Some beginner anglers may find it hard to catch a carp. However, with the right time, right location, and right bait, you can generally grab that trophy carp that you want. Although picking up the right bait is quite difficult, carp fishing is actually fun and enjoyable. You just have to know how to make dough balls for carp fishing.
In this blog post, we have here different dough ball recipes that you can interestingly use as carp baits. All of the ingredients and prep instructions are generally easy to have and prepare. See which one suits your preference!
Benefits of Homemade Dough Balls for Carp Fishing
Since carp is a small fish that can grow a little bit big, it tends to be the best choice to fish for beginner anglers. Aside from that, carp fishes are commonly found in an abundant amount within lakes, rivers, and ponds. The most enjoyable thing about carp fishing is that this fish species can be caught by using different bait. And, most of those baits can be easily prepared on your own.
One of those is using simple bread and turns it into dough balls to make great bait. Believe it or not, bread-like dough balls can actually attract fish. Usually, those fishes that love to scavenge are the fanatics of this kind of bait. Those fish species include carp and catfish. However, you may also lure some bluegill and some types of sunfish based on the flavors of your dough balls.
In connection to this, using dough balls as bait offers some benefits.
1-Safe for the fish
Well, preparing dough balls is some kind of homemade recipe which means that you will have to make it at home. Since then, you have an idea about all of the ingredients that you incorporate into it. With that, you will highly guarantee that carps and other fishes will not get harmed. Additionally, there will be no harsh chemicals that can be distributed in the water.
2-Budget-friendly
With high-quality carp baits, some manufacturers offer effectiveness. Yet, those baits usually come with higher price tags. If you know how to make dough balls for carp fishing, you will basically end up using a cheap but safe option.
3-All-natural ingredients
Commercially-made carp baits are actually made of additives and some fish attractants. Most of these ingredients are generally accessible and can be bought easily in the store. With that, you can prepare your very own version of dough balls for carp fishing. Aside from that, you also have an option to go all-natural. Both ways can help you to save more bucks.
4-Flavorful
Like what we’ve mentioned earlier, you can lure different fish species depending on the flavor of your dough ball. However, when it comes to carp fishing, you can generally explore different variations in flavors of the dough balls as baits.
5-Gain experience and knowledge
Like in cooking, making dough balls for carp fishing will allow you to gain some kind of experience that is not likely to be learned from other ways. It also gives you the free will to customize the baits so that you can match them in any type of situation. You cannot do it in any commercial bait.
Different Recipes on How to Make Dough Balls for Carp Fishing
If you are a beginner angler, it is actually surprising that you can bait your hooks with variations. Well, here are some flavored recipes on how to make dough balls for carp fishing.
DOUGH BALLS CARP BAIT RECIPE #1:
For this carp fishing bait, you will basically need the following ingredients and follow the steps below on how to make dough balls for carp fishing.
Ingredients:
- Cold water – 1 cup
- Quick-cooking oatmeal – 2 tablespoons
- Sugar – 1 tablespoon
- Yellow cornmeal – 1 1/2 cups
Instruction:
- Combine water, oatmeal, sugar, and only one cup of cornmeal. Stir.
- On a medium heat, put the mixture into a pan with constant stirring. Do this continuously for about 5 to 7 minutes or until the dough create a stiff ball.
- Take off the dough from heat.
- Afterward, sift the remaining cup of cornmeal and mix them well.
- Using a paper put the dry dough over it. Eventually, knead it thoroughly.
- Cool the dough or wrapped it up to sweat and soften.
Note: Be careful in adding sugar because too much of it will make the dough sticky. Yet, if the sugar is not enough, you will have a rubbery dough.
DOUGH BALLS CARP BAIT RECIPE #2:
Here’s another interesting way on how to make dough balls for carp fishing. Check on its ingredients and procedural steps of preparation.
Ingredients:
- Anise seed – 1 box of small size
- Cold water – 1 cup
- Egg whites – 2 pieces
- Flour – 2 cups
- Sugar – 1 cup
- White cornmeal – 3 cups
Instruction:
- Initially, in a large mixing bowl, sift the cornmeal, flour, and sugar all together.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites together with cold water. Continue mixing until you get a smooth mixture.
- Eventually, put on the anise seed.
- For the dry ingredients, add the egg mixture and stir to get an even consistency.
- Incorporate some flour and cornmeal. You can also add some water if needed so that you will have stiff dough.
- Afterward, flatten the dough into a size of about 1 1/2 inches thick.
- Put it inside a cloth sack and make sure to close it tightly using a string.
- Cook the one side of the dough for around 3 minutes by dropping it into boiling water.
- Now, cook the other side for another 3 minutes.
- Simmer it over a low fire for around 15 minutes.
- Take the dough out of the water and the sack and let it cool in another piece of paper.
- Using your hands, work on with the dough thoroughly and then place it back inside the cloth bag.
- Store it inside the refrigerator.
