| Many thoughts exist on making baits and so many | | | | and emptied my reel, snapped the line, leaving my |
| ideas and opinions contradict each other; So how to | | | | friends laughing, in a mixture of amazed shock and |
| find the truth about what really works?! | | | | jealous relief that I did not land it!!! I'd gradually stripped |
| Well, for example, in creating recipes for an instantly | | | | off down to my underpants and waded out 30 yards |
| attractive carp or catfish bait, (these very often work | | | | to chest deep water too! (I wonder if the video they |
| for both species) people argue over ingredients, and | | | | took of the action still exists - eh Mr Grimes!?) I still |
| how baits actually trigger that crucial fish feeding | | | | wonder about that fish.... |
| response. | | | | Please be warned: Be aware that highly flavored |
| A good sign when designing your homemade bait is | | | | instant attractor type baits can badly 'backfire on you' |
| that it instantly attracts the attention of a wide range | | | | and actually be extremely repellant to many big carp |
| of species. This might be great if you want to target all | | | | on some waters, owing to high pH factors etc, and |
| these others, but your bait might be attracting 'bait fish' | | | | also where it has been used on a water, by many |
| around your hook bait that will attract the much bigger | | | | anglers, for quite some time. |
| predatory, or curious catfish, or carp. | | | | The biggest, most wary of fish can be terrified of |
| Such baits vary from just 2 ingredients and a flavour, | | | | overflavoured baits and even the average artificially |
| to the most advanced produced by fish nutritionists | | | | flavored bait simply because it recognizes that signal |
| and biochemists. But for each extreme, there are | | | | as related to danger! You may wonder why you |
| ideas and principles common to each, so let's start by | | | | almost never even hook a bigger fish on such a bait at |
| looking at what makes a 'simple bait': | | | | certain waters. Remember, the aim of the bait is to get |
| To begin with, the simplest baits often utilize cheaper | | | | a carp to pick up the bait as confidently as possible, as |
| bulk ingredients as basic as wheat or corn flour, with a | | | | this gives the greatest chance of obtain a solid hook |
| 'high energy value' but a low protein content. | | | | hold! |
| Such baits may seem easy to distinguish from the | | | | I took a quality milk protein and wheat germ bait to the |
| 'balanced nutritional profile' protein based baits, but | | | | famous 'Rainbow Lake' in France, and made a terrible |
| things overlap: Each type works and seems to | | | | mistake by putting the recommended synthetic flavor |
| contradict each other's theory of why they should | | | | in it, instead of leaving it out completely! This bait |
| work at all! | | | | produced NO takes at all, and I ended up catching fish |
| And perhaps the key is less to do with the effort and | | | | around 50 pounds on other bait with no flavor instead!... |
| energy cost to the carp, of eating your bait, versus its | | | | The Japanese and American scientists have both |
| bio - energy reward for doing so. But more to do with | | | | proven that carp instinctively prefer a protein instead |
| exploiting methods of initial feeding response stimulation | | | | for a Carbohydrate based food. |
| and initial bait small, taste and palatability. For example, | | | | In one of a series of similar tests producing similar |
| we all know that food that is very nutritious can be | | | | results, a carp diet was supplemented with a |
| repellant because of its strong taste or smell; some | | | | carbohydrate food. The carp regularly ate this food for |
| people hate fish, or garlic, or certain vegetables... | | | | only one week before stopping. This particular food |
| So what are the theoretical origins of carp baits made | | | | was ignored for a total of 26 weeks, but when a |
| from 'humble' low protein and economical | | | | protein based food was then offered, it was eaten |
| 'carbohydrate' ingredients, after all, we all know sweet | | | | immediately! |
| corn is one of the greatest carp baits of all time, even | | | | The Japanese probably lead the world in knowledge |
| catching a British record or two, but is primarily a | | | | of carp nutrition and carp attractors, with over a |
| sweet low protein carbohydrate food? | | | | thousand years of history in carp breeding, testing and |
| Traditionally the best known low protein flavor | | | | so on. |
| attractor 'commercial bait' (used world wide) is | | | | I've read that in many tests carp are induced into |
| probably is Rich worth's or Rod Hutchinson's 'Tutti Fruiti' | | | | feeding less nutritional food, by adding PLANT |
