Secrets and subtleties of preparing bait for crucian carp with your own hands

Buy or make your own bait

When starting to fish for crucian carp in an unknown body of water, it is better to use store-bought bait . This has a number of advantages:

1. The mixture is made universal and balanced, taking into account the advice of ichthyologists.
2. The food absorbs moisture well and can take any consistency.
3. Purchased complementary food will protect the fisherman from the lengthy process of preparing homemade bait.

Advice: When fishing for crucian carp in a new body of water, ask experienced fishermen about the peculiarities of the food supply for the fish.
A significant disadvantage of store-bought bait is that it is produced without taking into account the subtleties of crucian carp nutrition in a separately selected body of water. Over time, there comes a time when store-bought food can only serve as a minor addition to the main food prepared with your own hands.

How to make porridge crumbly

The task is complex, but feasible, because such bait must meet several criteria - the cooked grains crumble well, do not stick together, and have a pleasant aroma. You can achieve a similar result - the main thing is to follow the cooking recipe exactly, then everything will work. It is recommended to adhere to the ratio of cereal to water - 1:8.

In other words, per kilogram of millet you will need eight liters of liquid. This proportion is not accidental - the grains must float freely and absorb as much moisture as possible, otherwise you will end up with a pasty mass that will burn over time. For one fishing trip, 0.5 kg of millet and four liters of water are enough.

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Before placing in the pan, the cereal is thoroughly washed through a colander with water. Pre-soaking does not make sense. So, pour the washed cereal into a container with water and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat and remove the resulting foam with a spoon, cook the millet for an additional 15 minutes, not forgetting to stir the fish delicacy. It’s easy to determine readiness - the porridge is considered ready when the grains open. Now drain the boiling water, add cold water, stir and pour out the sink. We repeat the procedure three times. The result will be crumbly millet, which the crucian carp will be delighted with. The preparatory process is completed, and you can begin creative experiments.

Preparing ingredients for bait

Complementary food for crucian carp can be prepared in dry form or in porridge form. It depends on the characteristics of fishing and the feeding conditions of the fish.

For dry bait, crackers can be the basis. For porridge, cereals are selected depending on the preferences of the crucian carp in a given reservoir. To prepare complementary foods, you need to purchase fillers for it:

1. Ground crackers.
2. Cereals: pearl barley, barley, peas, wheat, semolina. They are selected for the bait that will be placed on the hook.
3. Flour: plain, corn, pea.
4. Oat flakes.
5. Millet.
6. Sunflower seeds (ground at home).

The components of the bait can be natural fillers, which include anise, cumin, garlic, dill, mint or vanilla .

If you plan to fish with animal baits, then adding them to the bait will not be superfluous.

What is porridge for?

Porridge for fishing for crucian carp and other non-predatory fish, for example, carp, bream, roach, rudd, performs two functions at once. It lures fish from a large area to the fishing point and keeps it in that place. Properly prepared porridge after the starting feeding will give results in the form of the first bite within 15–20 minutes and will maintain it throughout the entire fishing trip.

The third function of the porridge is to fill the feeder when using a feeder. Depending on the consistency, it will suit any type of feeder, from a rare spring to the notorious “crucian carp killer,” the so-called nipple.

The beneficial functions of porridge are undeniable, but it has one relative drawback. It lies in the fact that even for a specific body of water, a specific place and a specific time, there is no universal recipe that would work with the same efficiency every fishing trip. And the point here is not that each time the porridge turns out a little different. It’s just that crucian carp is such a picky fish that its taste preferences can change several times a day. This does not mean that you need to prepare several types of porridge in advance and throw a new dish into the water every time the bite weakens. Firstly, cooking porridge at home is not a difficult task, but it does take some time and it can take the whole weekend to prepare several recipes. And secondly, and this is the main thing, such a variety of taste stimuli is more likely to scare away the fish than to interest it.

Considering this relative inconvenience, it should be remembered that even if crucian carp is not in the mood to eat something sweet today, and this happens most often in cold weather, then it is unlikely to refuse the porridge itself. The bite will not be as intense as dreamed, but the fisherman is unlikely to be left with a completely empty fishnet. Well, if porridge is used as bait and the fish is already accustomed to receiving food at a strictly defined point, then fishing luck will definitely smile.

Rules for preparing crucian bait

A mixture of dry bait or porridge has its own preparation rules.

The components for the dry mixture are mixed at home or at the fishing site. Adding water to the dry mixture is carried out on the shore from the reservoir in which fishing will be carried out.

Important: Complementary food fillers must be thoroughly sifted and mixed before mixing.

Water is added in small portions, bringing the mixture to the required moisture and density.
If you are going to fish from the shore using a float rod, then you need to make a ball of bait.
Its density should be such that when cast by hand or using a slingshot, it can reach the required point and collapse when it hits the bottom. To check this, just make an experimental ball and throw it into the water not far from you.

