Mainline Baits Boilies: Why UK Anglers Choose Them
If you’ve spent any time around UK carp fishing circles, you’ll have heard anglers raving about Mainline Baits boilies. But what makes this Essex-based company’s boilies so special, and why do UK anglers consistently choose them over the competition on waters across Britain?
After decades of dominating the UK carp fishing scene, Mainline Baits has earned its reputation through results, not just marketing hype. Let’s dive into what makes them the go-to choice for serious carp anglers throughout the country.
The Story Behind Mainline Baits
Back in 1990, when carp fishing in the UK was still finding its feet, Mainline Baits was founded with a revolutionary idea. Instead of creating baits that simply attracted carp for a quick bite, they wanted to produce something that fish would actually crave and return to repeatedly.
I started using Mainline Baits back in the 1990s. At the time I was fishing a syndicate lake called Hartsmoor Fishery, owned and run by the late John Griss. It was a lovely peaceful lake set in the Devonshire countryside.
Some friends on the Hartsmoor syndicate started using the Active 8 Range, and they began pre-baiting with the boilies frequently. Most of the lads would make sure they took plenty of bait on each fishing trip, and any bait left over would be introduced into the lake before going home.
After a few weeks, I noticed their catch rates greatly improved and they really were starting to dominate the lake. The carp seemed to love the Active 8 boilies! Other good anglers on the lake not using Active 8 just could not compete.
So I decided to give Mainline a go, as I had never tried the company before. To no surprise really, I started to catch more carp. What was more impressive was catching the bigger fish in Hartsmoor!
The company set up shop in Essex, England, and immediately started challenging the conventional wisdom about carp baits. Whilst other manufacturers focused on short-term attraction, Mainline took a different approach – they wanted to create baits that worked as genuine food sources for carp.
This philosophy wasn’t just marketing speak. It actually worked, and word spread quickly through the tight-knit UK carp fishing community.
What Sets Mainline Apart from Other UK Bait Companies
Here’s the thing about Mainline Baits – they don’t just make baits that catch carp once. They create boilies that carp actively seek out, season after season. I’ve seen anglers report catching the same fish multiple times on Mainline products, which tells you everything about how much carp actually enjoy eating them.
The secret lies in their nutritional approach. Rather than relying purely on attractors and flavours, Mainline focuses on creating baits that provide genuine nutritional value. This means carp don’t just investigate and move on; they actually feed confidently and return for more.
The Legendary Boilie Ranges That Made Mainline Famous
The Cell – A Game Changer for UK Carp Fishing
Ask any serious UK carp angler about The Cell, and you’ll see their eyes light up. This isn’t just another boilie – it’s the bait that changed how we think about carp fishing in Britain.
The Cell broke the mould because it couldn’t be easily categorised. It wasn’t your typical fishmeal bait, bird food mix, or protein bomb. Instead, it combined nutritional elements that carp naturally seek in their environment, creating something genuinely irresistible.
When I started using The Cell, I just knew it would be a sure-fire winner coming from the Mainline stable. At the time I was fishing on Linear Fisheries in Oxfordshire, which has many well-stocked venues. The main venue I liked to fish was called Hardwick Smiths, which has some lovely carp in the lake.
Hardwick Smiths is approximately 25 acres in size and contains approximately 1,000 carp to over 40lb. My tactic at the time was to fish The Cell with chickpeas – something a little different.
The Cell was soaked in water overnight at home in a large bucket. I would arrive at Linear Fisheries and walk around Hardwick Smiths to try and find a free swim with any signs of fish. With my bucket of Cell in hand, if a swim was available, I would place the bucket in the swim and return to my van to collect the rest of my fishing tackle.
The next step was to find some spots in the lake to fish. Then prepare The Cell using a really simple method. All I had to do was mash up the soaked boilies in the bucket of water with my hands and then add the chickpeas, which were fully cooked and prepared for the carp to eat safely.
My baiting method was the good old spod method. In summer I would start with 10 spombs per spot if the lake was fishing well. In winter I would switch to solid PVA bags.
My summer results were incredible with this method, sometimes catching multiple carp per session. But the key factor here was that I was catching consistently!
What really impressed me about The Cell was its year-round effectiveness. Whilst other baits struggled in winter conditions, The Cell kept producing results when water temperatures dropped and carp became more selective.
