| Are you one of those fishermen who would love | | | | available today and also so many just waiting |
| to have your own unique and exceptionally | | | | to be exploited in carp baits, if you know |
| successful bait? Carp bait is such a big | | | | what you are looking for. |
| issue and staying ahead of the majority with | | | | |
| bait is very often the key to success. | | | | Farmers are being forced to supply their |
| | | | animals' feeds with a lower protein content |
| Here in the UK carp bait making is not as | | | | as sea products availability drops and prices |
| popular as it once was owing to the massive | | | | rise. They are exploiting ways of producing |
| availability of readymade baits. But for many | | | | better results with lower protein feeds |
| carp fishermen, they want more satisfaction | | | | instead. There is much research going on in |
| from their catches and more control over | | | | this area and it is of great interest to us |
| exactly what goes into their bait. They | | | | as regards carp baits. We may have to convert |
| recognise many of the great benefits and | | | | to non-sea products for ingredients at some |
| advantages of using bait that is unique only | | | | stage the way things are going. |
| to them! | | | | |
| | | | For example, the use of industrial enzymes |
| Also, homemade bait making is a great | | | | and bacteria and special methods to really |
| economical way to compete with those | | | | maximise the energy and nutrition provided in |
| notorious 'bait sponsored anglers' enjoying | | | | cereals for example, to be converted to |
| the edge of subsidized commercially produced | | | | maximum yields in farmed animals. These are |
| pellets and boilies. | | | | exploiting corn and wheat for example. |
| | | | |
| Bait making is still very much alive in | | | | In fact, cereals are being bred for better |
| Europe, the United States and many other | | | | nutritional profiles and indeed sweetcorn has |
| parts of the world. We fishermen enjoy a | | | | been bred for maximum sweetness and sugars |
| challenge, especially one which enhances our | | | | content for years. Crops grown in areas where |
| enjoyment of our sport and very often can | | | | nutrients are less available are obviously |
| multiply results beyond the average or simply | | | | not going to be as beneficial as they will |
| ordinary. | | | | contain less vital minerals and trace |
| | | | elements and lower percentage of protein, for |
| Often bait making enthusiasts are either keen | | | | example. |
| beginners or experienced fishermen who have | | | | |
| the knowledge from years of fishing perhaps | | | | In carp bait, one of the great aims is the |
| beginning some 25 years ago or more. | | | | maximum triggering of the carp's sensory |
| | | | systems, so changing carp brain functioning |
| But the old recipes from the past decades can | | | | and getting the carp to feed on our hook |
| be vastly improved upon these days. In fact, | | | | baits. But a bait does not have to consist |
| there's far more available than the commonly | | | | conventionally of 'protein this or amino acid |
| used betaine hydrochloride, or corn steep | | | | that.' There are thousands of other |
| liquor. Often newer products have resulted | | | | substances and unusual ingredients which can |
| from commercial pressures within a variety of | | | | act as 'feeding triggers' or various |
| industries, from brewing, to aquaculture to | | | | stimulators, that can impact upon carp |
| livestock farming. | | | | behaviour. |
| | | | |
| For example, there have been many scientific | | | | For this particular reason, you can make |
| studies on fish feeding triggers and also and | | | | baits very different to those of your carp |
| especially, methods of enabling fish to | | | | fishing peers baits. It's human nature for |
| benefit from the maximum energy from there | | | | the majority to jump on a successful |
| food as possible for the least energy | | | | readymade bait 'bandwagon.' But as you get to |
| expended in digestion and other important and | | | | know more about bait, then the more you will |
| vital processes. | | | | be able to actually take advantage of 'going' |
| | | | baits that the majority are using, by |
| There is definitely a greater move by fish | | | | 'topping' them in creative and scientific |
| farmers in response to the rapid decline of | | | | ways. |
| the world's fish and shellfish stocks. They | | | | |
| are needing to replace the conventional | | | | Very many of these ways are both surprisingly |
| protein providing fish farming feed | | | | easy and extremely effective in catching you |
| constituents, with those from alternative | | | | more fish than the 'average' guy. Why not |
| sources like beans, pulses and cereals. | | | | make your own bait 'the flavour of the |
| | | | month?' |
| This is obviously not just down to 'saving | | | | |
| the planet' but in full knowledge that the | | | | The author has many more fishing and bait |
| prices of fish and shellfish are rising, many | | | | 'edges' up his sleeve. Every single one can |
| to uneconomic levels, as supplies become far | | | | have a huge impact on catches. (Warning: This |
| scarcer. But what does this have to do with | | | | article is protected by copyright.) |
| bait making and producing our own special and | | | | |
| unique secret baits? The big 'hook point' is | | | | By Tim Richardson. |
| that there are new and alternative products | | | | |