For feeder gear, the mixture should be less dense. The feeder will deliver the complementary food to the desired point, where it should fall out with slight pressure.

Aromatic fillers dissolve in water, which is used to mix the mixture.

Tip: The components of the bait should be small in shape. This will better attract fish.

Porridge is no less popular method of feeding than dry mixture. Its preparation is carried out in two ways:

• Steam the porridge.

The bait components and aromatic fillers are placed in a pan or thermos. The mixture is poured with boiling water and left until it swells.

• Cook porridge.

The prepared dry mixture must be filled with water and cooked until the main component is ready. The ratio of mixture and liquid is 1 to 3, respectively. Aromatic fillers are added to the porridge immediately after it is ready.

Complementary food fillers, which are used as hook bait, are introduced after the mixture is prepared. This applies equally to dry mixture and porridge.

Millet porridge for crucian carp

Millet porridge is even easier to prepare. Take the desired amount of millet cereal and rinse it in a colander. Place the millet in a bowl and fill it with water (two parts of water fall on one part of the cereal), then put it on the fire.

When the water starts to boil, turn the gas down to minimum. Do not stir the porridge, only after 15-17 minutes scrape the bottom of the pan with a regular spoon: if a crust has already appeared, the porridge is ready.

Turn off the gas and leave the porridge to cool for 50-60 minutes, then just stir.

You can add flavorings to millet porridge, for example, vanilla, roasted seeds, honey, etc.

Also, ready-made feeder baits are added to millet porridge; millet porridge makes the bait more resistant to flow and takes longer to wash out, keep this in mind.

Mistakes in preparing bait and how to avoid them

Every fisherman considers the process of preparing his own bait to be proven and tries not to disclose it. Experienced fishermen prepare it based on their many years of experience, taking into account all the factors of future fishing. But at the initial stage, everyone makes mistakes. What are the mistakes in preparing complementary foods and how to prevent them?

Selection of components for bait. Often, novice fishermen use components with a high protein concentration for the base. It can be crackers, porridge, ground flour.

Their disadvantage is poor absorption by fish. You need to take into account not only the number of fish being attracted, but also its size.

Density of the mixture. When lowering complementary food to the bottom, its decay radius should be within one meter. The density level is determined by the presence or absence of liquid during the cooking process.

Feeding fish. Large fractions in complementary foods attract large fish. If she approaches, then there is no need to throw balls at her. It is enough to throw in a little grain, preferably mixed with a worm or maggot.

Accounting for air and water temperatures. In cold weather and in slightly warmed water, crucian carp bite better on animal bait. It is advisable to add it to the basic bait. As the temperature rises, the bite is better activated on plant baits.

Adding flavor additives. To be effective, complementary foods must sit for a little while after adding them. It is better to prepare food the day before fishing. If the addition takes place on the shore of a reservoir, then it is recommended to infuse complementary foods for 15–20 minutes.

Adding milk powder or egg powder. All the small fish in the pond will flock to this additive. The effectiveness of bait for crucian carp will be lost, and large fish may not bite.

Preparation of crucian carp food by a fisherman will become optimal when all errors and factors are taken into account.

We prepare the equipment and catch crucian carp on a spring

Catching crucian carp with a spring is in demand, since such equipment shows good results.

It must be said that it is best to fish with a spring when it is not yet very cold outside and the water in the reservoir has not yet cooled down. At this moment, the crucian carp is active, he is looking for food, so special baits will certainly interest him.

Important! Crucian carp can be caught well at any time of the day, with the exception of extreme heat.

Anglers should be aware that spring sizes, designs and weights vary widely. When choosing a feeder, you should pay attention to the casting distance. Of course, the farther you need to place an element, the heavier it should be. The spring can be attached either rigidly or slidingly. If the second method was chosen, then there should be a hollow tube inside the element - a fishing line is threaded through it. If there is an anti-twist tube on the spring, then the part will be completely out of competition.

Features of some types of porridge for catching crucian carp

If crucian carp fishing takes place at great depths or on a river, then Salapin porridge is often prepared. There is some difference in the method of preparing porridge for the feeder.

Salapin porridge for fishing

To prepare you will need:

1. Pearl barley porridge - 1 part.
2. Millet - 2 parts.
3. Cereals (corn, barley or wheat) - 4 parts.
4. Water - 9 parts.
5. Vanilla - 5 grams.

The pearl barley is poured into a pan, filled with water and put on fire. Shortly before it is ready, add millet and vanilla. It is necessary to cook until the grain begins to burst. After this, turn off the heat and add the cereal to the porridge. All components are mixed and infused for 2–3 hours.

