NOTE: CATFISH AND CARP SHARE VERY MANY SIGNIFICANT DIETARY AND THEREFORE BAIT REQUIREMENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS WHICH CAN ALL BE EXPLOITED IN HOMEMADE BAITS, PELLETS, GROUND BAITS, DOUGH AND PASTE BAITS, PVA BAG, METHOD, STICK, SLOP MIXES AND SO ON... 

Bait really has a single end function; to get the fishing hook into the carp’s mouth, so giving the opportunity for it to be hooked. To achieve this, the bait needs either:

·        To emit a recognizable carp food signal, or stimulate curiosity.

·        Be representative of, or a mimic of a natural food source.

Carp are curious and will examine any new potential food item they come across. Whether paste or boilie, it needs to be resilient enough to be put on the hook or ‘hair’, for it to withstand the fishes’ attention and enter the mouth.

‘Boilie’ baits are the more scientifically proven kind that have evolved from the days of the ‘Specials’ baits. These were often based on ground-up dog, cat, fish foods and farm animal foods in pellet, biscuit and tinned form. They were bound together with eggs, and fished as pastes.

In the 1950's to the early 1970’s these were often fished ‘free lined’ with big hooks, with no weight, and individual baits could be the size of an orange, in order to deter bait-whittling smaller fish!

Other common ‘kitchen’ type ingredients were also incorporated to enhance paste effectiveness, and examples were : tinned fish, curry powder, bottled condiment sources, yeast powders, milk powders, grated cheese, salt and pepper, herbs, yeast extract, cake baking flavours, whole-wheat flour, corn flour, birdfoods, ground beans, peas, seeds, and many food oils, many of which have proved themselves. Many, in original or extract form, are still used in baits today.

Baits were originally boiled to deter smaller species from whittling them down while you waited for that big carp to arrive, and also allow baits to be thrown much further out into the water, as carp moved out in response to increased angling pressure and tackle improvements.