| This is rapidly becoming the age of the 'bait | | | | dairy products, all pectin preserved or |
| sponsored angler.' Commercial pressures and | | | | sugared fruits, dried sulphured glazed |
| marketing demand that many more ordinary | | | | fruits, white beans, soy beans, mushrooms, |
| anglers are having to compete with those | | | | all meat, gelatin, fowl and fish, shellfish. |
| 'sponsored' individuals. These fortunate are | | | | |
| able to 'free-feed' huge quantities of top | | | | Also: All alcoholic drinks, coffee, curry, |
| quality boilies, pellets and ground baits, | | | | pepper, salt, spices, fish sauces, aspirin. |
| supplied to them either for free, or at | | | | Eggs, especially whites, preserved ginger, |
| 'knock-down' discount prices. | | | | flavourings. Preservatives like benzoate, |
| | | | sulphur, vinegar, salt and brine. Tobacco |
| Everyone knows that using bait supplied in | | | | juice! Starches as in wheat, semolina, rice, |
| large enough, regular quantities, will | | | | (and soya to a lesser degree,) all flour |
| directly affect the movement, feeding | | | | products; e.g. maize, grits, barley, groats, |
| behaviour and location of carp, in a water. | | | | cornflakes and oats.) Rice to a lesser |
| | | | degree.) Desiccated coconut (one of my |
| Generally, carp fishing has become more | | | | favourites) many nuts; peanuts and many |
| competitive than ever before, with many more | | | | seeds. |
| anglers lining the bank each week-end. | | | | |
| Sponsored anglers often catch many times the | | | | For winter baits, the 'acid spicy flavours' |
| number of big fish than their peers. | | | | really can work. Exploiting for example the |
| | | | cinnamic acid in cinnamon and coumarin |
| This is not necessarily only a result of good | | | | (coumarate - an enzyme in turmeric.) |
| angling ability, but simply more bait and | | | | ('Megaspice' and 'Bunspice B' are good.) |
| perhaps time to leverage it. In this | | | | Significant levels of salicylic acid is also |
| situation most anglers simply do not have the | | | | in yeast extract; a great carp attractor! |
| resources and time to compete and many even | | | | |
| struggle to catch at all, which is a tragedy! | | | | Other notable herbs and spices containing |
| | | | this acid and which you might like to try, |
| Making your own homemade boilie baits at | | | | either as extracts, or in essential oils, or |
| cheaper prices is one way to get around this | | | | flavour form, or as powders, are the |
| phenomenon. Trying to keep up with these guys | | | | following: |
| use of bait is a severe challenge for many | | | | |
| anglers. Often they will try and catch using | | | | Cummin, cannella, curry powder, dill powder, |
| the same baits as the sponsored angler 'to | | | | garam masala, paprika and hot red peppers |
| keep up.' Are using particles and cheaper | | | | powders and extracts, black pepper, bergamot, |
| pellets, a better option? | | | | mustard, rosemary, thyme, fennel and |
| | | | coriander. |
| As in the case of any new boilie bait or rig, | | | | |
| the first original pioneers or field testers | | | | Mustard (isotheocynates) and chilli powders |
| achieve maximum results. The whole point of a | | | | (capsaicin) boost metabolism, dilate blood |
| new bait is to achieve a competitive 'edge' | | | | vessels and increase levels of the fat |
| by being 'different' enough to confuse the | | | | burning hormone ephedrine. (Ephedrine is the |
| 'danger reference points' of carp that have | | | | 'James Bond' pill that keeps you active and |
| been previously caught by angler's baits and | | | | energetic all night long!) |
| rigs. | | | | |
| | | | Sprayed dried fruit juices such as that of |
| So you are aiming to keep ahead of anglers as | | | | the famous 'strawberry' contain large doses |
| much as the fish. This means you ideally need | | | | of 'bioflavonoids,' antioxidants that have |
| to be using a slightly 'alternative' approach | | | | excellent cardiovascular benefits. They keep |
| at all times in order to keep maximising your | | | | blood vessels healthy and keep blood |
| catch rates. | | | | triglycerides levels lowered (needed with |
| | | | diabetes.) In carp this means more health and |
