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