Porridge for catching crucian carp with a spring

Feeder feeding has a number of features. It should have a slight viscosity. When hooking or normal detonation, the food should fall freely from the feeder and remain at the bottom. The fractions should be of different sizes to attract different fish.

To prepare you will need:

1. Pearl barley porridge - 0.2 kg.
2. Plain or breadcrumbs - 0.2 kg.
3. Compound feed - 0.3 kg.
4. Cereals - 0.2 kg.
5. Corn flour - 0.2 kg.
6. Purchased complementary foods - 0.2 kg.
7. Makukha - 0.2 kg.

Porridge, cereals and mixed feed are cooked separately until cooked. The cooked ingredients are strained and left to cool. After cooling, they are mixed and flour, purchased complementary foods, crushed flour and crackers are added. Store-bought complementary foods enhance the smell.

Semolina with rolled oats

This bait holds well on the hook. In addition, fish like it, which bites on such a delicacy with great pleasure.

Preparation takes place in several stages:

• 2 glasses of water are poured into the vessel. And all this is put on the fire until it boils.
• After this, add 4 tablespoons of cereal and another 4 teaspoons of sugar to the pan. In just a couple of minutes you need to add 2 cups of semolina. Done
• this is done slowly and with constant stirring so that the product does not clump.
• When the water has completely evaporated, you can remove the porridge from the heat, crush it into a ball and wrap it in something thick and warm. The treat should remain in this state for about 15 minutes.
• After this, the dish is seasoned with 2-3 drops of anise oil.

At the final stage, the porridge is kneaded like regular dough.

Seasonal fishing for crucian carp in the pond and on the river

Depending on the time of year, the composition of the components in complementary food for crucian carp may change. Temperature fluctuations affect the fish's food intake and preferences. So what are the differences between complementary foods at different times of the year?

The best bait for crucian carp in summer

In summer, the water is warm and crucian carp prefer food of plant origin. To prepare summer bait you will need:

1. Yellow peas - 1 kg.
2. Plain or breadcrumbs - 0.2 kg.
3. Makukha - 0.2 kg.
4. Any sweet cookies - 0.1 kg.

The peas must be boiled until tender. Drain the water and add the ground peas: flour, cookies and crackers. Any vegetable oil can be used as a fragrant filler. After mixing the mixture, let it brew and form into balls.

What to feed crucian carp in spring

Until mid-spring, the water in reservoirs is quite cold, especially in rivers and at depths. At this time, bait is used, in which animal food predominates. To prepare this food you need:

1. Millet - 1 kg.
2. Worms (chopped) or bloodworms - about 10% of the total weight of complementary foods.
3. Any flour - 0.2 kg.

The millet must be boiled and allowed to cool. Add flour, worms or bloodworms and mix. Make balls.

As the water gets warmer and warmer, animal additives decrease and the amount of plant components gradually increases.

What to feed crucian carp in the fall

As winter approaches, crucian carp begin to actively feed. As the temperature drops, he switches back to animal food. The most popular autumn complementary foods for crucian carp include:

1. Plain or breadcrumbs - 0.5 kg.
2. Roasted sunflower seeds - 0.2 kg.
3. Worms, bloodworms or maggots - about 10% of the total weight of complementary foods.
4. Vanillin - 5 g.

Rusks and seeds must be ground. Add chopped worms, bloodworms or maggots to the mixture. Add flavoring and mix everything. At the pond, add water to the mixture and knead the balls.

What is porridge for and how does it work?

There are fishermen who are distrustful of porridge, which acts as bait, although it more than justifies itself. There are times when, having taken all sorts of goodies for fishing, it turns out that all of them do not attract fish one bit.

As for porridge, it allows you to both attract many specimens to a place and keep them there. The crucian carp is lured by the aroma itself, so it is quite possible that he will not begin to greedily absorb the product that was provided to him. However, it will begin to swim around it. Moreover, this can continue for quite a long time. Therefore, there is no need to save on porridge.

In order to achieve the maximum effect, half an hour before the start of fishing you should feed the fish and only after that use aromatic bait. Experienced people note that this trick almost always works flawlessly.

It must be said that the nozzle is used depending on the time of year. In the warm months, grain, pearl barley or makha are suitable, and in the cold months, you won’t find better than bloodworms, worms, maggots or flies.

Review of popular store-bought baits for crucian carp

Crucian carp is found in various bodies of water, which differ in the presence of vegetation, changes in depth, and the presence of food supply. Manufacturers of food for crucian carp are trying to find a middle ground, as a result of which some feed mixtures are highly popular among fishermen.

Traper Sekret is often used for catching crucian carp in reservoirs with abundant thickets. It is characterized by a selective effect on crucian carp, has a persistent attractive odor and does not affect the activity of small fish.

