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