| * An introduction to making your own | | | | 50 % of your preliminary 100 % dry |
| homemade carp fishing and catfishing | | | | mixture. Such examples used could be |
| baits; choosing cool ingredients: * | | | | combinations of some of the following: |
| 'Homemade' can mean 'simple or basic', | | | | caseins, lactalbumin, fish meals, meat |
| but when applied to making carp or | | | | meals, whey protein. |
| catfish bait, the subject certainly | | | | Usually you will require a binding |
| deserves far more explanation for | | | | material to hold the protein food |
| optimum results and catches!to begin | | | | together in the bait. This may require |
| with, your bait really has just one main | | | | using dry binding ingredients like |
| function; to get the fishing hook into | | | | semolina, wheat gluten, wheat flour, |
| the carp's or catfish's mouth, so giving | | | | soya flour etc for up to 50 % of the |
| the opportunity for it to be hooked! To | | | | mix, necessary for many types of coarse |
| achieve this, the bait needs either: | | | | bird food meals, shellfish meals, meat |
| • To emit a recognizable carp food | | | | and fish meals. Different bait materials |
| signal, or stimulate carp curiosity. | | | | will alter this approximate ratio, but |
| • Be representative of, or a mimic of | | | | use the ratio that rolls first! and |
| a natural food source. | | | | increase the protein content from there |
| Carp are curious and will examine any | | | | (Using eggs / egg powder to bind your |
| new potential food item they come | | | | bait, adds a great nutritional added |
| across. Whether paste / dough or | | | | profile as a complete protein food.) |
| boilies, it needs to be resilient enough | | | | Examples of binders: |
| to be put on the hook or 'hair', for it | | | | • Hen's eggs. |
| to withstand the fishes' attention and | | | | • Egg powder / extracts. |
| enter the mouth. | | | | • Whey gel. |
| 'Boilie' baits are the more | | | | • Bread crumbs. |
| scientifically proven kind that have | | | | • Full fat 'yellow' semolina. |
| evolved from the days of the 'Specials' | | | | • Maize meal. |
| baits. In the UK these were often based | | | | • Corn starch / meal / syrup. |
| on ground - up dog, cat, fish foods and | | | | • Potato starch. |
| farm animal foods in pellet, biscuit and | | | | • White ground rice flour. |
| tinned form. They were bound together | | | | • Wheat flour. |
| with eggs, and fished as pastes. In the | | | | • Wheat gluten. |
| 1950 to the early 1970's these were | | | | • Potato gluten. |
| often fished 'free lined' with big | | | | • Full fat soya flour. |
| hooks, with no weight, and individual | | | | • Ground seeds. |
| baits could be the size of an orange, in | | | | • Ground 'Sluis CLO.' |
| order to deter bait-whittling smaller | | | | • Ground 'EMP.' |
| fish! | | | | • Ground 'CeDe.' |
| Other common 'kitchen' type ingredients | | | | • Ground 'Red band' pigeon seed mix. |
| were also incorporated to enhance paste | | | | • Beef gelatin based binding products. |
| effectiveness like minced tinned fish, | | | | • Chemical / 'Jelly style' foods. |
| curry powder, bottled condiment sources, | | | | Some of the most effective attraction of |
| yeast powders, milk powders, grated | | | | your bait comes from the water soluble |
| cheese, salt and pepper, herbs, yeast | | | | fraction of particular ingredients used. |
| extract, cake baking flavours, whole - | | | | Ingredients with this characteristic |
| wheat flour, corn flour, bird foods, | | | | content could constitute 10 % up to 30 % |
| ground fish meal pellets, and animal / | | | | of the mix. Making a resilient practical |
| pet food pellets, beans, peas, seeds, | | | | boilie mix may require the addition or |
| and many food oils have been used; many | | | | reduction of only one ingredient. Some |
| of which have proved themselves. Many, | | | | of the best baits you will ever discover |
| in original or extract form, are still | | | | are made by this trial and error |
| used in baits today. | | | | process. The solubility of ingredients |