Note: Remember that the longer the time it stays inside the fridge, the better the result it will get. In case the dough is dry, work it through your hands with some moisture to get back the right consistency.
DOUGH BALLS CARP BAIT RECIPE #3:
If you want to know how to make dough balls for carp fishing that will surely feed on by the carp with no doubt, try this interesting recipe:
Ingredients:
- Flour – 1 cup
- Karo syrup – 1 cup
- Sugar – 1 teaspoon
- Water – 1 quart
- Yellow cornmeal – 1 cup
Instruction:
- With this recipe on how to make dough balls for carp fishing, you initially need to have heavy dough. In order to do that, combine flour, cornmeal, and sugar. Don’t forget to add sufficient amount of water.
- Form the mixture into balls shape that is about a nickel size.
- Moreover, boil the water and Karo syrup and eventually drop some of the dough balls in it.
- Allow it to boil for about 2 to 3 minutes. However, be very careful not to place too many balls for boiling as they may stick to each other.
- Take off from the water the cooked dough balls and continue doing so until all are completely cooked.
DOUGH BALLS CARP BAIT RECIPE #4:
The below recipe is actually a variation of carp bait recipe #3. To know how to make dough balls for carp fishing using this method, check on the following instruction:
Ingredients:
- Flour – 1 cup
- Sugar – 1 teaspoon
- Vanilla extract – 1 tablespoon
- Water – 1 quart
- Yellow cornmeal – 1 cup
Instruction:
- Make heavy dough by combining the flour, cornmeal, and sugar. Don’t forget to add sufficient amount of water.
- Afterward, incorporate a tablespoon of vanilla extract to the mixture.
- Form the mixture into balls shape that is about a nickel size.
- Moreover, boil the water and eventually drop some of the dough balls in it.
- Allow it to boil for about 2 to 3 minutes. However, be very careful not to place too many balls for boiling as they may stick to each other.
- Take off from the water the cooked dough balls and continue doing so until all are completely cooked.
Note: Once the dough balls bounced when dropped over a hard surface, it is an indication that it is already done. Keep in mind that over-exposure of the dough balls into an open-air will cause them to dry out and crumble. However, allow them to cool down prior to sealing inside a jar.
DOUGH BALLS CARP BAIT RECIPE #5:
Look at this another flavorful recipe on how to make dough balls for carp fishing:
Ingredients:
- Cornmeal – 1/2 cup
- Flour – 1/2 cup
- Food coloring – optional
- Jello – 1/2 cup or 1 to 2 tablespoon if you opt for other flavorings
- Water – 1/2 cup
Instruction:
- Basically, combine cornmeal, flour, and Jello into a mixing bowl.
- Incorporate some water into the mixture slowly and continue mixing. Don’t hesitate to add some more flour if the mixture has a runny consistency. Add flour until you achieve a sticky texture of your dough. Moreover, if you opt to use flavorings rather than Jello in this recipe on how to make dough balls for carp fishing, add it together with the water. You can also add it along with food coloring if you desire.
- Create balls shape out of the dough mixture. But, be sure not to form the balls in either too big or too small shape that won’t fit your hook.
- Put the dough balls inside an airtight container and refrigerate it afterward. In case you boil the dough balls initially, allow them to cool down prior to refrigeration or freezing.
DOUGH BALLS CARP BAIT RECIPE #6:
Generally, this carp bait dough balls recipe will attract carp because of its sweet flavor. This recipe is actually made of simple strawberry bait-prep.
Ingredients:
- Cornmeal – 1 cup
- Flour – 1 cup
- Strawberry jelly – 1/2 pack
- Water
Instruction:
- Simply combine the cornmeal, flour, and strawberry jelly.
- Gradually, put on the water.
- Knead the afterward until you have a good consistency.
- Allow it to stand for around an hour.
Note: You may also consider using other flavors of the jelly powder to change the color and the taste of the dough balls. Basically, to achieve an orange color, try to use peach jelly powder. If you want something yellow, the banana jelly powder is the one to pick. Moreover, if you want the dough balls a little bit sweeter, you can incorporate molasses or honey in the process.
Some Important Tips in Making Dough Balls for Carp Fishing
The following tips are generally helpful for you to successfully have dough ball baits for carp fishing:
- It is allowable to boil the dough balls in a pot of water for about a minute in case you opt to form the dough balls prior to getting into the water.
- Another great alternative for this is to subject the dough balls into a microwave for about 30 seconds.
- Freezing the dough balls is also a better idea aside from refrigeration as you may also use them in the future.
- In case you consider freezing it, just defrost the balls prior to your fishing activity.
TURNING THE DOUGH BALLS INTO CARP BAITS
- Once you already have the dough balls, baiting your hook is the next big thing. You just need to shape the dough balls over the hook. That way you can generally hide the hook inside the dough ball.
- Make sure that the dough ball is extended into the part where the hook and the line meet.