| This is not difficult, in fact very easy as | | | | energy! Many grains too, contain these |
| long as you think 'fish' not 'angler.' It is | | | | healthy substances. |
| surprising what a big carp will eat when it | | | | |
| is not scared of it! Yes all baits are used | | | | Bait success seems much to do with energy |
| in cycles, as one catches and fades another | | | | release or energy gain. Some carp baits with |
| gets 'picked-up on' by the majority. | | | | sweeteners even fool carp into eating them by |
| (Especially with different types of boilies | | | | making their in - built mechanisms think they |
| and pellets.) | | | | are eating something highly essential and |
| | | | beneficial to their diet, (when in fact this |
| I do not mean to 'rock your boat' but...What | | | | may not be the case at all!) As in |
| is your 'favourite' bait flavour? This | | | | consumption of very large quantities of |
| opinion is normally based on personal past | | | | peanuts, tiger nuts or very low nutritional |
| successful catch experiences or | | | | value boilies. |
| recommendations. But can you improve on | | | | |
| simply this, to multiply your catches hugely, | | | | Some carp baits when used by anglers can |
| in an increasingly competitive environment? | | | | cause carp to even lose weight and become |
| Perhaps so: | | | | unhealthy. These baits may not kill the fish |
| | | | but certainly drop their weights! I have |
| Many fishermen get 'fixated' on flavours, | | | | observed so many similarities between |
| mistakenly thinking that if they can smell | | | | naturally derived substances that maintain |
| them and they smell 'good' to them, then carp | | | | human health and carp health for use in very |
| will love them too. But there are many | | | | attractive and 'healthy' carp baits. |
| variables (some unknowns) involved here and | | | | |
| no-one actually knows what flavours really | | | | Examples of effects of these 'flavours,' |
| 'smell' and 'taste' like to a carp. | | | | ingredients and attractors are for example: |
| | | | |
| The scientists can trigger carp 'food' | | | | To reduce blood cholesterol, detoxify the |
| receptors in tests and tell us numerous | | | | blood, strengthen the immune system, balance |
| substances that will stimulate a carp to | | | | liver and kidney functions and reduce high |
| feed, or alter its behaviour in some way that | | | | fluctuations in blood sugar (as in diabetes,) |
| makes it easier to catch them, (change brain | | | | that these effects should all be looked at |
| chemistry and 'turn them on' etc,) but this | | | | further in carp baits! |
| data does not translate evenly into making | | | | |
| and exploiting carp baits. What does a carp | | | | Cod liver oil is a prime example, containing |
| think?! | | | | essential fatty acids and carp attractive |
| | | | alkaloids too! |
| Well now perhaps it's time to get further | | | | |
| into a carp's brain and body, by exploiting | | | | I highly recommend essential oils in |
| particular ingredients, in order for you to | | | | conjunction with flavours. They do not |
| compete and catch them more effectively but | | | | 'attract' carp from range perhaps like many |
| benefit them too - you will see what I mean | | | | flavours and additives, but do seem to give |
| in a moment.... | | | | that extra 'edge' and taste dimension. |
| | | | |
| Would most carp anglers use 'algae flavour' | | | | Many times I have used these when all else |
| or a flavour that would make you feel sick | | | | fails, in large dosed bait soaks on the |
| like something 'well fermented' would? I | | | | surface of baits, whether homemade boilies, |
| doubt it! | | | | pastes, particles, meat or fish pieces or |
| | | | ready-mades, to produce a big 'surprise' in |
| When fishing, most anglers fish the same | | | | unfavourable fishing conditions and |
| flavour in all their boilie baits in a swim | | | | temperatures. |
| and do not vary their bait flavour levels for | | | | |
| different hook baits, on different rods, in | | | | These oils are less easily distributed in |
| different areas of a water. Flavours work | | | | water compared many components of flavours. |
| better in different levels at different | | | | Ideally your flavour will pull carp from |
