I think the original controversy surrounding the heavy use of fish oils in fishmeal baits and by 'glugging' started following fish deaths at Harefield Dave? This is hardly the type of water where you describe they may create a problem, although I agree that 'hungry waters' are the prime candidates for bait abuse. Harry Haskell drew attention to the oil problem and disceted one of the Harefield mortalities to show a carp's liver literally swimming in oil. You'll need to go back to the very earliest 'Carpworlds' if you'd like to check this out though? I believe a fair number of the Darenth Tip Lake originals turned over at about the same time. The lake having oil slicks on the surface in the summer during the height of the 'glugging' fad, so I'm told, I don't fish 'circuit waters'. The fad went out of favour not long after, although no doubt someone will re-invent it?
Nice piece, but in all honesty the bait scene has been almost completely stagnant for getting on for 20 years now. The only really significant baits have been the 'halibuts'. Fluoros, odd shapes etc...are very old hat. When the EC ensured the price of pukka NZ milk products went through the roof, Lockey (Solar) and Geoff (Premier) re-invented birdfoods and fishmeals respectively, both very good baits though. Dave Moore later combined the 2 to produce Nutrabaits 'Big Fish Mix', although 'spiced' (Robin Red) fishmeals had been around for a while then.
The distinction between 'attractor' and 'food' baits has always been cloudy and the source of some arguement. Carp certainly love eating 'Tuttis' which stink to high heaven, are sickly sweet and have been around for over 20 years. Rob Maylin once listed semolina as his favourite ingredient! Though was probably on a wind-up of the self-appointed bait gurus of the time.
When ready-mades took off, bait experimentation really died. There was some very interesting progress with Aminos, but they were better released with pastes, as are most additives. I feel the use of enzymes and pre-digested foods (Bengers, Davina etc...) to increase the BV of milks was a red herring though?
One thing the last 20 years has proved is good bait remains good bait and a handful of flavours still dominate the market. This was not the gospel in the early days when companies marketed massive flavour lists and biggies supposedly only got caught on a particular smell once! Hutchies Scopex (and it is Hutchies), Monster Crab (includes N-butyric acid) and a few others have stood the test of time. Always preferred Geoff Kemp's range myself and still use them. Lockey and Baker do a few of his, but you could still get them from Geoff last time I wanted any. If you are in the know, that is!
Cheers, Jack