| flavor / boilie. Fish love certain alcohols / combinations | | | | EXTRACTS and NOT SYNTHETIC CHEMICAL |
| far more than others and a cheap semolina / soya | | | | FLAVORS. For example, I've seen fenugreek extract |
| flour base mix were ideal to carry this attractor label, | | | | used, and this is a component of the extremely |
| and work anywhere. | | | | successful commercially produced 'maple' flavor. You |
| However, flavors were originally used in baits to | | | | must assume that these scientists are at the top of |
| change their TASTE, when catch results achieved on | | | | this whole game, so if they're using it in tests as a carp |
| the low nutrition baits were slowing down, and NOT | | | | feeding trigger it probably great to use in bait! |
| because flavors actually worked as attractors in their | | | | I also got the impression reading about the writings of |
| own right! (Although they have evolved to become so | | | | the famous milk protein bait pioneer, Fred Wilton, that |
| today.) | | | | these baits were EQUALLY as effective or perhaps |
| There are still many cheaper flavors, sold as 'carp | | | | even MORE so, when synthetic flavours were NOT |
| attractors' that are really only 'labels' for your base mix, | | | | used in them! (So give it a go!) |
| and do not have much in them that will trigger carp into | | | | Once, about 16 years ago, I was catching some good |
| feeding on your bait! Carp can be fooled for quite a | | | | carp using very successful instant attractor baits, when |
| while though; A very successful UK angler (Andy Little) | | | | the carp started head and shouldering, 'en mass', |
| who was the first to land thirty 30 pound carp in a | | | | straight out of my swim, without returning; someone |
| season, did this: he began catching by feeding a high | | | | had just put out a large quantity of his own secret |
| nutritional value bait into the lake (SAVAY), and as | | | | 'High Nutritional Value' bait (based on anchovy and |
| time and catches grew, his bait ran out. | | | | sardine fishmeal), and the carp had shown their |
| So, he put the same flavor label (strawberry?) in a | | | | preference immediately! This taught me a BIG lesson |
| cheaper, low protein, high carbohydrate base mix, and | | | | about the advantages of really understanding essential |
| he continued to catch successfully for some time. The | | | | carp nutrition in bait and how carp feeding behaviour |
| carp had associated the flavor 'label' with nutritional | | | | can be manipulated by using the right bait at the right |
| benefit, and were fooled into carrying on eating the | | | | time on a particular water!!! |
| new bait - despite its lack of food nutrition benefits! | | | | In some circumstances where there is sufficient baits |
| This category of basic dry mix consists mainly of high | | | | of nutritional quality, fish mass population / density/ |
| carbohydrate ingredients which also roll and bind | | | | competition with other species / natural food supply |
| together easily. A basic combination of 50 / 50 % | | | | etc, low protein carbohydrate baits can still continue to |
| semolina flour and soya flour is the most commonly | | | | be effective, and consistently catch almost all the fish |
| used base, although this has often added nutritional | | | | in a lake: The key seems to be in, if enough large |
| factors added like vitamins and minerals, cheap | | | | quantities of a particular bait are introduced, and the |
| fishmeal, an amino acid source like corn steep liquor for | | | | attractors, e.g., chemical flavour labels are changed |
| added attraction etc. | | | | regularly enough, then they will continue to be |
| These baits are often highly coloured with 'fluorescent' | | | | successful. |
| edible dyes to get carp to see them more quickly and | | | | One outstanding example of this happening on a water |
| easily, black, pink and white and background | | | | where quality protein and balanced nutritional profile |
| contrasting colors are often ones I've done well on | | | | baits had been used for many years there, was at the |
| when I've made these baits. | | | | famous UK water; Darenth. In one season most of the |
| You have to ask how carp see these colors in water | | | | waters biggest carp were landed on a carbohydrate |
| at different light intensities, of day / night, water clarity | | | | bait based on full fat semolina and soya flour. |
| etc, and to come to your own conclusions. White | | | | It may seem surprising, but then perhaps the fish |
| seems good as anything, and I've caught plenty of | | | | treated it as a low energy cost food source as over 1 |
| good carp on this. | | | | tonne was put in and it was used consistently by the |
