- 1). Place 3 cups of dry dog food in a plastic bag and seal tightly. The brand or quality of dog food does not matter, but try to get one with at least some mix of corn and other grains if possible.
- 2). Position the bag of dog food on a sturdy work surface and begin crushing the pellets with a rolling pin, rubber mallet or other suitable object. Continue working the dog food until no large pieces remain. Pour the dog food into a round mixing bowl. A round bowl will allow for more thorough mixing.
- 3). Add 1 to 2 cups of water to a separate bowl and place several pinches of brown sugar in the water. Stir the sugar with a spoon until it is completely dissolved. The amount of sugar you use will be based on personal preference. If you want a sweeter bait then add more brown sugar. Add three to four drops of anise oil to the water and once again stir to mix.
- 4). Pour a small amount, no more than an eighth of a cup, of water into the bowl with the ground dog food. Use your hand to combine the water solution and dog food so that the water is spread evenly throughout. Continue to add small amounts of water to the dog food until it becomes slightly damp.
- 5). Test the ground bait by scooping a small amount in your hand and squeeze firmly. If the bait forms and holds a solid shape then it is ready. The bait should also crumble fairly easily and return to ground bait. This is important for the bait to easily disperse throughout the water and attract fish.