Molasses is a syrupy type liquid that is formed during the production of sugar. Translated from French means molasses in black. It has a dark brown color and a noticeable specific smell. It is also called feed syrup. In some countries, such as Canada and the United States, molasses is used in cooking. It is very popular when used as a syrup. It contains many useful elements and vitamins, which distinguishes it from other sweeteners. Vegetarians love molasses because it is a plant source of calcium. In Europe and Russia, black molasses is used in agriculture for animal feed.
Ways to use molasses
Molasses is a carbohydrate feed. It contains more than 60% carbohydrates and only 20β25% water. Also included is a small amount of nitrogen compounds. With its help, all kinds of concentrated and coarser types of feed are flavored. Of course, molasses is used in the production of animal feed. When granulation of animal feed occurs, it is used as a substance for ligament. In the production of carbon black (granular soot), molasses was also used at one time.
Molasses is valuable for the production of biological technologies. During fermentation, it is divided into two types:
- Aerobic fermentation. With its help, citric, oxalic, gluconic, acetic and fumaric acids are obtained.
- Anaerobic. Receive in this way butyric, lactic, propionic acid and ethyl alcohol. People found it to be used in the production of high-quality moonshine. And steamed with rice, we get great Thai whiskey.
Molasses in fishing
In Europe, fishermen have been using molasses in their difficult business for over thirty years. It is one of the main additives for fishermen. It entered the fishing industry only because of its unique composition of chemical elements. Molasses is a bait that affects the behavior of fish in water.
Due to its high content of carbohydrates and amides, it is a very important source of energy for all living creatures. Scientists have proved that in the absence of these substances, the processes of energy metabolism and metabolism will not occur in the body. In addition, molasses also contains 10% ash, which is a laxative for fish too. Simply put, molasses is a concentrate of energy. Having eaten complementary foods with molasses, the fish feels an increase in appetite and a surge of strength. Feeding invigorates, while increasing hunger, and ash makes the body of the fish defecate, preventing it from getting enough. Accordingly, there is no saturation, and the feeling of hunger increases. The more the fish eats, the more she wants to eat. When a whole flock of individuals comes to the bait, there is a crazy stir.
The British were the first to invent molasses as bait. It is believed that thanks to this bait, the English fishermen team leads the float championships. Their motto is that it is better to go fishing and forget the fishing rod than not to take molasses.
Of course, fishing tackle manufacturers use this bait. They use molasses as complementary foods, releasing their products in dry and liquid form. They strive to improve the product all the time to increase customer demand for it. Amino acids or multivitamins are added to it, aromatized, included in the composition of preservatives to increase shelf life, and released in large containers. The meaning of the product itself from these additives does not change too much. Only the price of the bait changes. Also in combination with additives, molasses can be used as bait for various species of fish.
One of the important qualities of this bait is the ability to dissolve in both cold and hot water. It can be used perfectly in winter, when fishing in ice water. Many people use it for fishing on bream as a main supplement. It is very effective to mix molasses with complementary foods an hour before feeding and leave for an hour. Molasses can be diluted with water or poured into feed.
Effective DIY fish bait
You can make molasses bait with your own hands in the form of a liquid filling to create aromatic bombs. In this case, a small piece of foam is placed in the feeder itself, and it is periodically wetted in molasses. It flows down from above, and the sides of the feeder should be closed with bait. When sweet syrup enters the feeder, the food is pushed up. Outside, it looks like an explosion. The larger the piece of foam, the greater the area of ββexposure to a delicious cloud. Bream and roach really like these special effects.
Of course, the price of molasses is not the lowest. You can try such a bait for fish, which is also added to feed horses. Its price is much cheaper than in the fishing industry, but it is difficult to say whether this will have an effect. It costs 500-600 rubles per liter. It can be used in the manufacture of self-igniting boilies.
At a rather high price, molasses for fishing with your own hands is a way out. Many amateur anglers are looking for an alternative to molasses bait. Some fishermen replaced it with effervescent vitamins or aspirin tablets. Vitamins are inexpensive, have a different color and smell. The essence of their use is the same as molasses. They are put into the feed for half a tablet. The feeder is lowered into the water, and the vitamins in the water begin to hiss, spray the food to the sides and emit a smell. The advantage of this method is its ease of use.
