Carp Baits

An article on the different baits that can be used to catch carp.

Boilies

BOILIES - A bait made for one purpose – to catch carp, although on occasions other fish are known to take boilies including large tench. There is a huge range of flavoured boilies available ranging from plum to southern fried chicken.

How to use: attach to the hair on a hair rig. There are many different types of hair rigs available but they all work the same, thread the hair needle through a boilie, hook the loop of the hair onto the end of the hair needle, pull the hair back through the boilie, place a boilie stopper or a small piece of twig in the loop of the hair, and then pull the hair tight by gently but firmly trying to pull the hair back through the boilie until there is resistance.
Where to get this bait: tackle shops, websites
What fish can you catch: common carp, mirror carp, ghost carp, tench

Luncheon Meat

LUNCHEON MEAT - A processed meat bought in tins. There is now a range of flavoured tins of luncheon meat available from most tackle shops or buy normal luncheon meat from any supermarket / grocery store.

How to use: cut a small (or large) cube of luncheon meat, push the hook through the cube until the hook comes out the other side, turn the hook 180 degrees then gently pull the hook into the cube of meat (so that the hook is hidden in the cube of meat). If you find the meat is coming off to easily try placing a small piece of grass between the hook and the meat and then pull the hook into the meat.
Where to get this bait: supermarkets, grocery stores, some tackle shops
What fish can you catch: common carp, mirror carp, ghost carp, tench, bream, crucian carp, eels, roach, rudd

Bread / Crust

BREAD / CRUST - A popular bait that can be used to catch almost any carp and any match fish. Bread can be used for surface feeding, for bottom feeding, for float fishing and for ground baiting.

How to use: There are a few ways you can use bread, the first way is for use if you are surface feeding: pull a chunk of bread from a fresh loaf, mould a small section of the bread to the eye of the hook leaving some fluffy bread.
The second way is if you wish the bread to sink: roll the bread into a small ball, then place on the hook.
Where to get this bait: supermarkets, grocery stores, bakery
What fish can you catch: common carp, mirror carp, ghost carp, crucian carp, tench, bream, roach, rudd

Dog Biscuits

DOG BISCUITS - A popular bait for surface fishing for carp.

How to use: Preparing the dog biscuits is key to successfully using dog biscuits, splash a small amount of water into a container / plastic bag of dog biscuits and leave for an hour or two, this will make the dog biscuits soften so that you can easily get your hook into the bait. People say you can drill a dog biscuit or put your hook through it, but most of the time I find this ends in disaster.
Where to get this bait: supermarkets, grocery stores, pet shops, some tackle shops
What fish can you catch: common carp, mirror carp, ghost carp

Sweetcorn

SWEETCORN - A popular bait that can be used to catch almost any match fish and small carp. Sweetcorn can be used when float fishing or when ledgering. Sweetcorn now comes in a variety of flavours.

How to use: use a size 14 or 16 hook, push the hook through the sweetcorn until the hook comes out the other side, turn the hook 180 degrees then gently pull the hook back into the sweetcorn.
Where to get this bait: supermarkets, grocery stores, some tackle shops
What fish can you catch: common carp, mirror carp, ghost carp, crucian carp, tench, bream, roach, rudd

Maggots

MAGGOTS - A highly popular bait that can be used to catch almost any match fish, carp and predator. Maggots can be used when float fishing or when ledgering. Maggots are not generally used by carp fishermen to catch carp because so many other fish species also like them, carp fishermen get frustrated with catching small silver fish so it is not really the bait of choice. However carp do eat maggots and numerous carp have been caught when fishing with maggots, usually accidently.

How to use: use a size 10 to 20 hook depending on how many maggots you want to put on the hook. Hook the maggot through its tail end so that the maggot is full of movement when in the water.
Where to get this bait: local tackle shop
What fish can you catch: common carp, mirror carp, ghost carp, crucian carp, tench, bream, roach, rudd, gudgeon, perch, eels