Toggle Nav
The Ultimate Guide to Carp Fishing Bait – PART 2
When it comes to carp fishing baits, there are many different types to choose from. Some of the most popular baits include corn, bread crusts, cheese, and worms. However, you can also use other types of bait such as pellets, boilies, or even paste. It all depends on what type of carp you are targeting and what the water conditions are like.
n this series of carp fishing bait guides, we will discuss some of the most popular carp fishing baits and topics surrounding carp baits, carp feeding habits and more!
The previous Part 1 to this series of Ulitmate Guide to Carp Fishing Baits covered:
What is a Carp’s Natural Food?
Most Popular Types of Carp Bait
Read Part 1, here.
In this instalment of this carp baits guide, we will discuss:
Carp Bait FAQs
Common Carp Bait Myths
Unusual Carp Bait Choices
Below are topics to come later in the series:
Factors of Baiting Applications for Carp
How do Carp Find Food and Baits?
What Triggers Carp to Feed?
Where Do Carp Feed?
What Depth Do Carp Feed At?
The Top 10 ways to get the bait to the carp
The Best Carp Bait for the Seasons
Making your own Carp Baits
Baiting Tools and Equipment
Common Carp Bait Questions
Carp fishing is a popular angling sport, and for good reason - carp are known to be difficult to catch. However, with the right bait and approach, you can successfully land these fish. To kick off this blog post, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about carp baits. Whether you're just starting out in carp fishing or you're looking to try a different bait, we've got you covered! Stay tuned for more information on how to catch carp.
What Colour Baits Do Carp Like?
The best colour bait for carp depends on the temperature of the water. In colder months, carp's senses become dulled due to being cold-blooded. With this in mind, winter calls for bright, colourful baits such as white and pink baits to grab the fish’s attention. Alternatively, in the summer opt for darker, more mutual shades of baits such as browns, reds even purples.
What Scents Do Carp Like?
The murky waters and poor visibility that carp have is made up by their amazing senses, meaning carp often smell the bait before they see it. With this in mind, baits high in amino acids are more likely to grab the attention of its nostrils as it’s a valuable food source. Baits such as worms, snails, and other invertebrates are all high in amino acids. However, carp will quickly adapt and associate smells with worthy food sources such as tiger nuts or nutritional boilies, hence the importance of pre-baiting.
What Flavours Do Carp Like?
Similar to why the best colour bait for carp varies, popular flavours are also dependent on the water temperature or time of year you are fishing as well as the venue you choose.
Summer brings warmth and plenty of energy for carp meaning in the warmer month anglers will tend to use a more pungent, spicy and fishmeal based bait. These have a high oil content, which spreads through the water column to attract fish toward you.
On the other hand, in winter and spring anglers are required to test out sweeter, milk-protein based flavouring to get the carp out from their hiding spots. Sweet, milk-based flavours such as strawberry, vanillas and coconut work well sweeter flavours dissipate better through colder waters, making them more successful attractants in these conditions.
Common Carp Bait Myths
There are many carp fishing baits myths out there. Some anglers believe that the only way to catch carp is with a certain type of bait, while others think that any bait will work as long as it's fresh. In this part of the Ultimate Carp Fishing Bait Guide, we'll dispel some of the most common carp fishing bait myths and give you some tips on how to choose the right bait for your next trip.
Smell over Sight – Although visibility may not be the greatest at times for carp at the bottom of a lake how a hookbait looks and is presented is still important as how good a scent it is giving off.
Hempseed is intoxicating – Although coarse anglers find hemp a dream bait for carp fishing, it has been examined that the hempseed grown for fishing contains a minute psycho-active element that has little to no effect on carp.
Avoiding fishmeal baits in winter – Although many anglers tend to use the sweeter, exotic flavours this does not rule out the fishmeal based baits that can be just as successful depending on your venue choice.
Red, what red? – Some anglers think carp cannot see red which has been disproven by the range of red boilies and pellets that catch carp are attracted to. Its cooler colours such as blues that carp struggle to see.
Beds of Bait and Clouds Spook Carp – Carp can be greedy and curious so a bait cloud or throwing plenty of freebies over your hookbait brings attraction of colour, taste and movement that gets those receptors triggered.
Female anglers and pheromones - The largest records for salmon are often women and it's believed some male carp pick up on pheromones of female anglers, especially during spawning season. As odd as it may sound this myth has not been completely disputed.
Unusual Carp Bait Choices
Whether it is something to sprinkle over your hookbait or to add to your spod mix if you want to try some exotic flavouring or are feeling experimental with your carp bait choice try out some of the following that you might have in your kitchen cupboards!
· Cheesy Crisps
· Marmite/Bovril
· Honey
· Evaporated Milk
· Vegetable Oils
· Fish Pastes (Shrimp or Crab)
· Cod Liver Oil Tablets