| Baits were originally boiled to allow | | | | is especially recommended if an |
| them to be thrown much further out into | | | | ingredient has high protein value, such |
| the water, as carp moved out in response | | | | as sodium and calcium caseinates, calf |
| to increased angling pressure and tackle | | | | milk replacers, whole milk powder, yeast |
| improvements. The fact that nearly every | | | | powder, hydrolyzed fish and shellfish |
| other fish that swims with carp can eat | | | | proteins etc... |
| boilies, has shown that the 'hard | | | | Some are used at much lower levels, e.g. |
| skinned boilie idea didn't really work. | | | | 0.2 % to 6 % ; e.g., hydrolyzed fish |
| In fact many species, like big roach, | | | | protein, hydrolyzed spirulina extract, |
| tench, bream, catfish etc, seem to use | | | | squid extract, anchovy extract, green |
| boilies as part of their staple diets | | | | crab / lobster / scallop / shrimp / |
| and their improved growth rates can | | | | oyster / baby clam extracts, green lip |
| attest to this fact. | | | | mussel extract etc. These are also |
| The ideal 'average' size established for | | | | effective as most are extremely quickly |
| boilies used to be a recommended 15 | | | | and efficiently digested with immediate |
| millimeters in diameter, although today | | | | benefits that the carp can feel. |
| highly pressured waters often see better | | | | I prefer to fresh freeze baits, or 'air |
| results on much smaller sizes and some | | | | dry' them naturally, or preserve them in |
| do very well on even 35 millimeter ones | | | | a flavour / amino acid / supplement |
| as have done in the UK and France. | | | | compound, rather than using a chemical |
| If you were an average carp angler, | | | | preservative in the bait like ascorbic |
| fishing in around 1980 in the UK, then | | | | acid. |
| you were most likely still experimenting | | | | Carp require oils (essential fatty |
| with many of these ingredients, to give | | | | acids) but only in small amounts e.g., |
| you an 'edge' over those pesky carp! | | | | up to 5 % of your total dry mix. Oily |
| However, there were an advanced | | | | fish meals and shellfish meals are |
| minority, who kept the latest bait and | | | | already rich in these, as are flax seed, |
| rig secret developments private among | | | | hemp seed, sesame seeds, salmon oil, cod |
| themselves, and pockets of carp anglers | | | | liver oil, crustacean oil, etc. To meet |
| developed different edges and formulas | | | | minimum carp dietary requirements try |
| which could totally out - fish the old | | | | adding perhaps around 1 milliliter to 3 |
| 'specials'. | | | | milliliters of a good quality |
| This was because they were based upon, | | | | nutritional oil per egg, (maximum,) |
| and maximized, scientifically proven | | | | depending on oil level in the dry mix. |
| data, on the carp dietary preference | | | | At times of year when water temperatures |
| mechanism! Understanding the | | | | drop below 55 Fahrenheit / 13 Degrees |
| scientifically proven carp data, on the | | | | Celsius, it's sensible to drop the oil |
| carp's dietary preference mechanism and | | | | levels used or use emulsified oil. It |
| baits designed on this basis, resulted | | | | also pays to reduce some of your 'whole |
| in more highly nutritionally balanced | | | | protein food' content and substitute it |
| baits. So giving carp the maximum energy | | | | with e.g., 3 ounces of wheat germ; this |
| and dietary requirements, for the least | | | | is a proven method of improving the |
| cost in effort! | | | | biological conversion of your bait |
| The real missing ingredient, for very | | | | inside the carp by making your bait more |
| many carp anglers, even today, is in | | | | 'carp digestible' |
| understanding why a carp eats any of | | | | Carp love to crunch food and in doing so |
| these carp boilie foods at all! And why | | | | send out all kinds of feeding signals to |
| carp can actually prefer some baits to | | | | other carp, allowing attractive food |
| the exclusion of all the rest! | | | | particles to pass out of the gills. |
