Most importantly, they are extremely high in high quality proteins. They provide for carps' dietary essential amino acids requirements. And these amino acids combined with the taste, smell and flavour of these ingredients, make them irresistible to carp!

Even scientists testing carp feeding responses to different chemicals use the milk derivative casein as a 'control' food, because carp love eating it for it's beneficial effects.

'Milk proteins' are extracts of whole milk by using various processes. Some use acids or charcoal, others use physical means like grading screens. Each extraction process retains certain nutritional qualities that are better for individual bait purposes, and offer different qualities and properties of milk protein ingredients in a bait.

The milk derivatives called caseins are exceptionally high in protein. As such, they have been highly favored for use in protein carp baits in homemade and commercially produced baits.

Caseins are measured in 'mesh grades,' and vary widely in quality solubility and digestibility. 'Acid' and 'rennet' type extraction caseins are often used. These often represent the highest quality whole food protein in a 'balanced nutritional value' carp bait.

They are recommended to be used together as part of a bait as a 50 % / 50 % mixture, and offer 90 % and 95 % nutritional protein.

They are less soluble than many other milk protein extracts. Lower quality caseins are utilized in industry, for example in plastics and glues. It has often been recommended to use the highest 'food consumption' grade quality and freshness caseins in carp baits.

These can expensive to buy so and lower quality grades of caseins have been used in baits. Individuals and bait companies have still used 'industrial grade' caseins to produce good catches!

Caseins, caseinates and fish meals have become a very successful basic nutritional combination over the years.

'Lactalbumin' is a more soluble extract, and has 88 % protein. It is actually composed of lactalbumin and lactoglobulins. It has elements which are not soluble; but it's one of the very best sources of quality protein available in carp bait making. Carp also love its creamy taste.

Sodium caseinate is a renowned, highly nutritional carp attractor in its own right. It is lighter than calcium caseinate, binds well with other ingredients, and is 96 % protein. Carp love its taste and smell. It is highly water soluble.

Along with calcium caseinate (similar), and casein, these are used predominantly as the quality protein ingredients in an extremely wide range of baits, and form part of carp fishing 'folklore'. It is very water soluble and digestible, but its limitation in bait use, is its high buoyancy!

Used in high levels, Sodium caseinate is often the main protein ingredient of semi-buoyant boilies. Rates of around 50 % inclusion in the dry powders 'base mix' are used for floating boilies or so called 'pop-ups.' Sodium caseinate is very highly recommended in pastes too!

To make baits softer and more soluble, whole milk powder and tinned 'baby milks' can be used. Calf milk replacers are used in the same way. There are many milk replacers that have proven their worth in carp baits, providing different qualities to the baits.

Even the tinned evaporated milk is a proven favorite additive. Rates of use for most individual milk derivatives in powder form average up to 25 % of a total pound mix for example. (Or 4 ounces per pound of a dry mix.

* Milk protein recipes:

One of the most successful baits of the '1970's to early 1980's era, in the UK, was what was termed 'the four milks.' This consisted of equal amounts of casein, lactalbumin, sodium caseinate and an ingredient referred to as 'FinnStim', which contains purified crystalline betaine, and was best optimized with added amino acids.

Apparently, this was one of the kinds of bait that made top international carp angler, Kevin Maddox, famous.

With a slight change, Rod Hutchinson gave me this formula; it produced very well when I began taking carp fishing more seriously around 1980:

* 4 Ounces of casein.

* 4 Ounces of sodium caseinate.

* 4 Ounces of lactalbumin.

* 4 Ounces of soya isolate.

* 15 Milliliters of amino acids compound.

* 3 To 5 milliliters of 'scopex' flavour.

* 1 Teaspoon of a sweet 'appetite stimulator' powder.

* Four large eggs.

Although expensive, this bait was really excellent, and I still recommend it today.

Other recipes followed in which it was recommended to combine different nutritional base mixes together. For example, by combining a milk protein base mix with perhaps an amino acid compound based mix. Or with a spray dried fruit juices based mix, or a sugars base mix, or with a spicy yeast base mix.

Here is an effective milk protein bait with mixed spices and herbs added:

* 4 Ounces of casein.

* 4 Ounces of sodium caseinate.

* 4 Ounces of lactalbumin.

* 4 Ounces of soya isolate.

* 1 Tablespoon of mixed spices and herbs.

* 15 Milliliters (or more,) of amino acids compound.

* 3 To 5 milliliters of 'ultraspice' flavour.

* 1 Teaspoon of sweet 'appetite stimulator' powder.

* Four large eggs.

* 1 Tablespoon of sweet molasses.

With these as 'control' baits, you can safely experiment with other ingredients, like body building protein powders, herbs, animal feeds, extracts, and so on, and continue catching carp with confidence!

The author has many more fishing bait edges 'up his sleeve!' Every one of them can make a huge difference to catches. The more you know; the more fish you will catch.

(Warning: this article is subject to copyright.)