| Other ingredients are added to give a 'variety' or initial | | | | majority of the anglers on fishing the at that time! Only |
| difference to the bait, as a carbohydrate bait can | | | | when the anglers' fashions changed and they tried |
| 'blow' very quickly compared to high nutrition baits on | | | | other types of baits in large quantities did this trend in |
| some water, for example a difficult, low stock density, | | | | results on 'instant baits' reduce. |
| high natural food / exceptionally high water quality lake. | | | | They do work well however and on a bait of a similar |
| It can take much work in pre - baiting for example, to | | | | design, the old French "Rainbow Lake" record carp of |
| keep ahead of the carp's natural wariness having | | | | 76 pounds was landed in 2006. |
| been caught on these baits, and even to get them to | | | | There are increasingly more countries and waters |
| eat such baits initially!.. | | | | where 'carp bait selectivity' is now a common |
| You can change your bait characteristics; type of | | | | occurrence owing to intensive fishing pressure on carp; |
| attractors, color, rate of attraction leak - off, 'crunch | | | | they can eat foods selectively while ignoring or |
| factor', etc. Instant attractor baits are often highly | | | | preferring certain baits above others! |
| coloured and 'over - flavored' with sometimes with | | | | Worldwide carp do seem to literally eat almost |
| natural juice incorporated flavors; solvent based flavors | | | | anything used as bait. Overall, however, the majority of |
| (e.g., acetates and similar groups of chemicals), or | | | | the heaviest carp caught in the UK seem to be caught |
| alcohol and oil based flavors for example, and | | | | on nutritionally based baits, but questions still arise |
| attractive extracts like that of fermented fish /shellfish. | | | | concerning those captures by 'instant attractor baits' |
| Changing the flavors, especially of 'non solvent' based | | | | and why they can 'trip - up' many of the biggest carp |
| ones, can keep the bait working purely on the basis of | | | | at times... after all, carp are only conditioned by anglers |
| flavor attraction. (Some say these baits work by | | | | and THEIR habits and preferences! |
| 'simulating' the carp's natural food signals, ionizing the | | | | The author has many more fishing and bait 'edges' up |
| area of water around the bait but there is far more to | | | | his sleeve. Every single one can have a huge impact |
| this and it is a very advanced area to really begin to | | | | on catches. (Warning: This article is protected by |
| understand.) | | | | copyright,but reprints with a link are OK.) |
| Cheaper ingredients, like ground cereals or bean | | | | By Tim Richardson. 'The thinking angler's fishing author |
| derived flours and meals, make this style of bait cost | | | | and expert bait making guru.' |
| effective, simple, and very quick to produce. Years | | | | For more expert bait making information and 'cutting |
| ago I used to soak my baits in a mixture of pure ethyl | | | | edge' techniques see the expert acclaimed new |
| alcohol flavors, oil based flavor extracts and liquid | | | | ebook / book: |
| 'Robin Red' extract. The main cost was flavors and | | | | "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" at: |
| added attractors and they keep working when | | | | "> |
| changed regularly although I always use a liquid protein | | | | Tim Richardson is an internationally acclaimed carp and |
| source as a bait soak / and in the bait as I have found | | | | catfish bait-making expert, and a highly successful big |
| carp caught by doing this are often much bigger!! | | | | fish angler. His best selling bait making and bait |
| I recall the first time I experimented with overloading | | | | enhancing books / ebooks help beginners and |
| baits with 'raw' undiluted flavors around 1980... I caught | | | | experienced anglers alike, to improve and enhance |
| all night, trebling my catch rate at that time. But I used | | | | their baits achieving far greater catches of big fish. |
| this bait only over 6 weeks, as 90 % of the carp were | | | | * His books are even used by members of the 'world |
| smaller ones 6 pounds to 16 pounds. Very nice | | | | elite' "British Carp Study Group" for expert reference. * |
| catches despite this. | | | | Your catches could gain from more understanding, |
| I tried this approach on a giant water in the south of | | | | expert bait making experience, powerful insights and |
| France (Lac Du Salagou) about 15 years ago. I hooked | | | | cutting edge fishing information and techniques; take a |
| a fish only 15 minutes after arriving. It was gigantic too, | | | | look at Tim's dedicated fishing bait making website. |