|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #34
Thanks Des 
I really hopes the issue is the fishmeal, in this way it is solved  but only the time will tell.
I don't know if the fishmeal I used was expired, I bought it from a Dutch company and the label reads: date of expiry 11.01.2020... so, for the label, when I used it it wasn't expired. I'm more inclined to think the problem was the hight salt content onto the ingredient as johnnyfubar stated.
A mate of mine eat a peace of it and said it was really salted.
The lake I'm fishing isn't an easy water, it's big, deep and full of naturals food.
I fished with this bait in this lake for the first time after a lucky trip to cassien in August 2018 with the leftover, the first time I fished there, after a blank night, I caught a 53 lbs mirror the next morning. It was the third carp from the venue in that year. The next week I had a little common, always with the right boilie. In September caught another one but with a sweet bait, October nothing, in November I caught my Pb with the fishmeal bait a mirror over 71 lbs. With the winter coming I run off of the fishmeal baits and fished with the sweet bait.
In the 2019 from spring onwards I put all my faith on the fishmeal and during all the year I caught only one carp with the wrong bait. The only difference was the change of the fishmeal.
Now come back to the original recipe and after three sessions I caught the first carp with the bait.
If three clues prove it, maybe I'm on the right track
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #31
Top angling Sauro What a great confidence booster
Regarding the fishmeal issue ... if you assume the change of fishmeal was the problem, therefore, nutritional recognition comes into play, which would mean that the carp can detect an inferior nutritional food source and avoid it OR possibly avoid expired fishmeals acting as repellants ? Rancidity from lipid oxidation/protein oxidation can affect palatability and overall intake of said bait. Can we really trust expiration dates, not knowing the sellers storage facilities ?
Are carp able to detect minute, specific amino acids chains in various crustaceans OR simple possible food sources emitting AAs ? Do carp actually need to eat any of our boilies, if all their nutrtional requirements are met by the abundance of naturals ?
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #32
Thanks! Well chuffed
When something like that happened is always a great achievement.
It doesn't happen often, especially fishing public waters.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #31
Very well done, you must be chuffed
|
|
|
|
Just an update, after the last clue I continue to think that was the fishmeal the problem.
In September I made the original recipe with LT94 and after 3 sessions (from afternoon to mid morning) yesterday I had the first carp... And what a carp 56 lbs.
Obviously it could be only a lucky day who know, I'll see in the future, but I'm sure this recipe will never be changed
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #29
Effort = reward
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #28
Ah but one day it will have an epic entry!!!
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #27
I count because I take notes of the conditions and swims I fished on those nights, I record all fish too with rigs conditions bait used etc.. so far that page is empty on this lake lol
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #26
Wow Matt I knew it was tough but didn’t realise it was that sparse!! I love them places and the feeling when you get the reward is worth every night you spend there. Never count Blanks tho as it adds to frustration. Each night is a step closer on the learning scale
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #23
Oh I forgot to say I am in it for the long haul.. I was fishing next to a regular who has been fishing it for 15+ years, he has had a few but he is currently on 60 nights without a fish, I started in July and only heard of 1 fish being caught since then, even through the autumn which is the best time of year.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #23
I use fishmeal all year round too seems to always work!
I intend to do the same as what you describe only with maggots instead of hemp. If I get casters at least they wont wriggle away.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #23
Good advice sir.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #17
Matt Rockford isn’t an easy venue at any time of year but winter can be hard anywhere. Most lakes will see an increase in bird activity due to the clear water and them seeing the bait easily. They are a pain for me too so I tend to bait up at dusk as bite time is early morning at the mo. Maggots can bring bites for sure if the roach and bream are not a problem. I was getting at the fact that I would doubt a certain fishmeal is the reason for not getting bites at any time of the year and that other factors are probably the reason. Me and my close mates have been using good fishmeal/milk protein mixes all year round and it’s worked everywhere but we know how and when to apply them to suit. One little tip, use crumb and hemp in the spod and some matching liquids so that even when all the birds turn up they cannot pick it all up and buy yourself time. I watched a coot take all of my 30 odd 12mm boilies recently in 15 feet of water, but I didn’t panic as I had hemp crumb and tiny flavoured pellets on the spot and he could not pick all of them up!! The bite came about half hour after mr coot was sat in the reeds burping!!
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #19
I will report back let you know how I get on 
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #20
Where I have been fishing there is a lovely spot at 14 wraps and I always have a rod positioned there, i have seen fish there too.
What I mean by the range thing is fish will naturally feed without caution in areas they know anglers do not fish, they are not stupid.. I have seen it on every lake I've ever fished, if you can place a bait somewhere they are not used to being fished for they will be easier to catch. For instance where I was last fishing the water levels were up and down and a bar at 50 yards sticking out the water for several months due to low water levels meant the area past it was unfisheable. The fish loved this area and got accustomed to it being a safe zone. As soon as the levels were high enough to fish over it, the fish were almost easy to catch!
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #17
I'm sure if i could put bait out 180 - 200 yards and fish over it effectively i would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
I would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
Plenty of decent, clear, non mouldly bait spots probably from rod tip to catapult range too. Surely the fish must venture in close with all that noise, pressure, manky bait at extreme range.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #17
I think you've hit the nail on the head about Rockford. Even when I stopped there about 9 years ago, people were piling in stupid amounts of bait, and spots were souring all over the place. The nature of the lake, being basically a big square hole in the ground (the two bays excepted) I think just encourages people to fish at range and fill it in. A single worm might be an option.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #17
Sounds like a good plan mate. Let us know how you get on 
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #16
Firstly I will say I'm not questioning the boilies I'm using at all, compared to other boilies I'm as confident I've ever been in the bait. When I referred to rotting bait I should have put into context, there are a couple swims that are always occupied which are generally the most productive on the lake (i have been fishing these swims) and every night some drops in them and does the usual few spods over each rod. Based on no fish being caught from the lake by anyone I just must assume there is bait rotting on the bottom.