What can replace molasses?
The secret of success for an excellent catch is molasses. How to replace this bait, if there is no way to buy a finished one? Alternatives are beet molasses and maple syrup with spices, such as coriander or cinnamon. To store such a bait should be in the refrigerator to avoid mold. After the molasses was taken out of the refrigerator, it needs to be warmed up at room temperature so that it is not too thick. There is a need to pour molasses for a while. To do this, the container into which it enters should first be greased with lean oil. This simple procedure will later help molasses easily and freely pour out of the tank. Molasses or molasses can be stored in the refrigerator or in an open container for no more than a year.
In addition to beetroot, cane molasses is also popular with experienced anglers. Cane sugar has two components in its composition: sucrose crystals and peculiar molasses films that cover them. Molasses is production waste. The composition of molasses, which is obtained in the production of raw refined, includes from 25 to 40% sucrose. Molasses also contains reducing sugar in an amount of 12-30% and nitrogen compounds up to 0.5%. The amount of nitrogen compounds in the molasses from the reed is less than in beetroot. Necessarily in reed molasses there are elements of ash and aconitic acid. But, compared with beetroot, cane molasses contains more vitamins.
Cane molasses is mainly used in the manufacture of alcohol, rum and various solvents, all kinds of acids and glycerin. It is also used to add to animal feed. Less commonly, it is used in fishing. Until recently, this molasses (bait) was a rare raw material in Russian production. Her search may still take some time.
DIY molasses
For those who do not have the opportunity, desire or time to buy the bait, you can cook it yourself. There are several recipes for making molasses supplements with your own hands at home.
Beet molasses
The main ingredients:
- one beetroot;
- water;
- sugar (if necessary).
With sugar it is much more difficult to boil the mixture, but it is necessary for sweetness.
Cooking process
- Beets are rubbed on a grater, after which they are placed in a container, and water is added. Water add half of the amount of grated beets. The resulting mixture should be shaken a little so that the beets let juice. When the water becomes reddish, strain the juice through a sieve. Mash the remaining mixture a little, you can add water, and again pass through a sieve. All the same can be done with a juicer, if available.
- Put the juice on the plate. To get a sweeter molasses, you need to add 5-7 tablespoons of table sugar. When sugar is added, cook until thick. After the boil begins, reduce the heat by making it very small. During cooking, all the water will gradually boil away, and the juice will turn into molasses. Juice will gain density, color and smell. When adding sugar, it is important not to let the mixture thicken very much, in appearance it should look like liquid syrup. It should not go into the thread, otherwise the molasses will be sugared.
- Ready molasses must be cooled and poured into a jar. Store it in the refrigerator.
Honey syrup
Getting molasses from honey is available to every angler. Itβs easy to buy honey for everyone, and the method of preparing this molasses is extremely easy and simple.
The main ingredients:
- honey - 3 tablespoons;
- brown sugar - 3 tablespoons;
- water - 1 tablespoon.
Cooking process
All ingredients are combined together in one dish and cooked over low heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Then you need to bring the mixture to a boil and let it boil for five to seven minutes. Everything - honey molasses is ready. How to replace it? An ideal and easy to prepare option is sugar syrup.
Molasses from sugar
It is much easier to cook than beetroot or dark.
The main components:
- regular sugar - 7 tablespoons;
- water - 3 tablespoons.
Cooking method
Pour sugar into the selected container and pour water. Place the container on a stove and heat until sugar is completely dissolved. Let the syrup boil over low heat for about five minutes. After which the mixture is turned off and you can put it to cool.
Fruit molasses
For its preparation, you can use different fruits, in which there is a high sugar content. It is very good at using grapes.
Cooking method
Pass the most juicy and ripe bunches of grapes through a juicer or mash to obtain juice. Drain the juice through a sieve or cheesecloth, pour into a container and boil over low heat until it turns into a thick syrup. Do not forget to stir the juice. After 7-10 minutes, the molasses is ready.
The recipes for making molasses bait for fishing with your own hands are not difficult. But fishing with such bait brings a lot of positive emotions, adrenaline and joy to amateur fishermen.