Best carp baits: boilies, pellets and particles compared

The best all-round carp bait is a 15mm boilie, the size Korda calls the most popular, fed with pellets or prepared particles. Angling Direct sells boilies at about £11 to £13 a kilo and pellets at about £7. Tiger nuts must be soaked and boiled first.

How we compared

We read guidance from Korda, Angling Times and CC Moore, and checked prices on Angling Direct on 5 November 2026. We compared four things: price, the conditions each bait suits, preparation, and how often fisheries restrict it. We have not fished these baits against each other.

Boilies: the best all-rounder

Boilies are boiled paste balls, and a 1kg bag of 15mm or 16mm baits costs about £11.49 to £13.09 at Angling Direct, or £45 to £50 for 5kg. They suit anyone fishing regularly. Their limit is cost. Their strength is size choice: Korda says 20mm and above deters nuisance fish.

Korda says 15mm is the most popular size, with 12mm for wary fish or cold water. Freezer baits have no preservatives and suit long campaigns, while shelf-life baits are as effective and more convenient, according to Korda.

Pellets: the best for a tight budget

Carp pellets cost about £7.19 a kilo for CC Moore Pacific Tuna at Angling Direct. They are the cheapest bait per kilo here, which suits anglers on a budget. Angling Times pairs 2mm micros with a 6mm banded pellet or a 4mm expander on the hook.

Hemp and sweetcorn: the best for ready-to-use particles

A 2.5 litre jar of prepared hemp and sweetcorn costs £13.69 at Angling Direct. Jarred particles suit anglers who do not want to cook, and need no preparation. Sweetcorn also works alone on the hook. Carpology rates particles for late summer, when they stretch further than boilies.

Tiger nuts: the best for small, targeted feeding

A prepared 700 to 750g tin of tiger nuts costs £7.25 at Angling Direct. They suit anglers on waters that allow them. Angling Times suggests only a couple of handfuls a session, or 6 to 12 around the hookbait, and some fisheries ban them.

How do you prepare tiger nuts safely?

Tiger nuts must be soaked for 24 hours, then simmered for 30 to 40 minutes, according to Angling Times. CC Moore gives the same 24-hour soak and a 30-minute boil, and limits feed to a handful per rod.

Dr Bruno Broughton warns that uncooked nuts swell in the gut and have been linked to carp deaths, though that evidence is circumstantial. Follow the supplier's instructions for dry hemp and maize too, and never feed any raw particle. For more on keeping fish safe, see our carp beginners' guide.

How much carp bait should you use in winter?

Winter carp bait should be a fraction of the summer amount: Dave Levy in Angling Times feeds 3 or 4 spombs, or about 2 in freezing weather, against up to 10kg per 48 hours in midsummer.

Korda backs this up: start small, because carp can be overfed in cold water. Fishmeal suits summer, and birdfood or carbohydrate mixes suit cold water, as fishmeal oils solidify in winter. Boilies also soften slowly: 6 to 12 hours in summer and over 24 hours in winter.

Which bait should you choose?

Choose by venue rules first, then by budget and session length. Check the bait rules before you buy: Crowsheath Lakes lists "No tiger, peanuts or maples" and Follyfoot Fishery bans tiger nuts. Your licence does not override these fishery rules.

• If you fish a few days a year, buy 1kg of 15mm shelf-life boilies.
• If money is tight, use pellets and sweetcorn.
• If you want to feed cheaply and heavily in summer, use prepared hemp and sweetcorn.
• If you fish long winter sessions, use 12mm baits in a birdfood mix and feed sparingly.