|
|
|
|
Some interesting comments here and not what I was expecting.
I am 100% sure that betaine works, based on the following:-
I used to match fish a lake which banned the use of additives and I used to feed hemp and catch a few fish but my results weren't exactly spectacular.
However, when they lifted the additives ban I started to add betaine to my hemp and within 10 minutes of feeding a pot of hemp there were carp "blowing" over my feed and my results improved considerably and I was winning and framing on a regular basis.
|
|
|
|
Betaine is more a trigger for marine fish than freshwater fish, is what I was told.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #11
I did always add sea salt to help reduce the effects of nitrate build up between water changes.
When I did a water change and added fresh salt there was no reaction.
I don't have my tank set up any more. I would always pinch a couple of boilies off a mate or other anglers so I could do a comparison. Some were totally ignored, others were attacked with relish.
Certain bait ingredients were also tested...
I'd use a small piece of bread (about the size of a BB shot) as a carrier, squeeze a bit of powder into it, or work a bit of liquid into it. I didn't keep any written records, but it always useful and interesting information.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #5
Be interesting if you could tank test salt.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #9
Hard to believe. Not that i doubt you, but it's just contrary to all hype and research. One to take on board so to speak.
So first baitworks sheds another light on salt and now betaine, ghe, two of my can't go wrong with those additives 
If you could share some more findings, powder and liquids, i would be most interested.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #8
I always fed the fish in my tank in the same place and in the same way...
I'd put the light on, lift the lid and drop the feed through a small hole in the plastic condensation tray.
The fish were very aware that it was dinner time, conditioned like Pavlov's dog 
They would come and snatch at the food as it dropped in, then follow the food down and continue to dig in the gravel for the last crumbs...
Whenever I did a "response test' I would add the sample to the far corner of the tank. I was looking to see if the smell/taste would generate a feeding response of any sort.
Even a single halibut pellet, or a quarter of a boilie would have them digging in the gravel under the usual feeding spot as the moving water carried the food signal around the tank.
The frantic fish would dig and search around until they found the food item and continue to rip into the gravel searching for more.
When I did a response test using betaine I dropped a pinch into the far corner. The fish went to the bottom to search the gravel, as the light and lid lift was an auto trigger, but they didn't sense any food, so they stopped digging and didn't search the rest of the tank.
I repeated with larger amounts and still no visible reaction.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #5
What concentrations did you test?
In addition, always tought I read in white papers that betaine works pretty well in synergy with other amino acids.
Maybe this could explain your findings?
|
|
|
|
|
Just add some molasses to the pellets, nature has a far better way of packaging these individual components than we do..
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #5
That was exactly my understanding Dave. Good to have in food for the fish, no point in a standalone bait unless you're going down the route of trying to convince the fish how wonderful your food source is. Something I'm not convinced is possible in most situations.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #3
I have done extensive tank testing and the carp showed no reaction.
I have mentioned this a few times before, and the response was that betaine helps the carp to better utilise other nutrients.
Back when I was making and selling bait I sourced a supplier and could have got 25kg sacks so cheap it was silly. I got samples from them and others but there was no reaction to any of them.
It's used by some major fish food manufacturers so maybe that's true, but I don't see the need for it.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #3
Interesting, I will stick 
|
|
|
|
|
I'm sure I remember Mark McKenna saying that carp can't detect betaine.
|
|
|
|
In reply to Post #1
I would go with the trial and error. Try 1/4 of a pint of warm water max. and dissolve 1/2 a teaspoon into it, put the pellets in a zip and seal bag, pour in the water and give them a good shake, leave to soak in with the bag sealed and then dry them out if using in bags. A lot will depend on the pellet type and how much moisture hey will hold
Try them at the side of the standard pellets to see if the effort is worthwhile
|
|
|
|
Looking to add some betaine to my pellets and was wondering if you could over do the amount ?
|
|
Bait