november-2026-free-line-part-2 - Flipbook - Page 122
FREE LINE / FIELD JOURNAL
KRIS FORD
FIELD NOTES
The sting is that because the water is cold and the carp become lethargic as
their metabolism slows down, their food requirements reduce dramatically,
in many cases so dramatically slow that the fish become dormant and rest
on the bottom in a state of torpor, so they need only very little of HNV
to satisfy their needs. Indeed some elements of HNV simply cannot be
digested in cold-water temperatures.
The other area of conflict is the so-called crap versus HNV bait debate.
Tim explains very well how and why a so-called crap bait can in fact be
very successful as a standalone or even actually working in concert with
HNV. For many years, and maybe still today, bait producers make claims
that their bait is the best, highest protein, best combination, most this most
that etcetera, etcetera. However, given what I have paraphrased from Tim,
it would seem that when using an expensive HNV bait, although better
for the carp and perhaps more attractive to them, they are likely, even
certainly, going to eat less, which equals fewer bites. Conversely, a bait with
a lower nutritional value will be digested easier, and although of less benefit
and possibly attraction, will require more to be eaten, which should equal
more bites.
FREE LINE
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