| temperatures and in different waters; and | | | | range, home them into your hook bait and |
| even in different parts of different waters. | | | | induce it to eat it by its attractive taste |
| | | | and palatability. |
| How and why these flavours actually achieve | | | | |
| carp 'takes' is so irrelevant to most | | | | This is where taste enhancers are really |
| fishermen that they miss a huge area of | | | | great and there are many proprietary ones to |
| 'know-how' that would net them loads more | | | | choose from for carp baits. Of course, sea or |
| fish at different times of the year. So let's | | | | rock salt is very good and a carp dietary |
| look more into what some flavours are! | | | | essential. |
| | | | |
| 'Flavours' may be actual flavours and not | | | | 'Aromas' found in peppermint, ginger, |
| 'nature identical' or 'synthetically | | | | geranium and black pepper 'citronellals' make |
| chemically produced.' Many anglers prefer | | | | baits 'different' to the usual 'flavours.' |
| 'natural or nature identical flavours these | | | | The combination of 5 or so essential oils in |
| days rather than one based on a 'solvent.' | | | | combination found in 'Olbas oil' have always |
| Some flavours very water soluble. | | | | helped me catch more fish. (But in far higher |
| | | | drop doses than you might expect - e.g. at 25 |
| Flavours are based on so many substances, | | | | or more drops per pound of bait. |
| from ethyl alcohol to glycerol, to propylene | | | | |
| glycol and oils. Many modern carp flavours | | | | An added tip - I have done very well for big |
| are mixtures of oils, taste enhancers, amino | | | | fish actually dipping, soaking or 'glugging' |
| acids, sweeteners and different 'secret' | | | | my pastes and boilie baits in neat essential |
| extracts and compounds etc. | | | | oils, either in individual ones or mixtures, |
| | | | like eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, black |
| 'N-butyric acid' is a very commonly used | | | | pepper oil, and garlic oil. |
| 'attractor' at the moment in the UK along | | | | |
| with 'pineapple' and the 'associated 'blue | | | | In fact, I once used fresh rigs made using |
| cheese' flavour and blue cheese powder is | | | | dental floss with added peppermint oil |
| getting more used and well known and these | | | | impregnated in the floss material. My catch |
| work very well in winter temperatures. | | | | rate always improved the first cast each rig |
| | | | was used and I soon put the two together and |
| Amyl acetate, the 'pear drops' smell is | | | | added additional peppermint oil soaks to all |
| another example that held favour in the past | | | | my lines, leads and rigs! |
| - fashions just keep changing! (Some flavours | | | | |
| only require just one or two drops to be very | | | | You might now have figured the significance |
| effective while others take much more!) | | | | of phenols mentioned above - and maybe would |
| | | | like to try out these two ideas in your |
| One noticeable thing with many flavours is | | | | winter or summer baits (in very high |
| that when carp have been caught on them, they | | | | levels!): |
| can very quickly lose effectiveness by | | | | |
| 'danger association' and actually become a | | | | Peppermint oil (phenol; phenyl salicylate) |
| carp 'repellant!' (E.g. Propylene glycol and | | | | and winter green oil (phenol; methyl |
| glycerol based flavours, but many others | | | | salicylate...) |
| too!) | | | | |
| | | | Here's a 'different' essential oil to try: |
| Many common flavours are formed when an | | | | mustard oil. (Its 'volatile component' is |
| alcohol and an acid form an 'ester' as in | | | | allyl isothiocyanate.) |
| 'esterification.' | | | | |
| | | | (The antioxidant 'free radical' scavenging |
| There seems to be a definite link between the | | | | effects of allyls etc, in garlic oil may have |
| carp attraction of the following when used in | | | | much to do with its success. Better still, |
| carp baits: | | | | when used with a 'sweetener,' fructose from |
| | | | the supermarket, saccharin or a proprietary |
| Plant 'phenols,' 'alkaloids' like betaine, | | | | sweetener this is a great all season |
