| Here's a great bait suggestion. Bait is | | | | benefits because it is a basic aquatic |
| such a wide spectrum of opinions, and | | | | food of many forms of life and this |
| most baits success hinge upon the fact | | | | impacts on its effectiveness too. In |
| that fish have not been hooked on them | | | | fact organisms that carp feed on |
| before, to give them a maximum edge; | | | | naturally are drawn to feed on it too, |
| that of being 'different.' See how to | | | | and so when used to exploit this effect, |
| here! | | | | you can achieve very effective 'natural' |
| Even where carp keep eating baits where | | | | baiting of your swim combined with |
| they get their energy supply from | | | | artificial too. |
| carbohydrate based baits containing | | | | A note on betaine and making simple |
| semolina, rice flour, maize meal, soya | | | | baits more attractive. Enzymes are |
| flour and the like, they perhaps are | | | | extremely attractive in their own right. |
| homing in on the fact that so much of it | | | | Even a soya and semolina bait when |
| is being used rather than looking | | | | soaked in dissolved betaine, becomes a |
| specifically for it to supplement their | | | | different class of bait entirely. |
| natural diet. | | | | Carp achieve far better digestion |
| So much depends on variables like water | | | | benefits by consuming enzymes in their |
| richness, stock density, angling | | | | food. Betaine is a great example and |
| pressure and volume and nutritional | | | | lobster extract and green and blue lip |
| value and profiles of different baits | | | | mussel extract along with quite a few |
| applied in volume, history and time | | | | lesser known ingredients, are great |
| duration and regularity of bait | | | | providers of this great additive. |
| introduction. | | | | Molasses are often overlooked in this |
| It seems that most baits will hook the | | | | respect. |
| biggest fish at some time, but some | | | | It is noticeable how many ingredients |
| baits will seem to hook more big fish | | | | that have been enzyme treated are |
| more frequently and this is not | | | | extremely attractive to carp and not |
| necessarily due to superior nutritional | | | | just because of available amino acids, |
| value, but more subtle factors in the | | | | sugars, and other nutritional benefits, |
| bait. | | | | or even improved water solubility and |
| Certain elements of flavours and | | | | digestibility, but because of the |
| additives may perhaps influence carp | | | | enzymes inherent in such ingredients |
| brain chemistry and behaviour, for | | | | even though they are inactive in the |
| example. For example why is it that a | | | | bait. They all have potential important |
| carbohydrate based 'Tutti Fruitti' | | | | roles to play in functions and processes |
| flavour bait or similar, (when fished as | | | | in the fish. |
| a single bait,) will get picked up on a | | | | You could add up to 4 ounces of 'blue |
| day when conditions suggest no fish will | | | | cheese' powder or grated parmesan |
| be hooked on any bait? | | | | cheese. These ingredients are especially |
| Of course, you need your bait to trigger | | | | good in cold water conditions and supply |
| feeding response in the first place and | | | | taste enhancing amino acids and salts |
| that can frequently bring up the subject | | | | along with very attractive n-butyric |
| of carp nutrition. | | | | acid, protein and other goodies. |
| This is not all it seems because carp | | | | Add a tablespoon or more, of millet with |
| will eat food that is contrary to their | | | | sesame seeds for example, per pound mix |
| balanced health if there is something in | | | | as this helps open up the bait texture, |
| the food or 'non-food' item, or in it's | | | | (which is quite dense) and adds |
| characteristics that carp will | | | | essential omega oil content and B |
| particularly respond to. Even plastic | | | | vitamins which are both very attractive |
| and cork baits get consumed, but this is | | | | to carp. You could add Niger seed or |
| not as illogical as it might appear. | | | | hemp seed instead for example, but I'd |
| Carp really are 'sampling machines' and | | | | prefer to try and use ingredients and |
| even frequently pick up small stones to | | | | ratios that most anglers would possibly |
| feed on algae attached to them. | | | | not consider. Ground-up seeds and nuts, |
| Also consider for example certain | | | | even roasted add great 'different' |