| This is an important area I feel, that | | | | Nutritional ingredients can be used for |
| has been neglected, leaving many modern | | | | this effect, e.g. bird foods - 'Robin |
| carp anglers with less understanding of | | | | Red', 'Red Factor','Nectarblend', Ground |
| the baits available to him and how best | | | | 'Red Band' pigeon food, prepared ground |
| to choose how and when to use them, | | | | mixed nuts and seeds; prepared tiger |
| because this can be a very important | | | | nuts and hempseed, millet, egg - biscuit |
| 'edge' in itself! Also I feel it is as | | | | myna - bird rearing food, niger seeds, |
| important to really understand why your | | | | 'RRR', ground birdseeds 'Ce De', 'PTX', |
| shop-bought bait catches and doesn't | | | | ground insects, dried larvae, coarse |
| catch in different circumstances, | | | | kelp meal etc. |
| seasonal and weather conditions, and | | | | Also used are crushed oyster shell and |
| different at types of waters. | | | | eggshell. These also allow bait to |
| Of course it is not vital to know, or | | | | release attractors faster, putting more |
| understand these things to catch carp. | | | | out to attract carp quicker and more |
| But only the most exceptional | | | | effectively, especially in lower water |
| outstanding anglers catch big carp | | | | temperatures. They also help the fish to |
| consistently, using a normal number of | | | | eat more bait by helping them pass it |
| fishing hours to achieve this. Compared | | | | through their systems faster. |
| to the 'average' majority, who are | | | | Test each individually because their |
| usually those having taken up carp | | | | properties vary. Use, e.g., 0.5 ounces |
| fishing in the last 5 to 15 years or so | | | | per pound for shell through to e.g., 2 |
| and often to struggle to maintain big | | | | ounces per pound of course kelp meal, |
| fish catches consistency all year round | | | | to e.g., 3 ounces per pound of 'Robin |
| unlike much more experienced and 'bait | | | | Red', ground birdseed e.g., 6 ounces per |
| wise' anglers. | | | | pound, up to 8 ounces per pound of |
| So I feel it is important to help | | | | 'Nectar Blend'. |
| explain how to become more satisfied and | | | | Here are some examples of recognized |
| consistent in your carp fishing, because | | | | 'nutritional' bird food ingredients: |
| these days it can be a large sacrifice, | | | | • 'PTX.' |
| both in time and money, to pursue this | | | | • 'Robin Red.' |
| sport. I believe, especially newer carp | | | | • 'Red Factor.' |
| anglers, need impartial guidance when it | | | | • 'Nectar Blend.' |
| comes to the importance of bait (often a | | | | • 'RRR' Spanish peppers. |
| complete afterthought!), when frequently | | | | • 'Prosecto Insectivorous.' |
| thousands of pounds have been spent on | | | | • 'Sluis' CLO. |
| carp fishing tackle! | | | | • 'Sluis'Universal. |
| An introduction to the boilie | | | | • 'Sluis' Mynhah bird food. |
| ingredients: Boilies are usually made | | | | • 'CeDe.' |
| using dry mixture ingredients of either | | | | • 'EMP.' |
| 500 grammes or 1 pound. Using a | | | | • 'Red Venom' carophyll red liquid |
| combination of natural and synthetic | | | | pigment attractor. |
| materials, bait may be bound together | | | | • Ground-up wild bird food. |
| usually with eggs, to form dough balls | | | | Other ingredients are used to change |
| or shapes. The most effective size and | | | | resilience, texture, attractor |
| dimensions vary depending upon your | | | | leak-off,e.g., milk powders, whole milk, |
| fishing situation, and could be 8 to 30 | | | | 'Vitamealo' at, e.g., 4 ounces per |
| millimeters plus. (Never underestimate | | | | pound),or in a very soluble bait to bind |
| how fish preferences alter over time and | | | | it 'tighter' e.g., whey gel at 3 ounces |
| even at different times during a | | | | per pound, or make it harder, e.g. blood |
| session!) | | | | powder at e.g. 4 ounces per pound, egg |
| It pays to make different sizes, shapes, | | | | albumin at e.g., 2 ounces per pound, |
