ABOUT
MY story
Like many of my generation, I spent my childhood out in the fresh air - not glued to a screen. Growing up in the West Midlands, it was almost inevitable that I’d find my way into angling. The Region is rich with canals and pools-remnants of the industrial revolution and open-cast mining and these waters became the starting point of my angling journey.
I began, like many, catching gudgeon by the hundred (where have they all gone?!) on the local canals, armed with a Milbrow Rod and Intrepid reel-cherished Christmas gifts from my parents that I still remember fondly.
This was the 1970’s: a time of disco, passing my driving test in a MK2 Ford Cortina and a growing obsession with fishing that rivalled that of Wolverhampton Wonderers - An obsession that has never left me. Whilst the tackle has moved on quite a bit since those early days, the passion remains the same.
THE STORY BEHIND AR BAIT SAUCES
It was back in the 1980’s when I was first introduced to flavours - in the form of “glugs” and liquids used to enhance bait. A friend of mine brought back a strange, oily (but not unpleasant smelling) spray from Canada. I tried it on a boilie - and it lead to my first double-figure carp.
That was the start of a journey that has never really stopped. AR Angling Services was born from that life-long love for the sport - offering everything from bespoke bait and unique sauces to coaching sessions designed to pass on the magic of angling to the next generation.
I’ve followed the work of some of the true pioneers of carp and barbel angling - people like John Baker, Simon Scott, Rodd Hutchinson, And Kevin Nash. Their deep, hands on understanding of bait and fish behaviour has inspired me to experiment with all kinds of substances (all legal of course). After retiring in 2010 I finally had the freedom to fully indulge this passion - without the limitations that come with commercial production.
Because this is a hobby, I am not bound by profit margins or commercial constraints. That means I can use premium ingredients in the quantities truly needed - no compromises, no shortcuts. The results? Bait sauces that are completely unique, developed through years of experimentation and a genuine love for angling innovation.
A quick word about baits and flavours - from my point of view. I am not in the camp that believes fish - especially carp - are particularly intelligent. They are fairly simple creatures: they swim, eat, and poo. In the warmer months, their appetites are huge, and the fact that “named fish"“ are caught time and time again tells me they’re not exactly masterminds. Like all creatures, Fish have natural inbuilt instincts to avoid danger. But, when hunger takes over, that caution is quickly overridden by the urge to feed.
Fish naturally respond to “food signals” - such as amino acids and other compounds released by food in their environment. That’s why AR Bait Sauces and Hookbaits are packed with powerful feed triggers, designed to provoke strong feeding responses. Along side these scientifically backed attractants, our range also features some truly unique flavour profiles - plus a selection of classic favourites that anglers know and love.
Fish and carp especially, are also incredibly curious and the truth is, we still know far too little to say with any confidence whether - for example, they genuinely prefer a “sweet” bait over a “fishy” one - or if they respond more to one colour than another.
I believe bait colours and flavours are often more about appealing to the angler than the fish. Lets be honest - every time you pick up a tub of pop-ups or wafters in your local tackle shop, the first thing you do is crack the lid and have a sniff.. am I right? I am exactly the same.
That’s not to say that flavours don’t play a role - just that the real key lies in other, more fundamental factors. After all, a fishes natural diet neither smells or looks like the range of baits we generally buy.
When it comes to boilies, chances are you’re already using a high quality bait - the standard these days is genuinely impressive. I can’t match the production scale of bait companies, and to be honest I don’t want to. For what it’s worth, I currently use CC Moore’s Pro Stim Liver and Vortex Baits for my carp and barbel fishing (alongside my own hook baits and sauces of course)! For commercial lake fishing I am a big fan of the Sonubaits Range of Groundbaits and Pellets. That said, I could just as easily use bait from 99% of other companies - the quality across the board is that good. However, if you’re looking for a stand-alone hook bait that not only holds its own but also stands out from the crowd, my range delivers just that.