You can see the birds out there having a good feed on bait constantly... so I guess they will be helping clear it as well..
The naturals have been that way since I started on there, crazy amounts! and i know i have been on fish and not caught.
I am not saying I'm the best angler and there are areas further that I cant get bait to. I'm sure if i could put bait out 180 - 200 yards and fish over it effectively i would probably catch because the fish are not used to seeing it there.
I may well take a break soon and try somewhere else for a bend, but I just have a sneaky suspicion that adding maggots to the mix will give them something different which might just be enough.. My plan is to crumb some Blake's boilies and mix with maggot and chopped worm... worth a go anyhow 
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #15
Everyone always blames bait when the bites dry up. It’s not the bait at fault. I’m fishing a lake where everyone says it’s got no form and they don’t eat boilies etc. I’m having a great winter on fishmeal boilies so far and nobody else is doing it! As for Rockford Matt.......going back a few years it was a great boilie water for those who could get them out the distance they needed to be! We all need to admit that it’s our angling or other factors that stop us catching.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #11
Gonna go all out with maggots 
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #12
Hi Jon
Then there could be some difference from a fishmeal to another and it could be the cause.
Just to clarify the LT94 was the ccmoore one, the other LT is from a Dutch company.
|
|
|
|
Thanks for the replies.
The water is the same as well as the ingredients, the only change I made is the fishmeal as mentioned, I changed it in an attempt to put down costs of the baits. On the bag is printed the nutritional value, protein 70 % fat 10% moisture 8%. It contain natural antioxidants (1b 306(I) Tocopherol extract for vegetable oil). LT94 contain a similar additive?
The lake is far from an easy water. It's big and deep with a good water quality that come from the nearest mountains, due the electric purpose of the lake there is a good exchange of water with a lot of undertows. The carps are present in good number, the difficult is to get them eat on the bottom so when I had a good stream of catch I thought I have found a bait they can't resist and after the last tough year I start to doubt the bait. In this lake you need a bait that the carps recognise as food when they are eating on the bottom.
Tiger nuts are one of the baits the carps respond well and sometimes I fish with as well as chick peas or others, don't tried maggots or worm but the lake has shoal of nuisance fish, in warmer months I'm sure don't resist on the hair a lot.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #1
Hi Sauro
Fished Eastern Europe for many years and we found it hard to source fishmeal so when we found a supplier we'd all chip in and buy in bulk.
We had to change one year as our supplier couldn't supply and the new stuff we got looked good, texture and smell was good as well.
Catch results dropped dramatically on the new stuff for all of us.
One of our group worked as a sort of chemist for an ice cream company and did some tests in it and the new stuff had nearly 5 times the salt content of the original stuff we were using.
So I'd say yes there are big differences in different fishmeal products.
(I should also add that I'm currently fishing a saline lake and getting good results on heavily over salted baits)
Either way I think the fishmeal observation is a valid one as per the thread
Best
Jon
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #10
I hear it's a tricky water buddy.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #9
I'm on 17 nights without a sniff on Rockford.. There must be Tons of bait out in the lake rotting as the fish just dont seem to eat it.. so many naturals never seen anything like it.. been fishing it since July and never seen a fish get caught. Only HEARD of 1 in that time since I started...
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #7
It is all about cycles and seasonal changes.
Yes mate, I agree
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #7
going back to the original posts - it's the only change he made (changing the fishmeal) and yes it is the same water.
Maybe it's just down to a hard year, rigs, etc. who knows. It's unlikely the fishmeal is the cause of a particularly bad year's fishing. I don't think any carp ever has gone 'oh, different fishmeal, no thanks!'
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #4
Good post Yonny........
It is all about cycles and seasonal changes.
Going back to the original question, are we still on the same water? Have you changed any levels in attractors?
If i am being honest, when the fish are eating boilies good old provimi 66 does it as well as any other. 
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #5
Indeed sir.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #4
What are you referring to when you say naturals? Maggots/worms?
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #3
I also doubt it was the fishmeal.
If I know I'm on fish and I know I'm well presented yet not getting bites I'll ditch the boiled baits completely. If nuisance species allow I'd go to naturals. If not, nuts would be my next alternative.
I see waters shut up shop on boiled baits quite regularly. Most guys just tend to think they're not feeding but they are wrong.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #2
It has the out of date printed on the outside, in January 2020.
Me too doubt it was the fishmeal but it's being the only change I did I put it down to it.
The lake is really hard and last year is been tough and maybe I wasn't fishing the right places (often the carps showed in front of me) or it's simply an unlucky year. It's what I try to understand if someone had had a similar situation.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #1
If it is fresh fishmeal and used before it's out of date, I doubt it, especially if the replacement Iceland fishmeal is a low temperature one.
As you are based in Italy and caught well on the old LT94 version, could it just be that the previous year your location and watercraft was better, and the fishmeal change was not to blame, assuming all the other ingredients and attractors are fresh and stayed the same.
|
|
|
|
Can a change from a lt94 to an Iceland fishmeal lt make a bait worst in a way catch rates plummet from a great year with a lot of carps and really big to only one carp?
I know every year isn't the same and there are year better than others, but since the great 2018 start when I fished with that bait (from August to December maybe the best catch rates I ever had) and during 2019 I struggle to get a bite, I put it down to the change I did when I bought this ingredient.
Obviously this year I'll come back to lt94, but do you think it can do a great difference to change from a fishmeal to another and in which way?
|
|
