Easy-to-make carp and catfish baits are for anglers looking for a few options in dough or pack baits. These types of baits are highly effective for catfish and carp. There are times you do want to catch bait or buy bait for various reasons. You may not have time or it is not available where you live. Whatever the reasons, having a few recipes can save the day of fishing.
Flavorings and Scents for Carp and Catfish Baits
Carp and catfish have excellent senses of smell. As a result, adding some flavorings with a good scent helps draw them to your bait. A flavoring with oil in it may be better as oil makes a better scent trail. You need to try a few different flavorings in each water you fish to see what works best.
- Vanilla extract
- Anise oil
- Molasses
- Jello
- Kool-Aid
- Sardines
- Commercial scents sold at retailers
The vanilla, Jello, and molasses tend to be better for carp. The other scents or flavors seem to be preferred by catfish, however, you will catch both species with all the flavors. You can make several flavors of bait and see what is better for you also. The baits are economical to make so a few different flavored batches are inexpensive.
Dough Baits for Carp and Catfish
The simplest form of dough bait is bread, just tear a piece out of a slice and form it on the hook. This works in calm waters close to shore where an easy cast is all you need. It will come off when casting too hard so only use it where the fish are likely visible. A small piece is all that is needed so the fish can inhale it quickly.
Classic Dough Ball
An all-time favorite of previous generations of anglers. Dough ball catches carp anytime and anywhere. Although many anglers today tout pack baits, the dough ball is highly effective. Since the recipe for the dough ball is easy and you likely have the ingredients at home already. Why not give it a try?
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 cup of cornmeal
- 1-2 Tbsp of sugar
- A dash of salt
- Flavor
- 1 cup of water
Place the dry ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly. Then add the water and flavoring such as vanilla, molasses, or anise oil. Then mix everything together to make a stiff, sticky dough. It can be used uncooked but cooking the dough ball will make it stay on the hook longer.
Start by making small balls about the size of a large grape and place them in boiling water for 3 minutes. Remove the balls from the water and let them cool off, then place them in a ziplock bag to take fishing. The bait can be refrigerated for 3-5 days or frozen longer. Additionally, you can make larger batches and store the bait so it is ready at any time.
Carp and Catfish Pack Baits
Pack baits are a blend of grains and flavoring with a few other ingredients. These baits do not get cooked but may have to sit for a day to get fully set. The liquid has to be fully absorbed before the bait stays together properly. They also do not stay together long once in the water and are actually a way to get around laws against chumming.
Caution; The corn needs to be precooked. Uncooked corn will swell up in the fish and kill them. Use canned corn to solve the problem.
Panko Pack Bait
- 16 ounces of Panko breadcrumbs
- 7 ounces of creamed corn
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp of flavoring or jello packet
Place dry ingredients in a bucket that has a lid. Then open the corn and drain the liquid off and save it in a bowl or cup. If using jello or sardines add them to the panko before the corn. Then add the corn to the Panko mix and stir until it clumps together. When using a liquid flavoring add with the corn, it mixes in better with the corn.
The bait should form a stiff clump that holds together. If it is too dry add some of the corn liquid or if too wet add a little more dry ingredients. The consistency has to be right. The pack bait has to stay on during casting so if it is too loose there will be problems. The bait will fly off during the cast.
Oatmeal Panko
A variation on the above bait. It has oats added to the mix and is a larger recipe making more pack bait.
- 16 ounces of quick oats
- 8 ounces panko
- 1 can or 14 ounces of creamed corn
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp of flavoring or jello packet
Mix this bait the same as the bait above. It does make more so a larger bucket is required. The bait will store for a few days but should be refrigerated to last longer. This recipe does make enough for a couple of outings usually. If you fish for a long time or are catching a lot of fish it may go in one outing.
Oatmeal Pack Bait
The easiest bait to make with only two ingredients. Adding flavor will make it three ingredients.
- 42 ounces of quick oatmeal
- 1 can or 14 ounces of corn
- Flavoring
You mix it up like the previously mentioned packed baits. Due to the nature of the oats, it has to sit and be remixed occasionally. The oats will keep soaking up the liquid from the corn. Try using molasses with this bait as they will help with the oats sticking together.
Grits
A recipe that is all corn-based ingredients. A few kernels of corn on a hook catch fish so this bait will bring them in and keep them around.
- 24 ounces of instant grits
- 12 ounces of quick grits
- 1 can or 14 ounces of creamed corn
- A little flavoring
You mix it in a bucket like the others. The type of grits does matter so use what the recipe calls for in the two types of grits. This bait will likely work without flavoring, however, try using a little bit of flavoring if the bite is tough.
Rice Pack Bait
This is the last recipe on the list. An alternative to oats and corn-based baits. You must make this in advance for the liquid to absorb and mix it several times.
- 28 ounces of instant rice
- 30 ounces of pop or flavored drink ( think fruity drinks )
- 1 cup of salt
- 1 cup of sugar
Put the rice in the bucket with the salt and sugar and mix a little. The salt and sugar will go to the corners and bottom if mixed too much. Then add the liquid and mix well. Set the mix aside for 4-6 hours and mix again. The rice needs to absorb the liquid evenly. As a result, mixing needs to be repeated 2-3 times. Some people use ketchup instead of other liquids but it tends to be less effective in my experience.
How to Rig Carp and Catfish Baits
Dough balls and pack baits work well when used properly. As a result, some of the baits do require specific rigging style. A regular snelled hook will work but a hair rig can be better with a pack bait. I do not use a hair rig and catch a lot of carp and catfish. Although, the hair rig is common among serious carp anglers.
The dough ball is formed onto the hook and that is all you need to do. Since the fish will suck up the bait. A different method is needed for packed bait. It falls apart in the water. You need to place some corn or another bait on the hook. Then place the hook with bait in a ball or clump of packed bait.
Cast the bait out and wait. The pack bait falls apart and acts like a chum. This leaves your hook lying in the pile of pack bait where the fish will eat it with the packed bait. This is why you need to add a piece of bait on the hook. In addition, there are items that make pack bait fishing easier.
The hair rig uses fake corn or boilies, a pellet of fish food. Some anglers employ a method feeder, a piece of metal or plastic design to hold packed bait. In highly pressured areas fished for carp, these may be needed. The carp will be finicky or wary when over-pressured by anglers. If you need them, buy a few, otherwise use a hook with bait in the packed bait.
Conclusion
Using this style of fishing is more productive for carp and sometimes catfish. You have to decide how to fish and for what species. Catfish anglers use different methods than carp anglers. These baits, however, do catch both species. If you are doing general fishing for both use dough balls or packed baits. Specializing in one or the other will require more refined techniques. The decision is up to you.
John McIntyre