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The Ultimate Guide to Carp Fishing Bait – PART 4
Carp fishing is a popular type of freshwater fish that many anglers target. Not only are carp plenty, but their fight can be quite challenging and satisfying too! There's no one way to bait them - different methods work better depending on what kind of conditions and venue you fish at. In this post, we show different ways to get the bait to the carp (bait application) while also covering some other essential bait topics like making homemade baits with easy-to-teach steps and the best tools, that make it easier than ever before.
If you have missed or want to read back the rest of our Ultimate Carp Bait Guide, you can find the different parts of the series below...
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
This is part 4 of the guide and the final instalment of the series.
The Top 10 Ways To Get the Bait to the Carp
Almost as important as the bait choice is bait application. As just mentioned there are several factors to consider when figuring out the best way to get your bait out to the carp you are targeting. Listed below are a few methods paired with ideal bait choices.
Catapult:
Ideal for boilies or particle-feed, a catapult can achieve a reasonable distance with some practice.
Throw Stick:
Or a Throwing Stick are good for getting out a small quantity of bait with accuracy and minimal disturbance.
By Hand:
Throwing out most baits by hand is a fast way of delivering a lot of bait, however, it is only really ideal for short distance or margin fishing.
Bait Boats:
Are ideal if you are looking for minimum disturbance in the swim and mega-accurate delivery. Some boats can deliver 5kg of bait in one go along with taking your rigs out at the same time.
Spodding or Spombing:
The spomb is a bomb styled capsule that opens on impact with the water and the spod is an open-ended rocket or torpedo shape that tips out bait when it hits the water. This tactic is ideal for accurate delivery of large bait quantities, this tactic also makes a large disturbance with your spomb hits the water but for some fish, this is more of a food signal than an alarm bell.
PVA Bags:
Ideal for spreading bigger pellets or baits surrounding the hook bait.
PVA String / Tape:
A PVA tape that threads through a boilie and then attaches it to your rig adds attraction to your hookbait as once the PVA stringer has hit that water, it will dissolve, leaving a few freebies in the immediate area of the hook.
Method Feeder:
Ideal for using micro pellets or groundbait mixes, a method feeder allows you to mould a ball of bait mix around its frame to then be broken down in the water attracting lots of fish to your swim.
Pellet Feeder:
Ideal for colder waters, a pellet feeder allows you to present fewer free offerings in your swim as rather than using hundreds of micro pellets or groundbait particles, you can present a handful of 4mm’s.
Hybrid Feeder:
Similar to the Method Feeder, this tactic holds less bait so it is ideal for targeting one big fish at a time. A hybrid feeder helps with hookbait presentation thanks to the raised sides of the feeder so your bait is protected on the cast.
The Best Carp Bait for the Seasons
Carp, being cold-blooded, have different nutritional requirements as their body temperature changes in line with their environment or the season. Here we list the top baits for each season to save you time when choosing the right bait for the time of year.
Top 5 Carp Baits for Autumn:
In the autumn, the carp seek a higher fat diet that allows them to store the excess fat in their muscle for use later in the winter.
1. Highly nutritious boilies
2. Maggots & Worms
3. Tiger Nuts
4. Liquids and Powders added near hookbaits
5. Hemp & Particle
Top 5 Bait for Winter:
During the winter when the water is cold, the carp’s metabolic rate slows, resulting in a low protein diet and higher carbohydrate-based feed.
1. Maggots – See our Top Tips for Winter Carp Fishing with Maggots
2. Hemp
3. Lobworms
4. Highly Visible Pop-Ups
5. Boilies
Top 5 Bait for Spring:
Spring baits require higher protein to allow carp to regain the weight they have lost during the winter months.
1. Fishmeal Flavoured Boilies
2. Highly Visible Pop-Ups
3. Sweetcorn Spod Mix
4. Fishy flavoured Pellets
5. Maggots
Top 5 Bait for Summer:
Warmer water means carp are much more active and there are more regular feedings of natural baits to continue to regain the weight that is lost in the winter months.
1. Snails
2. Hemp & Particles
3. Tiger Nuts
4. Mussels
5. Sweetcorn / Artificial Corn
How to Make Carp Bait
Some anglers like to go the extra mile and create their carp bait from scratch. Making a bait yourself can give you the unique advantage at the bankside if not only knowing exactly what is in your fishing bait but perhaps giving yourself that edge that others are lacking when trying to attract carp.
Carp, will readily take dough baits made from flour and cornmeal mixtures.
View Our AD Bait Kitchen Videos over on ADTV for how to make your own carp baits.
How To Make Your Own Boilies
The Perfect Method Mix & Making Paste With Groundbait
How To Make Your Own Wafters
The Complete Set of Bait Making Tools & Equipment
Some baits you can get using straight from the bag or tub but some baits like mixes, pellets or boilies you might want to prepare a little bit further, especially for loose feed for carp.
