I've analyzed the ingredients of commercial 'high protein carp feeds,' to show you the feeds ingredients and nutritional values. This information provides a practical easy guide to designing and making 'balanced profile' food carp baits, and a clearer understanding of a carp bait ingredient and components:

• Wheat meal: (Binder) 70 % Carbohydrate, this has a very digestible protein content of 14 %, essential amino acids, trace elements, vitamins E, etc.

• Fishmeal: The bulk high protein provision; providing 65 to 86 % of the full carp dietary protein requirements with essential amino acids and essential fatty acids (Oils,) also.

• (Often milk derivatives such as casein, sodium or calcium caseinate, and lactalbumin are used to provide high quality proteins in carp baits and even beef gelatin are all used, frequently with fish and shellfish meals in carp baits.

• Maize Meal: (Binder) 80 % Carbohydrate content. Protein provided: In parts 8 % to 19 %. It also provides 8 of 10 carp requirement essential amino acids, minerals, traces etc.

• Canola: (Oilseed rape meal.) This provides oils high in omega 3 essential fatty acids, and is lower in saturated fats than any other oil, containing more cholesterol balancing monosaturated fats, than any other oil except olive oil. It is also an excellent energy source. Carp baits need an excellent energy source.

• Soybean meal: (Binder.) This meal provides 45 % carbohydrate, 45 % protein, 10 % fat, also 0.6 % phosphorus. (A carp essential mineral.) Soya is often used with semolina in economical low protein carp baits.

• Amino acids: For a 'balanced amino acid profile.' Brilliant carp attractors in their own right and used extensively in modern commercial carp baits!

• Salt: Sodium chloride is essential for life, especially in blood and cell functioning, digestive juice, highly regulated in the body. An amazing carp feeding trigger!

• Vitamins: carp essentials are especially C, B6, B12, A, D, E, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate (B9), pantothenic Acid.

• Immune stimulant: unknown, but spice oil extracts could play this role in carp baits.

• Prebiotics: Unknown. However garlic and onion with the active component s-allyccysteine plus others, work very well in carp baits. For carp health and attraction these are brilliant carp additives in both oil and granular form! Bee propolis is also used in commercial carp feeds for this purpose.

• Palatability enhancer: Unknown, but yeast extract is a very common and effective and nutritional taste enhancer. Many taste enhancers and flavours have evolved especially for carp fishing.

• Colourant: Unknown, but a carp attractive sweetener like caramel is probably used. Edible dyes of any colour, even 'day -glo' are available today, for use in carp bait making!

• Spirulina: (Soluble Blue-green algae.) - Very healthy! Protein content is 62 %, fats 7 % (mainly Gamma-linolenic acids.) It stimulates the immune system with very high levels of beta-carotene (4 Milligram's per gram) plus other carotenes with important antioxidant effects. It provides polysaccharides which also have antioxidant effects too. Carp essential vitamins provided are: B12, thiamin, riboflavin, iron, and zinc. Spirulina is a very nutritious fish meal replacement or addition to your carp bait!)

Importantly, the overall contents revealed for bait making purposes are:
Total Protein: 38%.
Carbohydrate: 62%.
Fat: (Not less than 7 % within the ingredients.
Phosphates: (Not less than) 0.7 %.
Calcium: (Not more than) 0.3 %.

Feeds for use in water temperatures under 55 Fahrenheit or 13 Degree Celsius:
• Total protein content: 30 %
• Added rice, peas and wheat germ for easy, digestible energy
• Wheat germ: Protein content: 28 %. (A very easy to digest protein.) Also provided are: 10 % fats (polyunsaturates,) vitamins B1, B9, niacin and minerals traces, selenium and zinc.

Other 'winter formula' feeds had a protein content of 28 %, and also addition of wheat germ with a reduced fish meal content so reducing the proteins and fat source.

• The cold water bait could based on these examples consist of:

Total protein content: 29 %.

• Carbohydrate type food content: 71 %. (Including additional soluble fiber for increased digestible energy.)

These ratios have proven effective in carp baits in so many catches in so many differently designed carp baits over the years, that you won't go far wrong with them! (Warning: Please note that copyright applies to this article.)

By Tim Richardson. 'The thinking man's fishing author' and bait guru.

For more information see: http://www.baitbigfish.com