priceless information! subscribed!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

thank you 😊

[@dafarsher9738]

Smashing, really interesting video Matt, well done!

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thanks mate!

[@pikingadventures2872]

absolutely brilliant video, love it

[@paul.d9401]

Always great informative videos. I’ve used your knowledge many times and hints & tips on a very old estate lake i fish on my syndicate. I’m lucky to have use of a boat and it’s fascinating what you find using the hollow pipe method. Keep up the great videos even though it’s time consuming as your videos have helped many like myself 👍🏻

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear from someone else who can use that method! Thanks very much for the support 😊

[@phillkirby]

Excellent vlog learnt lots thankyou

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@kevlar4384]

I miss being game keeper nothing more working outdoors with nature keep up good work mate one day I will try to visit your lake and have little holiday

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Brilliant 👍 Yes, we love spending more time outside than inside 😊

[@Nosmo1985]

You could introduce swan mussels to your lake to help clear up water visibility. They are excellent fresh water filter feeders, for this purpose 👌

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you, we have mussels in the lake already and they are multiplying nicely 😊

[@Nosmo1985]

Perfect! The lake looks amazing. You have done a cracking job mate. Loving your videos, hugely informative Matt. Thank you 🙏

[@keepitnatural4116]

Loved this video thank you 👌🏻

[@DonAl9114]

Very interesting. Thank you. 😊😊😊

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cool, glad you liked it 😊

[@danielwalker8989]

I love your blogs mat,there proper interesting and passionate just genuinely worth watching every time! I can not wait for the springtime😄 Atb Danboy🎣

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cheers Dan, hope you can get back on the bank soon 👍

[@DAVIDGARNHAM-s3y]

Hi great video. I have made some sola panel aerating pumps. They work very well and cheap to run. If you would like more information let me know. I would be happy to help.

[@jeremygourde9880]

Silt isn’t from leaves. Silt is particles of rocks and minerals that are larger than clay but smaller than sand. What your pond is experiencing is pond sludge/muck. Pond sludge goes by many names; mulm, muck, sediment, and a few more colorful terms. It is simply an accumulation of organic debris that settles in the pond bottom. Most commonly the sludge will be a mixture of leaves, fish waste, decaying plant debris, dead algae, and debris washed into the pond with rain run off. The other issue your pond is experiencing is from the fish, the carp are degrading the banks, they’re scarifying the bottom actually causing some silting as they feed and turn up the bottom. The disturbed bottom from the feeding is stratifying in the water column and resettling into other areas of the pond, it’s very evident at the edges with the stone on the surface and it having a defined boundary to the soft bottom. Between the damage to the banks and the large excavated “feeding” holes in the pond the carp are causing serious problems.

[@johnnywonderling3018]

Hi Matthew love your videos , keep up the good work.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cool and thanks 😊

[@brunodespierre2469]

SUPERBE VIDEO MATTHEW 😃👍👏

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Merci beaucoup!!! 😊

[@jensmatthaei3293]

Disciplined description of the works! Could you please repeat the formula, how you calculate the amount of carp to cultivate without feeding. We do have a 0.4 hectar pond with too much roach inside. Our assoc leaders pour 1200kg of trout and char into the lake, just to fish it out immediately afterwards. I go for carp (and tench), so I wonder how to develop the amount of carp. Move in some more perch or pike to limit the roach and go for 100- 200 carps between 1- 3 kg?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

So based on what you’re saying and without a feeding program, I’d say 50 x 3kg carp is your upper limit.

[@Thebelgianviking3700]

At the local fishing lake they will trow a big hay bail in the water. And that will prevent it from freezing. Dont ask me what the hay bail actually does to prevent it from freezing over. But it does work

[@Northstar-Media]

Barley straw it's to help break down alge in the water

[@samuelgarrod8327]

I do not target carp at all but I found this very interesting, I'd rather watch videos about managing carp fisheries than catching them! Not a common situation. Great stuff 👍

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 😊

[@andywestwood748]

So interesting Matt hoping to book with you soon 👌

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Wow, cool 👍

[@ryanpostlethwaite9147]

Great video thanks

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cheers 😊

[@Rose.Of.Hizaki]

With regards to not enough food to go around at 41:07 - I find that the problem solves itself by the amount of loose feed that some carp anglers choose to dump into the water during their session. Ive fished many still water lakes and fisheries and there are always that one individual or group of people that dump ungodly amounts of loose feed in every hour/few hours. What they use in one session. I probably use in an entire year as im quite frugal with loose feed. Yet Im still catching fish while they are dozing away in their bivvys after their olympic spodding efforts.

[@abv6ftandbelow]

I really enjoyed this thank you

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear 😊

[@kieronbevan7489]

Id love to spend a few days by your ,lake. If you need to say Gooby to the Coypoo quietly i may be of service. Great uploads

[@Bubble_squeak]

Keep up the good work great Chanel 🇬🇧

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Thank you 😊

[@HelmerandRawlins]

Incredible upload thank you

[@matthewcollinsangler]

cheers 😊

[@T4.3quarters]

Hello I have no interest in fishing however I find the science behind it fascinating brilliant video thanks for sharing with us

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@Verdigris.]

Would it be helpful to put an electric motor on your boat to aerate the water with a propeller?

[@cb01ttr]

Fascinating. I wonder, do you curate other species like roach, tench etc? I'd want a few specimens of those species too, just for fun. Also do you ever get any surprises, like a monster bream turning up? What's the ability of the lake like to grow the other species to specimen sizes?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Hi mate, yes, it's really important to have a balance of species in a fishery to maintain the health of the lake, every species has a role to play. I've stocked roach and pike and zander in the past. It's not possible in a lake of this size to grow everything to specimen size, our priority are the carp and the catfish, but the zander do well here.