Other Homemade Bait Recipes for Carp Fishing
Aside from dough balls, there are also other bait options that you can consider using in order to catch a carp. In case you cannot find success in catching carp using dough balls, you may try the following baits:
BOILIES CARP BAITS
Another effective carp baits are the boilies and many anglers have an undoubting love of using it during carp fishing. Check the below recipe if you want to use boilies for your carp fishing activity.
Ingredients:
- Bread crumbs – 2 cups
- Corn flour – 1 cup
- Eggs – 2 pieces
- Fish sauce – 1 tablespoon
- Flour – 2 cups; regular or soy
- Garlic powder – 1 teaspoon
- Milk – 1/3 cup; powdered
- Semolina – 1/3 cup
- Spinach – 1 cup; chopped
- Tuna brine – in can
Instruction:
- In a large mixing bowl, put on the flour and add bread crumbs.
- Add into the mixture the milk powder and semolina. Make sure to mix up everything.
- Put on the chopped spinach, tuna and the fish sauce and mix afterward.
- Eventually, add the eggs and swirl the mixture thoroughly.
- Form the mixture into dough balls.
- Cover the balls with plastic and allow it to stand for couple of hours inside a fridge.
- After some hours, place the dough back in the bowl.
- Incorporate some garlic powder and corn flour and then knead the dough.
- Make some balls out of it and place it into the boiling water.
- Let it cook for about 2 minutes.
- Allow them to dry over air using a kitchen towel for about 24 hours.
Note: Freezing the boilies is also allowable. Moreover, you can also keep them in a frozen state for a maximum of 6 months.
BREAD CARP BAITS
Bread is also a good baiting and even prebaiting tool for carp fishing. One of its main advantages over the other homemade carp baits is its texture. Basically, the bread is soft and easily dissolved in water. For prebaiting, bread works by sweeping the small particles through the water current into the far distances where there are carp fishes. That will generally attract carps that linger there.
Add some drops of fluid attractors to the bread and you can actually turn this prebaiting mixture into appealing carp bait. Aside from that, the bread can be used in a hook either in small balls in which you can place directly into the hook. Or, you can also try a crust piece if you want something harder to dissolve.
However, one drawback of the bread as carp bait is that it can easily take off the hook. Another thing is that it can be eaten quickly by smaller fishes. Yet, bread carp baits are perfect for carp fishing on topwater.
CORN CARP BAITS
Sweet corn is another attractive food for the carps. The size and the sweetness of the corn are the things that make the less active fish, like the carp, fall in love with this food. Well, most varieties of sweet corn can be used as baits for carp.
You can use the feed corn provided that you cook it prior to baiting. If you want an easier way to use corn baits, you can opt for the canned sweet corn. But, the feed corn is the more customizable option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO FISH FOR CARP?
A: Generally, the best way to hook out a carp to go for free-lining. This is actually the easiest method to catch a carp. Just go to the local pond and bring with you a loaf of bread. Aside from that, you also need to have a hook having a size of 8 and a 10 lbs line. Make sure that it is attached to a stiff rod. Keep in mind that carp weighing 10 lbs and are close to the shore are generally easy to catch. Mostly, all carp can be caught within the bank.
Q: WHY CAN’T I CATCH CARP?
A: Basically, the main reason why you cannot able to catch a carp because it is not able to find your bait. This is due to the bait without scent or there is low visibility underwater. With that, it is so possible for the passing carp to ignore the bait. Another reason why bait becomes invisible is because of the heavy lead that has taken the entire rig within the soft silt.
Q: WHAT TRIGGERS CARP TO FEED?
A: Carp generally belongs to the so-called diurnal feeders. These are the kind of species that most likely feed during the daytime. This means that the daylight hours are the triggering factor for them. So, you must have to wait for them during dawn and dusk to get a good catch. But, the application of angling pressure over them will go all over the area and the carp will feed every time they want, even at night time.
Q: WHY IS CARP FISHING SO HARD?
A: Carps are actually a smart fish species and they tend to be smarter as they grow older. This is actually the main principle behind an easier catching of smaller carp than that of the bigger ones. Smaller carps are spooked fish in an easy manner.
Q: WHAT IS A CARPS FAVORITE FOOD?
A: Typically, the carps really love to eat a wide variety of foods. These generally include aquatic worms, mollusks, insects, and crustaceans. In addition to that, carps also like to feed on algae and other plants. Because of that wide variation in the diet of the carp, it opens a big selection of carp baits that triggers them. You can see natural and homemade dough balls, boilies, soft baits, and dips.
Final Words
One of the ideal baits for carp fishing is the dough ball. Aside from carps, you can also lure in other fish species depending on the flavor or variety of your dough ball. The good thing about this kind of bait is that it is easy to prepare at home. All of its ingredients are highly accessible and safe for use as baits for fish.
What do you think of the carp bait recipes we have here? Do you know any other dough ball recipe that is highly attractive for carp? You can generally share it with us!