| alcohols, esters, essential oils, fatty | | | | attractor and 'trigger.') |
| acids, sugars, (saccharides like sucrose, | | | | |
| lactose, maltose etc,) protein amino acids | | | | Winter green oil and ginger oil and salicylic |
| and non-protein amino acids and many many | | | | acid all work as 'anti-inflammatories' and |
| other natural substances.... | | | | one use for all three is to reduce headache |
| | | | inflammation! |
| Certain flavours have been found more | | | | |
| effective in bait with an added sweetener | | | | I hope this gives you 'more clues' to what |
| like saccharin and Talin. (Talin is used in | | | | effects carp really like in their baits and |
| synthetic 'maple' flavour.)Another very | | | | what 'volatile' oils and flavours can do! |
| significant taste enhancer and 'enzyme | | | | Like many other fruit ester, fruit oils |
| active' sweet plant protein is 'Thaumatin B.' | | | | spices and herbs, these especially work well |
| (Both naturally occurring plant extracts.) | | | | used as 'triggers' and attractors in winter |
| | | | and cold water conditions. |
| Kiwi fruit contains a 'Thaumatin-like' | | | | |
| protein, and Nutrabait's "Kiwi flavour" is | | | | Generally in carp baits, 'flavours' work |
| said to uniquely produce the biggest fish in | | | | better without heat being involved. Boiling |
| a lake. | | | | flavours as with many bait ingredients will |
| | | | actually destroy the 'active' components that |
| Water temperature and 'pH' affect your baits | | | | catch you more carp. Therefore you need to |
| potential to be 'detected' by fish and this | | | | add flavours after boiling! |
| is possibly affected by water density changes | | | | |
| in differing temperatures and other factors | | | | You can make a useful very creative mixture |
| in the water environment. So fishing with | | | | from a liquid amino protein product like |
| different flavour levels in different baits | | | | 'Minamino' or any proprietary fishing ones |
| and using different baits with different | | | | and add flavours and extracts to it. (You |
| flavour ph levels and 'tones' is very much an | | | | could try mixing up various carp liquid amino |
| over-looked 'edge' for most carp anglers. | | | | products to produce an exceptionally |
| | | | different flavour and attractor base.) One |
| On 'hard-fished' carp waters where certain | | | | very simple one I remember making that hooked |
| flavours have done very well perhaps add one | | | | a huge carp within half an hour, on a massive |
| or more flavours to the successful one and | | | | water of thousands of acres was: |
| experiment. Do not bother making new baits, | | | | |
| just create individual 'dips' to soak your | | | | A mixture of ethyl alcohol flavours like |
| hook baits into and trial 4 or 10 different | | | | Tutti Fruiti and other different based |
| versions until your catch rate doubles or | | | | flavours, 'Scopex', n-butyric acid, 'Robin |
| trebles or more! (I've experienced this for | | | | Red' extract (from Haith's,) Minamino, sea |
| myself...) | | | | salt, liquorice extract powder, 'Olbas oil,' |
| | | | peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil. This |
| Betaine seems to have a range of uses in carp | | | | mixture was re-frozen into pop-up boilies |
| in regard to osmosis, amino acids synthesis | | | | around 6 times until the bait was just |
| for example. There is no doubt in my mind | | | | buoyant, then frozen and stored until use. |
| that when making carp baits, the addition of | | | | |
| betaine hydrochloride, (e.g. at 1 gram per 1 | | | | This easy and simple 'mega-enhancement' |
| pound mix of dry powder 'base mix,') makes | | | | method works exceptionally well for pastes, |
| all the difference, as opposed to adding a | | | | dough baits, 'particles,' pellets, ground |
| simple flavour or 'label.' | | | | baits, method mixes, and 'PVA' bag mixes too |
| | | | - so try them all! If you are lazy - just try |
| The addition of a 'sweetening' substance is | | | | adding Nash bait's 'peach oil palatant' or |
| significant to catch rates in carp: You | | | | any 'taste enhancer, citrus oil and flavour' |
| definitely see a difference in 'takes' with | | | | combination to your pellets, or boilies and |