| enzymes in peanuts. This is similar to | | | | qualities of nutrition, taste, texture |
| the hemp pre-occupation scenario, but in | | | | and attraction. |
| the case of hemp, there is a massively | | | | The addition of ground oyster shell or |
| superior food benefit to carp from | | | | prawn shell for example adds essential |
| gorging on these. | | | | calcium and chitin plays a very major |
| In one discussion I've come up with this | | | | role in a carp's natural diet. There is |
| starting bait combination to supposedly | | | | a new scientific process for breaking |
| target the 'big guns' at one particular | | | | down the chitin in prawn shell and this |
| lake. The aim being to make the bait | | | | could have some significance for making |
| different to the usual commercial baits | | | | carp baits. |
| going in and hopefully exploit various | | | | You can add the recommended amount of |
| dietary needs that may still be present | | | | pepsin enzyme or multi-use enzyme to |
| at times especially in the largest fish. | | | | this bait although I won't go into this |
| Beginning with 1 pound of top quality | | | | here. |
| milk proteins perhaps including: | | | | There is so much you could do to make |
| * 4 Ounces of sodium caseinate. | | | | your bait more 'exciting.' You could add |
| * 2 Ounces of 90 mesh acid casein . | | | | two teaspoons or more betaine per pound |
| * 2 Ounces of 90 mesh rennet casein. | | | | mix. This is a natural enzyme and is |
| * 4 Ounces of lactalbumin. | | | | very well recommended. I get the |
| * 4 Ounces of soya isolate. | | | | impression it works best alongside lots |
| (You may have preferences for other | | | | of 'free form' amino acids (and certain |
| options and ratios perhaps using whey | | | | B vitamins) and also with a natural |
| protein or preparatory bodybuilding | | | | enzyme source like celery extract or one |
| protein powders with natural enzymes | | | | of many others you could try. |
| like bromelain etc.) | | | | Perhaps you might a add 1 tablespoon of |
| A milk protein based bait is not that | | | | squid extract to the above bait, or |
| commonly used these days and has many | | | | whatever your favoured combination might |
| advantages. The levels of 'biologically | | | | be at the time. Remember that baits go |
| digestible protein' can be fantastic. | | | | in so many cycles of use and fashion and |
| Although the carp essential amino acid | | | | it can pay you to be slightly out of |
| profiles cannot match those of marine | | | | step with your peers... |
| meals, they have proven excellent for | | | | To the above mix try adding 4 to 6 eggs |
| consistently catching big fish. | | | | hens eggs are not the only egg you can |
| However, all the information here can be | | | | use! |
| applied to any other bait or | | | | You might like to also add some or all |
| combination, and the success of far more | | | | of the following: |
| economical bird food baits is very | | | | 60 milliliters of 'liquid protein amino |
| interesting in discerning what exactly | | | | acids' bodybuilding supplement, or a |
| makes these ingredients so effective. | | | | proprietary carp fishing mixture per 4 |
| Ingredients can be costly, but then few | | | | to 6 eggs mix. |
| great quality baits come cheap and it's | | | | 2 or more teaspoons of sea or rock salt. |
| all in negotiating best prices. Buying | | | | 1 tablespoon of yeast extract; |
| in bulk with friends always makes | | | | 'Vegemite,' 'Marmite' etc. |
| suppliers much happier to offer better | | | | 1 tablespoon of honey or any sweetener |
| discounts where possible. Many of the | | | | from fruit sugar, to molasses to much |
| best bait additives are sourced through | | | | lesser amounts of sweet protein |
| pharmaceutical companies, being | | | | proprietary products. Perhaps 3 to 5 |
| 'pharmaceutical grade.' | | | | milliliters of intense sweetener or try |
| I notice that many anglers in the States | | | | Talin, Thaumatin B, etc. |
| use baits based on carbohydrates, | | | | 15 drops of 'Olbas oil' or individual |
| swearing by 'Wheaties,' corn syrup and a | | | | essential oils; this mix has eucalyptus, |
| supermarket flavour and so on. In your | | | | peppermint, wintergreen oils and pine |
| perhaps less intensively fished waters | | | | terpenes. They definitely make your bait |
| as opposed to many lakes in Europe, | | | | more exciting. These have very volatile |
| these baits will catch you plenty of | | | | components and this whole area gets me |