Essential Cell – Taking Success to the Next Level
Just when we thought The Cell couldn’t get any better, Mainline introduced Essential Cell. This represents the evolution of their original concept, incorporating even more advanced nutritional technology.
Essential Cell comes in both frozen and shelf-life versions, which is brilliant for different types of UK carp anglers. If you’re doing serious campaigns on syndicate waters, the frozen versions offer maximum attraction. For day-ticket anglers or those without freezer space, the shelf-life options perform just as well.
I have used both baits over the years, but I always went back to the original The Cell. I think the main reason is because of confidence in the amount of carp I have caught with it. I don’t like to change something too much if it ain’t broken, to be honest!
There is an old debate about freezer boilies versus shelf-life ready-made boilies. Now my take on this is I use both, especially if I need to have some boilies on standby. Keeping some shelf-life boilies in the van for an emergency situation if I have no bait left at the lakeside!
Many people may be put off by using shelf-life baits because they believe they have less nutritional value etc. Bait companies now produce much better shelf-life ready-mades than years past, with much better ingredients for the carp. Just do your homework, pick a good reputable company, and never be afraid to message them via email or social media about your concerns.
The Essential Cell range also includes everything you need for a complete baiting strategy: boilies, pop-ups, wafters, groundbait, additives, pellets, and particles. This comprehensive approach means you can build your entire campaign around one bait family.
The Link Range – Consistent Performers
Whilst The Cell gets most of the headlines, Mainline’s Link range deserves serious respect. These boilies have been quietly producing results on UK waters for years, often outperforming more fashionable alternatives.
I have used The Link a fair few times on some small pressured waters, and it really performs well and is certainly underrated. For some reason I have caught a lot of fish on it using Link pop-ups with crushed boilies and Link pellets in a PVA bag.
The Link range proves that Mainline isn’t just about one wonder bait – they understand how to create multiple effective formulations for different fishing situations.
Beyond Boilies – The Complete Mainline System
Mainline Baits offers much more than just boilies. Their complete range includes base mixes, flavours, additives, pellets, groundbaits, particles, liquids, and an extensive hookbait selection. This comprehensive approach means you can source everything from one trusted manufacturer.
Pop-Ups That Actually Work
Mainline’s pop-ups deserve special mention, particularly their High-Visual Double Strength Range. The Pineapple pop-ups have achieved legendary status among UK carp anglers – and for good reason.
My favourite pop-ups are The Link and of course the Pineapple, the latter being my blank saver and winter favourite!
Pellets and Particles for Effective Baiting
Their Response Pellets revolutionised how many UK carp anglers approach spodding and baiting up. These pellets work brilliantly alongside Mainline boilies, creating feeding scenarios that keep carp in your swim for extended periods.
My main method I tend to use for the Response Pellets is PVA bag fishing to include boilie crumb and boilie chops, which is a perfect combination. On fisheries that may have particle bans I may use the pellets in my spod mix with boilies – another great carp-catching combination on the right waters!
Why Mainline Dominates UK Carp Fishing
Quality You Can Rely On
After using Mainline products for over 30 years, I can honestly say their consistency is outstanding. You know exactly what you’re getting every time, whether it’s a fresh batch of frozen boilies or a bag of shelf-life bait that’s been stored for months.
My Hartsmoor Fishery syndicate days started my Mainline journey back in the 90s, and Mainline is still here today, which proves it has an amazing reputation.
Innovation That Makes Sense
Mainline doesn’t innovate for the sake of it. When they release new products, there’s usually a genuine improvement or advantage. This practical approach to development resonates with UK carp anglers who want results, not gimmicks.
Proven Track Record Across UK Waters
Mainline, formed in 1992 by Kev Knight and his business partner Steve Morgan, has gone from strength to strength. Catch reports started back in the early days when the weekly carp fishing magazine CarpTalk was around, before social media was born. UK top carp fisheries were showing off their prized carp caught on the abundance of Mainline Baits.
Such fisheries include club lakes, day-ticket venues, syndicate venues etc.
Such venues to mention:
Yateley Complex
Linear Fisheries
Horton
Essex Manor
Linch Hill
RK Leisure
Linear Fisheries was definitely one of my favourite venues back in the 1990s, where many carp graced my net on Mainline Baits and where I caught some very nice fish, especially in that decade.
