Dough Baits

• The boile is the most common type of commercial carp bait. Boilies are dough balls boiled to give them a hard outer shell. The shell makes it harder for fish other than carp to consume the bait. Boiles come in a wide variety of sizes, colors and flavors. Doughballs are another common type of commercial carp bait.. The angler scoops the dough out of the container then molds it around the hook. This prevents the carp from feeling the hook and spitting it out. You can buy specially formulated baits for carp online, or at outdoor specialty retail stores, or you can make your own.
  
  

Dry Dog Food

• Use dry dog food for carp bait. The dry pellets are made using starch as a binder, often corn. Check the ingredients list on the bag for the amount of corn the dog food contains. Remember that corn is usually broken up into several ingredients. The cheaper the dog food, the more corn it usually contains. You can make the pellets easier to put on a hook by softening them with water. Place the dry dog food pellets in a plastic bag and add just enough water so the pellets soak it all up without leaving any extra water. Store the softened pellets in the refrigerator so they don't spoil.
  
  

Sweet Corn

• Anglers use corn for bait and for chumming. Chum for carp using sweet corn by scattering canned sweet corn on the water. Once the fish arrive and start consuming the corn, impale a kernel or two on a small hook and drop it into the water. Let the hooked piece or pieces of corn drift down so they look natural. You can color corn using packets of powdered fruit flavored gelatin. Carp find the sweet, fruity taste of gelatin appealing. Use the type of gelatin that contains sugar, not the sugar-free types.
  
  

Maggots

• You'll find maggots usually sold packaged in sawdust. If you can get over the fact you're handling a maggot, they make excellent carp bait. Few carp can resist the sight of a squirming maggot on the bottom. Carp are omnivorous, so they eat both plant and animal matter. Maggots stay alive longest when hooked through the blunt end. Squeeze the maggot between your thumb and forefinger, and you will notice a bulge under the dots that resemble eyes. Hook the maggot through the bulge. You can also hook them through the pointed end, but they won't stay alive as long. You can also chum with maggots using the same method for corn.