| baits that have been sweetened rather than | | | | compare results to those baits used without! |
| unsweetened; even if the bait itself is a | | | | |
| 'savoury' one like 'fish or meat.' | | | | Using 'conventional' proprietary boilie |
| | | | 'dips' and 'glugs' are not always the best |
| You only have to put a very generous quantity | | | | option where they have already been |
| of honey, or maple syrup, or brown sugar, | | | | 'hammered.' Simply soaking your baits in |
| icing sugar, fructose or molasses or | | | | dissolved sea salt or even liquidized tinned |
| sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk etc | | | | sweetcorn can make all the difference to your |
| into any carp ground bait and compare it to | | | | catch rate. Making changes, being creative |
| one without to see the difference in results. | | | | and doing things different to the majority of |
| | | | your peers will make your catches |
| 'Talin' is the name for one of the sweetest | | | | consistently outstanding... |
| substances known and comes from a bark | | | | |
| residue. It is in fact used in many synthetic | | | | I had another memorable occasion where I had |
| carp flavours and with very good reason - it | | | | fished in cold temperatures for three days |
| really works! It is also used in production | | | | and nights without a 'take' and decided to |
| of synthetic maple syrup and many commercial | | | | soak the hook baits directly in eucalyptus |
| bait companies use it in their flavours! | | | | oil. The baits already contained this but I |
| (Perhaps try 'Hinders' for this.) | | | | felt the levels were not high enough. With 5 |
| | | | minutes before 'packing-up' one of the |
| Synthetic 'maple' flavour also contains the | | | | biggest carp in the lake took one of the |
| very carp stimulatory 'alkaloids' from the | | | | baits. |
| herbs; fenugreek and lovage. It is one of the | | | | |
| greatest carp flavours ever discovered but | | | | There are so many options 'out there' for you |
| does not seem in 'fashion' much these days. | | | | to genuinely exploit for massively improved |
| (Try combining it with 'Scopex' flavour!) | | | | catches. There are for example a host of |
| | | | other attractors and flavours to give you a |
| In fact in the 1940's American scientists a | | | | new 'edge'. Peppers with 'citrus tones' not |
| most effective flavour to eradicate carp | | | | in general use, from Japan and Korea etc, or |
| using poisoned laced maize; it was synthetic | | | | how about 'spicy' seaweed from Hawaii etc... |
| 'maple syrup' flavour! | | | | Here's a few oils to mix with your flavours |
| | | | you might wish to trial: |
| Come cold water conditions certain flavours | | | | |
| will out catch others. This may well be | | | | Coriander oil, passion flower oil, apricot |
| because of their acidic pH and how this | | | | kernel oil, linseed oil, pistachio oil, hazel |
| affects the pH of your bait. Now I do not | | | | nut oil, macadamia oil, fruit pip oil, rose |
| know much of the chemistry involve with | | | | musk oil, safflower oil, coconut oil. |
| flavours, but years of carp winter fishing | | | | |
| results have provided many very reliable | | | | Other interesting areas of flavours are where |
| flavours. | | | | the attractors form a 'cloud' of attractive |
| | | | particles in suspension immediately around |
| Some substances in flavours and carp | | | | the hook bait. Use of special solutions, |
| attractors help carp balance their body | | | | emulsions and colloids can create very |
| functions and equalise cells 'osmotic | | | | effective areas of immediate attraction and |
| stress.' Salicylic acid may help in this way. | | | | modern emulsifiers also have great beneficial |
| It is interesting that it is produced by the | | | | and carp attraction benefits. |
| 'esterification' of the natural 'phenol' | | | | |
| acetylsalicylic acid. 'Eugenol' from cloves | | | | With mass use of pellets not designed for |
| is another famous carp 'attractor.' It is a | | | | carp fishing, some commercial pellets are |
| 'volatile' phenol - phenyl propenoid.' Many | | | | designed more for their oil holding capacity. |
| world famous fruit, herb and spice 'winter | | | | This may not be ideal for fast and effective |
