Used this years ago, didn't realise most of the stuff out there is only 9 per cent shrimp.

Better of with the paste at 60 to 70 per cent.

In reply to Post #1
Maybe it's not just the shrimp element that's attractive?

In reply to Post #1
I got a block from the Chinese supermarket I'll have a look in a bit see what's in that

In reply to Post #1
Besides the Shrimp, I believe it is the Salt content that makes it so attractive.

In reply to Post #4
Can someone please delete this post/edge

In reply to Post #5
Belacan not exactly under the radar anymore, is it..

In reply to Post #6
Not under the radar, but very much underused

Not all belechan is created equal! Some of the block is mostly corn flour, which may have some attraction but I would rather the stuff with a much higher shrimp content.

Check the ingredients.

In reply to Post #1
on what basis have you come to the conclusion that a higher concentration of shrimp is better?

In reply to Post #9
Belachan block........or hydro shrimp extract.......test the two on any fish at different temps and then mixed into a boilie and see what results you get.
I doubt you would bother with a block ever again!

In reply to Post #9
It's not a case of how high the inclusion rate is, the point I am making is that a big difference between using block or paste, and quite a few bait makers may not be aware.

In reply to Post #10
Hi Keeperboy,

Would you care to expand on your reasons why you deem the Hydro shrimp extract to be better please.
Is it the process used and the Free Aminos or the simple fact of that its a hydro and the belachan is mostly salted and fermented?

Thanks.

In reply to Post #12
The amino acids in the soluble shrimp are clearly very attractive to carp (I don't pretend to know or understand them all), the liquid shrimp is heavy, it clings to anything I want to add it to, it's soluble, it's easy to work with........and it's a liquid!

A blend of shrimp hydro and fermented shrimp (balachan) seems to work very harmoniously together (for obvious reasons).
Have a play with the shrimp hydro from Bacarel and mix it with Maepranom shrimp paste.
This has far outdone either product on their own in my pond tests as well as lake tests when mixed into a hookbait-like mix.

Fermented shrimp most definitely has its place, it's not all about amino acids.

In reply to Post #14
Ever tested the shrimp powder from Seagarden?
It costs an arm and a leg but very potent.

In reply to Post #15
Yes I use it in a mix I'm playing around with. I'm only rolling hookbaits so the cost isn't quite as bad for me!

In reply to Post #16
Great for coating hookbaits too.
Did you try it on the pond fish?

In reply to Post #15
Not so potent. Gives the finished bait a nice prawn fishy smell coupled with the hydro. Only rolled one batch of hook baits so far and not persevered with it as yet. Good news, it's a natural so can be loaded up

In reply to Post #18
Not so potent to the human nose but I found it to have a high impact on tank fish (carp) and also on wild fish on camera (other species) in lower levels than various hydrolysates

In reply to Post #19
Yes I test everything on my pond fish before putting it in a mix. I think it's a good starting point.

In reply to Post #19
Exactly that, in the finished baits a nice rounded prawn smell to me, not overly potent. All about the fish though as you say

In reply to Post #20
Agreed.
One just have to remember that some substances do nothing on their own and some varies a lot from day to day. Took me a long time to learn that.

In reply to Post #22
Most definitely. Obviously a lot of things work synergistically with other ingredients too, so it's not all about an individual ingredients performance.

In reply to Post #23
Completely agree with the synergy aspect of certain ingredients.

I read back over the last few weeks on some of the bait threads on this forum and it would seem the mere mention of tank testing was poo poo'd by many yet it would seem that many people test on their captive fish in ponds and in tanks initially as i do on my large koi to get some kind of response when trying something new. I also believe a few of the bigger bait companies do something similar. It is I feel a very good pointer to an additives attraction and potential acceptance.

Thanks for the reply Keeper.

In reply to Post #14
Now the shrimp extract from Bacarel it would appear is the very same as John Bakers, which also smells exactly the same as his old Bio Shell fish liquid, so one would assume that it has been rebranded under another Guise. This gear is sourced from Vietnam. Very strange aroma . Nothing fish like to my nose, more of a slight ammonia back note.

In reply to Post #4
the salt for sure. amazing stuff which took one of my waters apart. use it on the river to good effect also.

that said horrific stench.