[@thedude7319]

51:50 why not make a sort of pilot whole big enough to contain the entire bolt and all ?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

This bridge is fragile so I wanted to keep the maximum thickness of wood possible and I'd need a 2'' diameter counterbore because that's the size of the washer I was using.

[@thedude7319]

Was all that mulm at the bodem sold for some cheap compost because that would have been great nutrient rich soil additive

[@matthewcollinsangler]

It is very good compost but the rules are very strict when it comes to moving silt out of a lake, so I kept it onsite and it's being used as compost around the lake.

[@aarondavies8486]

Is used to operate a long reach digger like thats jcb one

[@cbscott82]

Hi Matthew, great video thank you. can i ask, as you are a fishery owner are you concerned about the quality of the bait going into your lake. in your experience would you recommend a boilie manufacturer that you trust to have good quality product or would you say most well known boilie manufacturers are using quality bait ingredients

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Hi mate, yes, absolutely, I pay a lot of attention to the bait that goes in my lake. I used to make all our own bait as I wanted to be absolutely sure of the quality. We made the switch to Nash bait three years ago. I was able to have a good chat with Gary Bayes before we made the switch and he explained how modern stabilised baits are made and how at Nash, they are identical to freezer baits. The stabilisers they use are the same stuff they use in the food industry. They are water soluble and so within 24hrs of being in the lake, most of the stabiliser has been washed out. This means that if bait does go uneaten, it breaks down in the same way that any good quality freezer bait would. Once I understood that, it was a no brainer to make the switch. We use the Scopex Squid which is 30% protein - another great indicator of quality. Some bait suppliers won’t give you any info. about ingredients and the nutritional profile but on the back of any bag of Nash bait, you’ll find everything you need to know. The other reason is the fish absolutely love it and it works at every venue I’ve ever taken it to, including venues that have never seen it.

[@cbscott82]

@@matthewcollinsangler thank you for replying. I have struggled with confidence in bait so feel as long as quits good the fish will eat it. I will definitely be giving Nash a try.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

@@cbscott82 In my experience, many anglers lack confidence because they chop and change too many variables too frequently. All you need to catch carp are simple rigs (mono hair on a free running ledger is a classic example of this), with sharp hooks and some good bait. Focus on the basics (find them, feed them, catch them), and slowly, over time you’ll gain the confidence that what you are doing works 👍

[@eezxp6843]

i would love to fish this place

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Great to hear 😊

[@OutofluckpikerMJK]

Just a tip, here in Sweden you arent allowed to lift the salmon out of the water if you are releasing it in the famous salmon rivers here. They dont cope with it well, like pike do. So probably best photoing it in the net and be done with it. If for eating do what ones think is best but for the vanishing salmon stock, careful cath and release are advised.

[@robertmabry6998]

Carp are a much heartier species than salmon. You can leave them out of the water for a considerable time, drag them across the ground, and they bounce right back.

[@mankimank1983]

Great movie. Matthew Could you explain to me why such work is carried out when it is cold, since the carp's natural habitat is warm water?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Hi mate, yes, that’s right, carp are at their liveliest in warm water (28deg). When transporting fish or doing any work in the lake, we want them to be as cold as possible as they’ll be calmer and suffer less stress.

[@BJHolloway1]

Our fishing club here in Germany on average empties its lakes every 7 years. The idea is to let lakes rejuvinate and allow the oxygen to get back into the lake. We like you have leaf fall, maybe more than you, but we never seem to have your issues.

[@NiallMurphyphotography]

might sound silly but anaerobic substrate is where cyanobacteria grows. Difficult to control substrate layers in a lake but these layers are great for the ecosystem.

[@kevinfranklin6588]

Hi Matthew, love your videos and your lake looks amazing. What is the name of the lake please as really interested in doing a week on there. Tia

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Hi mate, great to hear and thanks for the feedback 👍 The lake is called Beausoleil Carp & Cats and website is www.frenchcarpandcats.com if you want to check it out. Any questions, just let me know 😊

[@johnobrien8081]

Great videos Matt. You're looking well. Can you send me your diet please?😂 could do with losing a few pounds myself! Keep up the good work.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

haha thanks very much mate 👍 made a bit of a change in my diet!

[@johannesvandenbergh9563]

Hi Matthew, what should the depth of the lake be for big carp to be happy?

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Actually carp don’t need deep water to grow large. According to our fishery consultant, 1.2m is all they need.

[@johannesvandenbergh9563]

Thanks so the main factor is controlling the amount of fish for the food that's available...

[@luqmanspmti]

Coming up from tiktok. Really interested about the process.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Cool, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@shauncorless8965]

See if you locate that lead shot I lost ,,I think it was a number 6 😅

[@Northstar-Media]

How long does it take for processed baits to get broken down naturally.

[@matthewcollinsangler]

Do you mean, how long do boilies last if they are not eaten? That’s an impossible question to answer because many factors affect this. We use Scopex Squid at the lake because it’s formulated with water soluble stabilisers that leach out over 24/48 hrs (temperature dependant). After that, the baits effectively behave as freezer baits would. Breakdown time of freezer fresh baits depends on how hard they are, how big they are, what other species are present and water temperature is a big factor. As a general rule of thumb, if the baits remain uneaten and intact, after a week or so bacteria will begin to attack the boilie and after another week trapped gases will cause it to bob up to the surface where it can be eaten by birds, rats and anything else. I used to make my own freezer baits and occasionally I’d find one bobbed up in the margins. Since we switched to Scopex Squid we see no evidence of this. Everything that swims loves Scopex Squid so un-eaten bait is something I don’t have to worry about.