And there was me thinking it was 1.5%

Still,whats in 0.5 eh?
When cupid stunts like fanny fairbrass start advocating wholesale use of salt in promo dvds,everyone and their granny follow like the preverbial sheep they are as they know no different and use the info given as gospel

Now,i doubt very much that the odd sprinkle here and there will cause any harm at all.But 2kg salt lick blocks or grit spreading salt used for the roads as ive seen used are a different matter entirely

An Attractor YES paul if you believe in the wilton theory whereby they will capitalise on any available nutrient which they are lacking as will most animals.Or was that Boughtons Theory?????

The effects of salt on an ecosystem can be seen on any dual carriageway in Britain where there is a grass verge. Have a look at how few species there are. Danish scurvy grass has become very common along roadsides now due to winter salting, you'll notice it in late spring as little white flowers lining the road.

Wiltons HNV theory Dean.

kind regards Jeff

Just to add a different angle. You all seem to be going down the road that the Carp are attracted to it as a food source only. Salt baths were common practice years ago for your ailing ornamentals, getting rid of lice etc perhaps the Carp just have a wallow in the salty area to rid themselves of leaches etc.
The River Weaver in the North West must have thousands of Tonnes of Rock Salt piled up within feet of the margin over maybe 1/2 mile of bankside. I would have of thought the run off from that alone probably makes the water quite salty. Yes it's a river (Well more of a Canal really) so dilution will take place, but nevertheless it was a good place to catch Carp on a regular basis. These Carp have the option of swimming away from the area to avoid the salt but chose not too. The Carp there were always in pristine condition as well.
We also had Bigmoor up this neck of the woods with its fabled Brine Shrimp and big Carp, not to mention CArp living in tidal reaches of alot of our rivers these days.
I fully agree with damage that wholesale salt application can do to the lake bed, but as with most things in Carping it's the anglers that get in first that have the results (Peanuts!) One or two anglers using salt on a lake, creating a small area, can't really see a problem. It's when everyman and his dog use it that things will go tits up.

Absolutely spot on Sloaney!

Not quite, there are no big carp in Bigmoor...pastie city...

This respected study found the attractant qualities of salt to be neutral, however response to citric acid was high......lets get on the pear drops....

http://www.bouillettes-dependance-baits.com/res/site19627/res552278_taste-common-carp.pdf

Paul.....all testing is done in confined environments...rarely,if at all are they conducted in open water for obvious reasons.

These papers and others were recorded quite a few years back.I have a few files crammed with all these antiquated(spelling?0) findings.Some of the best natural attractors of our generation are sodium based.Thers is no denying its effectiveness!

Big Moor in the late 70's early 80's (round the time you were on Hawk?) held some pretty big Carp for the time, Now the Shrimp have gone (lack of salinity??) yes it is pasty city.

Thanks gents for your replies as stated I have been using
small amounts of food grade salt along side of particles
with satisfactory results (for me a geriatric catcher of
carp) Gibbo was a big believer. I am worried about numpties
turning up with barrow loads of 'de-icing salt' wheareas good
quality sea salt crystals 1-1.5mm. food grade are not cheap.

Thanks for your comments.
Mike.
Lincoln.................

Fair play Mike.Continue to use salt in the manner that you are as i can see no harm in that approach.Tight lines fella