The one disadvantage that a boilie has, is that when you boil it, the hard skin that forms on the outside of the bait can work against you. It can prevent the goodies that are locked inside the bait, such as your flavours and smelly ingredients, from leaking out to the surrounding water and attracting the fish.
This is where a paste bait can really score and work for you. Because there is no hard skin around your bait, it allows all the goodies to leak off into the surrounding water and draw the fish to your bait.
Trout Pellet Paste.
This is one of the easiest paste baits to make, all you need are ground trout pellets (which can be bought from most tackle shops) and eggs. Eggs must be used and not water as they help bind the trout pellet powder together, use water and the paste will just crumble apart.
The basic method is just like making a paste to make boilies. The required number of eggs are cracked into a mixing bowl and beaten up with a fork. Ground trout pellet powder is then slowly added to the eggs, all the time mixing the powder well into the egg mixture. When the mix turns into a sloppy mess, stop adding powder and let the mixture stand for about five to ten minutes. This will give the trout pellet powder you have added already, chance to absorb some of the eggs. Doing this will prevent the paste from becoming to dry once you have finished making the paste.
After the mix as stood continue to add the trout pellet powder slowly to the eggs and again mix well in. You will come to the stage when you will no longer be able to mix it with a fork, but will have to kneed the mixture by hand. You should continue to add powder until the mixture becomes like putty or marzipan. The paste is now ready to use.
The paste can now be frozen for later use, placed in the fridge for use the next day or used there and then. You will find that the paste keeps for a couple of days at room temperature if putting it in the fridge causes problems with the female member of the household.
Common Mistakes.
The biggest mistake I see people make time and time again, when they bring their first home made trout pellet paste down to the water, is that they make it too soft. They use to many eggs and find that they have not got enough powder left to stiffen up the mix. When you first start off, only use two eggs. You can then see how much powder is needed to make a good paste buy just using two eggs, which will then be a good guide to help you make larger amounts. Always have more powder to hand than you think you will need.
I also see people who make their paste to hard, and it just crumbles of the hook. The secret is to take your time during the mixing stage. Don’t worry if you get it wrong at first, you can always have another go.
Other Pastes.
There are other things that make excellent pastes. Boilie paste for example needn't be boilied, it can be used as it is. One much written about trick is to mould some paste around the hook bait boilie before casting out, to provide additional attraction.
Fishmeal mixes make excellent paste baits, as they have the inbuilt attraction of the fish meal. I have also found that Rod Hutchinsons Maple Creme makes an excellent paste additive. One word of warning, don't use it if there are a lot of bream present, they love the stuff.
When using boilie flavour in paste, cut down the amount of flavour you use per egg. Non of the flavour evaporates or denatures because the paste is not boilied. As a very rough guide, I have found the right amount to be about half as much per egg.