Getting the Best from Mainline Baits on UK Waters
Seasonal Strategies
One of Mainline’s biggest advantages is year-round effectiveness. However, different seasons call for different approaches:
Spring
As water temperatures rise, carp become more active. I will not introduce too much bait – PVA bags or just a handful of free boilie offerings per rod.
Summer
Peak feeding time can require more bait, so the good old spomb rod may come out, or I may even use a throwing stick for a good spread of boilies. The humble catapult for close-in spots. More bait may be the order of the day if Mr Carp is hungry!
Autumn
Pre-winter feeding presents opportunities for catching carp. The fish are still active, and my approach would remain the same as summer – I just would reduce the quantity of bait a little.
Winter
When other baits fail, Mainline’s nutritional profile keeps working. My winter tips would be single hi-viz pop-ups, casting to showing fish. I would also use PVA mesh bags with Response Pellets or boilie crumb and a hi-viz pineapple pop for the hookbait.
If fishing a syndicate lake, take the opportunity of putting some bait out in the lake before you leave – not too much, maybe half a kilo or so to keep the fish active.
Water-Specific Approaches
Different types of UK waters require different tactics:
Commercial Fisheries
High-stock waters may need more bait to hold the fish in your swim for longer periods of time if you want a good hit of fish. Two rods on one spot is a very effective method to hold the fish in an area. So please remember to take plenty with you, and keep some spare in your vehicle just in case you run out!
Syndicate Waters
Pressured fish may require a more subtle approach. Less disturbance and noise, so marker floats and excessive spombing could spook the fish if you haven’t got days to sit it out. Get your rods out well before feeding time if you’re going to sit on a bed of bait. The sitting-it-out method can work. Make sure your lines are pinned to the lake bed where possible so as not to spook the fish out of your area.
Fishing the margins can be a very good method, especially in the summer months. You can drop your rig in gently and just a handful of bait will usually score even on the most difficult venues.
Day-Ticket Waters
Varied angling pressure means the carp have seen it all, but they do need to feed, so they are catchable all the same. My top tip is always have a chat to the bailiffs or the fishery owner for any of the latest information and advice. If approachable, chat to other anglers fishing.
A good starting point is not over-baiting when you arrive. You can always top the bait up if you catch. Keep disturbance down to a minimum. If you can find out the feeding times, try to bait up before those times so not to disturb the fish.
Where to Buy Mainline Baits in the UK
Mainline products are widely available throughout the UK, but knowing where to shop can save you money and ensure freshness.
Online Retailers
Angling Direct
Fosters of Birmingham
Hull Angling Centre
Jack Frost Tackle
Johnson Ross
Total Angling
Vale Royal Angling
Tackle Shack Nuneaton
Future Fishing
Robertsons Fishing Tackle
Brooks Angling Centre
The above shops consistently stock fresh Mainline products with competitive prices and reliable delivery across the UK.
The Future of Mainline in UK Carp Fishing
As UK carp fishing continues evolving, Mainline Baits remains at the forefront of innovation. Their commitment to nutritional science and practical effectiveness ensures they’ll continue leading the market.
The future of carp fishing looks bright, with more lakes available and the fish growing to larger sizes. Interest in targeting carp has grown and grown. Fishing bait development has really advanced, mainly due to more available ingredients, especially liquid food additives.
Mainline Baits will always be around – it’s a top-level fishing bait supplier, and so it should be, with many years of experience in bait making. Many a personal best fish has been caught using their products, and records are being broken with mind-blowing captures.
Final Thoughts: Why Mainline Earns Its Reputation
After 30 years of UK carp fishing and trying countless different baits, I keep coming back to Mainline. It’s not about brand loyalty – it’s about results.
Whether you’re targeting your first UK carp or pursuing specimens from challenging waters, Mainline Baits provides the foundation for success. Their combination of nutritional science, practical effectiveness, and consistent quality makes them the smart choice for serious carp anglers throughout the United Kingdom.
If you have never used Mainline, I would definitely recommend the company. Give The Cell a go – my favourite of the lot is my advice. You will not be disappointed!
Author: Martin Turner