| * Vitamins are ESSENTIAL proven TOP carp | | | | damaged and swollen. |
| attractors and additives! * | | | | Fish meal baits have dominated the UK bait scene for |
| Vitamins are essential for healthy carp and this applies | | | | 20 years plus. More anglers are adopting a "more bulk |
| whether they are commercially farmed or wild carp! | | | | oils in my bait, equals more fish on the bank" |
| Farmed carp are given a vitamin supplement mixture, | | | | mentality. But this is a very damaging to fish! |
| usually combined with the essential minerals and trace | | | | * Fat levels and carp induced vitamin E deficiency: |
| elements that are also required for optimum carp | | | | Fat levels incorporated via the dry base mix, |
| growth and weight gain. | | | | especially containing high-fat, oily fish ingredients, are |
| These nutrients are essential to a carp's health, | | | | often enough to satisfy basic carp dietary needs. |
| growth, and 'sense of well-being.' They may exist in | | | | 'Overloading' with fish derived, or, 'bulk food', or 'fish |
| an environment rich in natural food, possibly | | | | feed inducing', or other oils, can be detrimental. The |
| supplemented frequently with anglers' baits. But if a | | | | recommended usage rates are 15 to 30 milliliters |
| carp is deficient in a particular nutrient even like one | | | | maximum per pound of dry boilie base mix. |
| essential vitamin, it may well eat your bait instinctively | | | | Pure salmon oil is particularly recommended, especially |
| to fulfil that dietary need! | | | | for lower ware temperatures in the winter. This is |
| * The vitamins most essential to carp, and carp baits | | | | because this oil has extremely healthy effects on the |
| based on carp nutritional trials: | | | | body and processes of the carp, and is very easily |
| Vitamin A ('IU' with antioxidant effects,), A ('RE') also | | | | digested. |
| has antioxidant effects. Vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 | | | | * Other carp essential vitamins and their sources: |
| (riboflavin), B3 (for growth), B5, B6, and B12. Other B | | | | B vitamins are listed repeatedly in commercial feeds. |
| vitamins are responsible for metabolism of amino | | | | Often it's B1, B6 and B12. This seems to reflect the |
| acids and fats. | | | | carp catching success of carp bait ingredients which |
| Vitamin C is for good digestion and antioxidant | | | | are high in these vitamins! |
| effects. D, E (an antioxidant,) H (for blood cell | | | | Brewers yeasts, deactivated bakers yeasts, and |
| formation), K (for blood clotting.) Then there are | | | | yeast extract, are excellent sources of B 'complex' |
| vitamin M, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid and inositol. | | | | vitamins. They also provide essential minerals and |
| All these can be excellent carp attractors, being | | | | trace elements, and are very well proven attractors! |
| essential for a healthy carp. They are either included | | | | Brewer's yeast is, even used as an important food |
| in your bait by using ingredients that are rich in them, | | | | supplement in the health industry. |
| or by adding a vitamin supplement in powdered or | | | | Yeasts are full of the 'palatability' and taste enhancer, |
| liquid form. | | | | L-glutamic acid, one of the most abundant amino |
| Seafoods are very rich in vitamins, such as the easily | | | | acids found in nature. It is also used in 'monosodium |
| digestible crustacean oils. Fish liver oils, like cod liver oil, | | | | glutamate', another famous taste enhancer. |
| are an excellent supplier of vitamins A and D, and | | | | Pure ('pharmaceutical grade') liver powder is another |
| these are fat soluble. Seafood has good levels of | | | | great source of B vitamins that catches carp |
| niacin, particularly water-soluble B vitamins, including | | | | extremely well; and it smells really pungent! |
| B12, B6 and thiamine. (They are also an excellent | | | | Corn steep liquor and molasses are often used in |
| sources of minerals!) | | | | baits for their vitamin, mineral and trace elements |
| Vitamins, minerals and trace elements are best used | | | | nutritional attraction. |
| in fresh, natural form for the best absorption and | | | | The proficient angler will often cover all nutritional bait |
| synthesis in the carp's body. A few successful | | | | angles over a range of baits and frequently in a single |
| commercial spray-dried fruit juice baits have been | | | | bait.! A single source of easily obtained, balanced |
| designed around vitamin C, and it is a very important, | | | | nutrition, in boilie form is often most successful. It |
| essential vitamin to carp. | | | | often has the long term 'edge' in producing big carp |
| Like vitamin E, vitamin C has protective antioxidant | | | | captures over lower quality baits with little biologically |
| properties; very healthy! Carp seem to love these. In | | | | available carp nutrients. |
| aquaculture feeds, vitamin C is 'phosphorylated' | | | | However, even a low food value boilie soaked in a |
| (stabilized with phosphorous,) so getting the best | | | | mineral and vitamin supplement, will prove much |
| from this important combination of phosphorus and | | | | superior to the same bait without! You too may well |
| ascorbic acid! | | | | discover that minerals and vitamins are actually great |
| Carp need vitamin C especially, and in 'carp rearing | | | | attractors in their own right! |
| stew ponds,' where algae are not available vitamin C | | | | It has been observed that certain vitamins like niacin, |
| is especially supplemented for healthy carp growth. A | | | | vitamin B6 and B12, folic acid etc, and essential |
| Spirulina phytoplankton, (blue-green algae,) is | | | | minerals, along with betaine and amino acids in baits, |
| commercially produced used as a supplement! | | | | seem to promote very good results... |
| Vitamin D has a possible role in calcium absorption in | | | | The author has many more fishing and bait 'edges' up |
| carp. Deficiency of vitamin E in carp has been caused | | | | his sleeve. Every single one can have a huge impact |
| by excessive oil levels in carp baits in some UK | | | | on catches. (Warning: This article is protected by |
| fisheries; carp liver damage was the result! Sadly, | | | | copyright, but reprints with a link are OK.) |
| many UK anglers have seen many big carp with a | | | | By Tim Richardson. 'The thinking angler's fishing |
| bulging body, where the carp's liver has been | | | | author and expert bait making guru. |