How to make natural bait for carp in rivers and lakes and effective bait services

Carp are the most common freshwater fish in Vietnam; we often see them in most ponds, lakes, canals and waterways in the north and central-southern regions, which is why carp fishing is the most common activity due to the prevalence of this species.

 

 

A carp weighing over 9kg feeding on snails, caught by Tuấn Kiệt at Xuân Long Fishing Lake

 

However, catching large carp is by no means straightforward, as they are a very cunning species. Having lived for many years and encountered anglers’ bait on numerous occasions, they become more wary; Large carp always move slowly and deliberately, surveying their surroundings for a while before approaching the bait. Unlike smaller fish, which are ‘inexperienced’ and will often rush in to fight over the bait ‘without a care in the world’.

 

 

The behaviour of carp

 

Carp live in freshwater. This species has five highly developed senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch – enabling it to easily detect imminent danger. If a carp in a natural pond or lake has previously been hooked and escaped, it will become very wary and cautious; whereas with carp that are not easily spooked, fishing for them is quite straightforward; common bait for carp includes grains, various types of birdseed, small fish, and chicken or duck feed with a strong aroma, which the carp will readily eat.

 

 

Carp fishing at Dong Que Lake (Country-style fishing)

 

Furthermore, as carp are gregarious and easily communicate their location to one another, they are quick to alert their fellow carp when danger is near or when tasty food is available. Sounds a bit tricky, doesn’t it? But don’t worry, because this species of carp has a weakness: they have a habit of feeding on their favourite foods, such as snails, wheat flour, worms and sweet potatoes… So, by exploiting this weakness, you can easily catch them. 

 

Bait for carp in service lakes

 

This is probably the section that interests many anglers the most, as fishing at service lakes isn’t just about time; the cost of fishing trips can be quite high. Some new anglers may go three or four sessions without a single catch, losing money without experiencing the thrill of a bite, which can be quite discouraging.

 

 

Tuấn Kiệt’s team fishing for carp at Mạnh Vũ Lake, An Thượng, Hoài Đức, Hanoi

 

But first, Ha Don would like to mention that the bait accounts for only 25 per cent of the catch rate; the remaining 75 per cent depends on the angler’s ‘EXPERIENCE’, such as:

1. Bait is, of course, essential; it must be the right flavour for the carp
2. The weather is important
3. Choosing the right lake is crucial; some are easy to fish, whilst others are very tricky
4. Choosing the right fishing spot is crucial; knowing how to spot bubbles and observe the fish’s breathing helps you select the best spot
5. Fishing tackle is important: the line, float, and float weight… If the line is too thin, the fish are wary and bite lightly; if the line is too thick, the fish bite less readily and the signal is poor

Why is this the case? Because the fish in commercial lakes are farmed in other lakes and then released; they are not native to the lake. These fish have been subjected to various factors, so they differ from those in natural lakes in the following ways:

 

→ The lake water is heavily fed; every day, dozens of anglers continuously feed the fish tens of kilograms of feed. Consequently, the fish are not hungry but are actually choking on the excess food.

→ Fish transported from other lakes are not yet accustomed to their new environment and are weakened by the journey… they will not take the bait, so anglers must understand how long after release it takes for the fish to start feeding.

→ Not to mention the intervention of many pond owners of whom we are unaware; we do not hear from the owners how many fish are in the pond, so we simply go fishing when we see fish being released.

 

 

Carp fishing in commercial lakes cannot be any more abundant

 

 

Some types of bait for carp fishing in commercial lakes; anglers may wish to refer to these

 

So, what are the tips for effective carp fishing in managed lakes? Ha Don would like to share the following experiences

 

1. Bait

 

As mentioned above, you simply need to use the right type of bait for the carp; Bait accounts for only 25 per cent of the catch; changing between different types of bait is ‘merely to give the carp a sense that something has changed’, whilst certain baits may feel more suitable for different lakes.