| and densities boilies: this helps take | | | | whole egg powder at, e.g., 3 ounces per |
| away a 'danger' reference point, i.e., | | | | pound, or whey gel, e.g., 1 ounce per |
| it stops the fish recognizing it and | | | | pound. |
| fools the carp into eating the hook bait | | | | To avoid silt / to make baits more |
| with the hook (which is the point, isn't | | | | buoyant, include ingredients like sodium |
| it?!) | | | | caseinate, e.g. 5 ounces per pound, or |
| Boilies have conventionally been and are | | | | shrimp meal, e.g. 3 ounces per pound or |
| often labeled in terms of the food group | | | | krill meal at e.g., 3 ounces per pound. |
| which forms the majority percentage of | | | | Try raising your flavours levels too! |
| the bait, i.e.: | | | | Vitamins and minerals are great |
| Milk protein (whole milk and it's | | | | attractors too, being essential for carp |
| derivatives) | | | | health and growth. Many of the above |
| Carrier carbohydrate (soya flour / | | | | extracts supply these, but they leach |
| semolina) | | | | out of bait very fast. Adding black |
| Bird foods (seed mixes, rearing foods | | | | strap molasses, betaine hydrochloride to |
| and extracts, etc) | | | | the mix and as liquid soak really help. |
| Fishmeal (ground trout pellets, oily | | | | Other ingredients can be added in very |
| fish meals, crustacean meals, seafood | | | | low levels to enhance your bait, or give |
| extracts, etc) | | | | it an 'extra special attractive note' |
| Meat meals (beef, poultry, pork flakes, | | | | e.g., 1 teaspoon per pound, of powdered |
| hydrolyzed feather meal, etc) | | | | taste enhancer, sea salt, or sweeteners |
| And so on… | | | | like sodium saccharin and fishing |
| Of course, these labels are misleading | | | | company proprietary brands liquid and |
| to some folks these days because baits | | | | powdered sweeteners with no 'chemical |
| have become more complex. The benefits | | | | back taste'. |
| of mixing the nutrients of different | | | | When you mix new ingredients together |
| food groups in the same bait mix, means | | | | always test your mixture first. Try |
| there may be no single food group in any | | | | using one egg as a binder, to see if you |
| given bait! | | | | have your ratios right for practical |
| So how do you choose which ingredients | | | | binding and rolling purposes. Always |
| to use, which ratios of these to use and | | | | prepare your wet ingredients first and |
| why? The first step is commonly | | | | add dry ingredients to the wet ones |
| practicality; can you put these things | | | | gradually as you become accustomed to |
| together into a dough or paste, to | | | | the ingredients you're using, this part |
| produce a boilie mix that will bind | | | | will become simple! |
| together and roll well? | | | | You can refine your bait's 'nutritional |
| To produce a boilie from various | | | | profile' content, attraction properties |
| ingredients without instructions on | | | | and additional practical physical |
| ratios of each ingredient takes some | | | | properties, as you become more familiar |
| preliminary testing. So it is wise to | | | | with getting a practical bait together; |
| start by using one large hen's egg (or | | | | that works right for you and catches |
| similar), mixed with a small amount of | | | | carp consistently! (Big ones preferably! |
| any liquid ingredients, to confirm that | | | | You will soon find it's very easy to |
| your test dry ingredients when mixed | | | | make all kinds of baits, and your secret |
| actually bind and roll well into balls | | | | bait armory will fill you with |
| to make boiled baits. If not, add more | | | | confidence and your photograph albums |
| egg, a small amount of vegetable oil or | | | | with big carp! (Warning this article is |
| 'binding material'. | | | | under copyright; only reprinting with a |
| Ideally start by putting the carp's | | | | link is OK.) |
| dietary needs first when making bait, | | | | By Tim Richardson. 'The 'thinking |
| and begin with the bulk 'whole protein | | | | angler's bait making expert. |
| food' content of ingredients at 25 % to | | | | |