| flavours' may contain salicylates in very | | | | carp food digestion and may inhibit uptake of |
| very small amounts... | | | | many valuable nutrients and cause certain |
| | | | angler induced nutrient deficiencies. |
| But the interesting fact about cold water | | | | |
| flavours is that many of the best are even | | | | Laxatives might well be another significant |
| more exceptional when water temperatures | | | | edge in baits, linked to use of some |
| rise. This is great news when you are making | | | | flavours. (Perhaps in the case of certain |
| your own baits and really provides confidence | | | | propylenes and related compounds.) The |
| and trust in your baits, in all conditions | | | | benefit to carp is that they will naturally |
| and times of year. | | | | excrete food faster by 'colonic peristalsis.' |
| | | | |
| Natural substances in natural flavours | | | | Insoluble 'roughage' like water weed |
| contain some very powerful carp attractors or | | | | cellulose, mollusc and shrimp shells help |
| triggers. For example, there are significant | | | | this effect and a percentage of insoluble |
| levels of 'phenol alkaloids' found in fruits | | | | ingredients in your bait I think are a good |
| such as strawberry, cranberry, guava, | | | | thing for the carp. Crushed mollusc shells |
| blueberry and mulberry, plum, tomato, | | | | and prawn shell is great for this and a |
| blackberry and kiwi fruit. | | | | source of essential chitin containing |
| | | | nitrogen and is very important in the natural |
| You may already recognise that each of these | | | | carp diet. |
| flavours work exceptionally well to catch | | | | |
| carp! Some are kept 'quiet,' others are now | | | | (Anyway, when carp are able to eat more bait; |
| 'fashionable' and more well known now and | | | | this produces more 'takes' and fish caught!) |
| therefore used by more carp fishermen in | | | | Coarse bird food, shellfish and fish meal |
| their baits etc. | | | | ingredients used in conjunction with lots of |
| | | | predigested ingredients might be more |
| (Of course, like most things in fishing, it | | | | effective and preferable to mainly wheat |
| is the baits, additives and flavours that are | | | | semolina and soya based baits with a low |
| used by the 'highest numbers of anglers,' | | | | percentage of fish meal to 'boost nutrition |
| that catch most of the fish. But that does | | | | for example. |
| not equal that these products are always the | | | | |
| 'ultimate' ones or the very best most | | | | One of the most beneficial ways to create |
| suitable to use consistently in | | | | baits that carp can eat more of without |
| 'hard-pressured' waters...) | | | | getting 'filled-up,' because it passes |
| | | | through their gut quicker is to really raise |
| Phenol 'alkaloids' can affect brain activity | | | | the level of soluble ingredients in your |
| and carp (and human) behaviour. Water | | | | baits; focussing especially on the proteins |
| chestnuts, peanuts and almonds contain | | | | and reducing whole carbohydrates. |
| significant amounts of salicylic acid also. | | | | |
| This acid relieves stress and defends against | | | | The range of amazing new predigested proteins |
| animal eating attack and plant alkaloids play | | | | and other ingredients and additives is vastly |
| defensive roles too. | | | | under-exploited at present, by the average |
| | | | angler. |
| I have 'accidentally' discovered the success | | | | |
| of using very finely crushed almonds and | | | | Innovative products can really work wonders |
| peanuts in 'PVA' bags with some exceptional | | | | too to give you an edge as in the case of all |
| catches... Try soaking these in your 'flavour | | | | new ingredients! I wonder about the |
| mix' with an added essential oil and pure | | | | properties of 'aloe vera.' |
| salmon oil for example in your PVA bags. | | | | |
| | | | It is a 'gold-mine' of water soluble amino |
| Tiger nuts (chufas) and tiger nut extract, | | | | acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, |
| oil or juice are only one currently | | | | antioxidants, saccharides, plant sterols |
| 'fashionable' option. Tiger nuts (high in | | | | (these lower blood cholesterol levels,) and |