| fish. It is a known fact based on | | | | very interested. I add lecithin to my |
| scientific testing of tank carp that | | | | bait which I feel really add certain |
| carp do prefer food based on protein | | | | nutritional attraction but makes oil or |
| compared to carbohydrate even though | | | | fat content more potent and available in |
| they eat both. | | | | the bait. |
| This may sound nonsense, and in practice | | | | 1 tablespoon of garlic granules. (Not so |
| yes it does not bear out with very many | | | | much for the smell which is not present |
| variables in different fishing | | | | in water as in air, but its energy |
| situations. However, if you speak to any | | | | release and other carp function |
| angler who has fished for maybe 25 years | | | | benefits.) |
| and knows more than just a little | | | | One teaspoon of turmeric. This could |
| working knowledge on bait he will add | | | | also be paprika, or chilli powder, |
| that there are carbohydrate baits that | | | | cinnamon, or nutmeg for example. There |
| will seriously out-catch other similar | | | | are very good scientific stimulating |
| based baits. | | | | reasons for adding ingredients such as |
| Mostly these have feeding triggers | | | | these. |
| involved like various acids, alcohols, | | | | Great carp baits have often contained |
| sugars, minerals and vitamins added and | | | | herbs or spices, even curry powder. Just |
| a percentage of amino acid providing | | | | think how they make you feel and how |
| materials too. These baits can more | | | | powerful they are. Many of our most |
| resemble the product of a chemistry lab, | | | | powerful and addictive drugs are derived |
| than just a mixture of plain old | | | | from herbs and spices. 'Robin Red' at |
| flours... | | | | anything from 1 ounce to 3 ounces and |
| As another suggestion to cheapen your | | | | above is very relevant here. |
| bait while retaining many nutritional | | | | You may choose to only just scald boil |
| and attraction advantages add perhaps a | | | | your baits to retain maximum attractive |
| few ounces of brewers yeast powders, or | | | | nutritional attraction. |
| high grade liver powders. It does pay to | | | | I find that with milk protein baits it |
| get the best quality and freshness you | | | | is especially important to make them |
| possibly can and bait companies often go | | | | 'biologically or enzyme active' to |
| to very great lengths to achieve this | | | | really get the best from them. One of |
| for you. | | | | the simplest ways is to 'cure' your |
| These 2 ingredients do not of course | | | | baits (especially your hook baits) is in |
| offer the same oils and amino acid | | | | using plastic lidded tubs placed |
| profiles of marine derived ingredients. | | | | somewhere warm. E.g. in the airing |
| However, at a time when sustainability | | | | cupboard for 5 days, removing moisture |
| of resources is increasingly becoming a | | | | each day. Then use these bacteria |
| question of ethics, I like to use it | | | | digested, powder covered 'active baits' |
| more and more and meat and poultry meals | | | | at their peak |
| are becoming more used and more and are | | | | (You might wish to soak all ready baits |
| now very popular. Blood meals and liver | | | | in a mixture of betaine, squid extract |
| powders hold their own too for example. | | | | powder, green lip mussel extract, |
| In my research, yeast as a single | | | | spirulina powder extract, sea salt and |
| ingredient, is one of the most amazing | | | | sweeteners). |
| in terms of providing natural carp | | | | Experimentation and testing using a |
| dietary benefits. Its carp attraction is | | | | 'control bait' that you trust in many |
| very well documented. I always add yeast | | | | fishing situations, is the key to |
| extract too, as it contains attractive | | | | 'revitalising' old waning established |
| salts, enzymes and certain brands | | | | baits. |
| contain enzyme containing plant extracts | | | | The author has many more fishing and |
| which really turn the carp on. | | | | bait 'edges' up his sleeve. Every single |
| Commercially produced spirulina powder | | | | one can have a huge impact on catches. |
| has very similar nutrition to basic | | | | (Warning: This article is protected by |
| fishmeal and has been used in | | | | copyright.) |
| aquaculture for years. It is becoming | | | | By Tim Richardson. |
| more favoured and has 'hidden' side | | | | |