For feeder bait, Marcel Van Den Eynde Feeder is often used. It is distinguished by complex different aromas and the ability to change density. The downside is the significant cost. But in small quantities it can be used for feeder bait prepared independently.

Universal bait Gf Crucian carp is one of the most popular. It has a balanced composition and a large selection of colors and aromas.

Domestic bait Fish.ka Crucian carp is also in high demand. It has a wide range of components with different fraction sizes. An important advantage is the affordable price. The disadvantages include the fact that the aromatic filler is in a separate capsule.

Salapin porridge for crucian carp fishing

Those who catch bream on a feeder have heard about the “salapinka”. It is washed out of the feeder gradually, this is exactly what you need when fishing with a spring. Actually, the spring is the same feeder, only modified. We recommend using the Salapin porridge recipe for catching crucian carp. Our experts tried it and were satisfied. The basic recipe contains the following components:

• Pearl barley;
• Millet;
• Barley grits;
• Corn grits;
• Water;
• Unrefined sunflower oil;
• Vanillin.

Any container is suitable for the measuring unit. We will use a half-liter jar.

To prepare the “salapinka,” pour 1.5 cans of water into a saucepan and let it boil.

1. Pour 0.5 cans of pearl barley into boiling water.
2. We turn the fire to the lowest possible level and, under the lid, bring the pearl barley to a state where the grains swell and are completely cooked.
3. Now it's time to add the millet.
4. We take a full can of cereal, send it to the pearl barley, and cook further. At this stage, dry and liquid flavors are added - vanillin and sunflower oil. Vanillin - sachet, oil - 3 tbsp.
5. When the porridge begins to “puff” and there is almost no water left in it, turn off the fire.
6. Covered with a lid, the brew is infused for 5 - 7 minutes. During this time, the remaining water will be absorbed.
7. Transfer to a larger saucepan, as we will be adding dry cereal. The classic recipe for Salapin porridge for crucian carp suggests that eggs and corn grits are placed equally - 1 can each.
8. Mix everything, add dry cereal if necessary.

If the porridge is prepared for catching crucian carp with a spring, steamed oatmeal is added to it. To feed the point, rolled oats are not necessary. The consistency of homemade bait allows you to form balls and throw them into the fishing area, or use method feeders.

How to properly feed crucian carp in a pond

A good catch depends not only on what composition of complementary food is used. To a large extent, it depends on how to properly feed the crucian carp. To do this, it is recommended to use some tips:

1. Do not overfeed the fish. It is better to have a little lack of complementary food than to give it in excess.
2. Before casting, the bait needs to be slightly moistened. This will make it easier to destroy when hitting water or the bottom.
3. Before throwing food, you need to orient yourself to the throwing point. To do this, you should make a single cast of the rod. Feed balls must be thrown 1 meter closer to the float.
4. It is necessary to add food with a break of 1–1.5 hours, 2–3 balls each.
5. If the reservoir is not overloaded with vegetation, then crucian carp often feeds in coastal waters with a muddy bottom .
6. The less vegetation, the more caloric the bait for crucian carp should be. This can be achieved by adding worms, bloodworms, and maggots to the bait.

We must remember that crucian carp gets used to nutritious places. If you constantly throw bait into a certain place, then over time it will become especially attractive to crucian carp.

Tips for beginners on proper complementary feeding

• It is easy to overfeed crucian carp, which is highly undesirable. If he is fed up, he is unlikely to be interested in bait.
• In unfamiliar fishing areas, you should try feeding crucian carp with various mixtures in order to determine its taste preferences.
• It is important not to make mistakes with moistening the bait. The bait balls should break on the bottom, concentrating on a small area and forming a feeding table.
• The composition of crucian bait should include those components that will act as bait. The crucian carp gets used to the taste and grabs the bait more willingly.
• In overgrown reservoirs, mixtures with high-calorie ingredients such as cut worms, bloodworms, cake, honey and halva are preferable.

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Bait for crucian carp

A spring is a piece of equipment that involves throwing bait every time the element itself is cast. You need to think about treats in advance and choose the most suitable ones so that the fish wants to swim to them. If finances allow, then it is better to buy dry mixtures, and then add a little water on the spot. If you don’t want to spend money, you can cook porridge at home.

When making bait, corn, wheat and pea grits are used as a basis. First, they cook porridge from them and make sure that they do not burn or overcook, and then various flavorings are added to make the delicacy even tastier.

As a flavoring, you can add dill, garlic, corn, and cinnamon. Some resort to using artificial flavors, but these often scare away the fish, especially if the dosage is incorrect.

It is worth noting that if the spring is used in a strong current, then the porridge is boiled hard; it should be as dense as possible and resemble well-kneaded dough. Otherwise, you will either have to make regular casts to replenish the feeder, or hope for a miracle, because there will be nothing for the crucian carp to bite.