| soluble glucose and oleic acid) were even | | | | glycoproteins (cell membrane glucose |
| grown in the UK during the war years, when | | | | containing carbohydrates attached to proteins |
| sugar was in short supply!) | | | | and lipids.) |
| | | | |
| Some of you might like to investigate the | | | | Aloe vera is a great 'healing agent' with |
| potential uses of mushrooms and fungi too! | | | | many as yet not understood benefits, while |
| (Yeasts are only one option - remember for | | | | being a gentle laxative at low doses... |
| instance, yeast extract contains significant | | | | |
| salicylic acid levels...) | | | | The old argument about how can a carp |
| | | | possibly eat one boilie in preference to a |
| Caffeine in cocoa and coffee contains | | | | different one is mute. Most experienced carp |
| substances that are detected by carp (like | | | | anglers know this occurs on 'hard-fished' |
| 'dopermine') and are proven 'alternative' | | | | much pressured waters for many varied reasons |
| carp attractors. (It has been proven carp | | | | in certain situations. |
| have 'dopermine receptors.') Most of the | | | | |
| biggest carp in a small water in Sussex UK | | | | But the unique feed bait quantity and quality |
| 'felt the effects' of this 'bait approach!' | | | | applied to a water by individual anglers |
| Many were caught over forty pounds using | | | | compared to the majority, is a major factor |
| truly 'addictive baits' based on this | | | | in this. |
| principle of 'affecting brain activity and | | | | |
| behaviour.' | | | | My guess is that you'd better ensure your |
| | | | hook baits are 'different' enough to draw the |
| In carp this acid possibly has an | | | | attentions of fish in feeding positive ways! |
| 'anti-inflammatory' role like the carp | | | | |
| essential omega 3 fatty acids like those in | | | | Well, bait making and enhancing is an 'art' |
| fish oils. It is used in the production of | | | | and not an 'absolute' science, that's for |
| 'Aspirin' used to thin blood and prevent | | | | sure! It is evolving as I speak and future |
| incidence of heart attacks. | | | | 'fashions' in this very commercial led |
| | | | 'passion,' recreation and sport, will always |
| Citrus lime, orange and lemon all contain | | | | by its very nature, keep changing. |
| significant anti-inflammatory 'bioflavonoid' | | | | |
| with beneficial cardiovascular effects. These | | | | This is the age of 'confidence in a bottle |
| fruits are familiar and successful carp bait | | | | and in a bag.' The instant angler and the |
| flavours. Perhaps try mixing lemon and ginger | | | | 'instant bait' are here to stay. I hope now |
| essential oils with your flavours and add | | | | you are now more prepared than ever, to |
| some liquorice extract to sweeten and 'Robin | | | | experiment with your baits! The well-used |
| Red' extract to increase the alkaloid levels | | | | methods of 'over-flavouring,' soaking and |
| and as a long range 'protein feeding | | | | glugging your baits is just a preliminary |
| trigger.' | | | | step. |
| | | | |
| Citrus fruits like lemon, orange and tomatoes | | | | Let's hope all my 'miss-spent' youth, |
| are acidic. But they form alkaline blood when | | | | applying what I learnt in plant physiology |
| digested, which is interesting considering | | | | classes, making homemade carp baits, (while |
| the alkaline ph of a carp's gut. (Each of | | | | becoming a professional horticultural grower) |
| these fruits contain salicylic acid...) | | | | benefits you too. |
| | | | |
| [Here are clues to great bait characteristics | | | | The author has many more fishing and bait |
| and most can be made simply from 'kitchen | | | | 'edges' up his sleeve. Every single one can |
| larder' ingredients with a couple of | | | | have a huge impact on catches. (Warning: This |
| commercial carp fishing products added!] | | | | article is protected by copyright, but |
| | | | reprints with a link are OK.) |
| I must add here that so many of the | | | | |
| successful carp bait ingredients have | | | | By Tim Richardson. 'The thinking angler's |
| 'acid-forming' characteristics, including: | | | | fishing author and expert bait making guru. |
| milk, butter, cheese, casein, whey, malted | | | | |