 

2. Weather

 

When fishing commercially, you should choose days with consistent weather—either several days of steady rain or several days of steady sunshine. If it was scorching hot at 30 degrees yesterday but has turned cold today at 20–22 degrees, the carp will not feed and will remain still; conversely, if it’s cold today but is set to be scorching hot tomorrow, the carp will rise to the surface and refuse to feed.

 

 

Ha Don (Tuấn Kiệt Fishing) – Back when I was new to carp fishing

 

Carp newly stocked in a commercial lake (red-tailed and red-finned carp) will feed vigorously within 30 minutes of being released if they are healthy

 

In my experience, before the weather turns cold or before a storm, the fish will feed vigorously (that’s the theory, though it depends on the individual lake), as in service lakes the fish are subject to many influencing factors

 

3. Choosing a fishing lake and spot

 

New service ponds with bare bottoms and clear water that hasn’t yet become murky are easier to fish than long-established ponds with stagnant, murky water laden with feed and flavourings, and muddy bottoms. Many ponds also have rotten bottoms, not to mention that some unscrupulous pond owners resort to underhand tactics...

 

Choose spots where fish tend to congregate; if you pay attention, you’ll notice that within a single service lake there are a few spots where fish rise strongly – you should arrive early to secure these positions

 

4. Set up your tackle sensibly

 

With a short rod, you should use light tackle; a thin leader line makes it easier for the fish to take the bait, whilst a small float provides better detection of even the slightest bites. If the fish have been heavily fished and have become wary, using light tackle is crucial; you should use transparent fluorocarbon leader line, as it is less visible than nylon.

 

 

Small tackle should be paired with a flexible rod (with a flex rating of around 4h) to minimise line breakage and ensure a better hold on the fish.

 

Many commercial anglers have told Ha Don that ‘there are no skittish fish, only fish that are feeding on a given day or not’ – this is partly true, but more often than not it is incorrect, as they usually fish for common carp with red tails. A fish that’s as new as a fresh mat, having no understanding of the ways of the world, isn’t skittish at all; it simply pulls the float out of the water. They mostly use 2.0–3.0 paracord or 3.0–4.0 monofilament lines.

 

However, with older carp, it’s a different story; having been caught so often, they become skittish, so they’re caught less frequently. Particularly in winter, when recreational lakes are stocked with green carp, these feed differently from red carp—they take the bait very gently and don’t even make the float dip— so if you use a large monofilament or braided line, you’ll notice a distinct difference.

 

1. Fishmeal with scent

Fish meal is the cheapest type of bait, costing around 55,000 VND per 2kg bag; it can be used both for chumming and for fishing. You can use 20 per cent protein fish meal with a fragrant scent from well-known brands such as Lái Thiêu and Cargill

 

Combine this fish meal with certain flavour enhancers, such as

 

 

Cargill fishmeal (20% protein)

 

- Sapham’s 3-piece scent essence set, specialised for carp, grass carp and silver carp

 

 

Sweet-flavoured pudding; when used in larger quantities, grass carp will feed vigorously

 

The set of three comprises: green-scented carp attractant, colostrum and pudding-flavoured milk essence; specific usage instructions are printed on each jar; simply mix with the fishmeal mentioned above to fish

 

Buy the Sapham flavouring set for 210k here

 

- 135 scent essence set + milk and egg

 

 

Fragrance Essence 135 + milk and egg + fish feed for carp fishing

 

Mixing the bait
 

• 0.5kg fish meal
• Half a cap of 135
• 1 capful of milk egg

The ratio is a small amount; once mixed, the scent should have a subtle fragrance – avoid adding too much to prevent excess

 

Buy the 135 flavouring set + milk egg for 380k here

 

 

- Flavouring set 101

 

 

Flavouring set 101: Sour milk sauce, appetiser, sweet potato syrup, six-flavour blend

 

- Sweetcorn milk, sweet potato syrup, sour fruit...

 

Various concentrated flavourings such as maize milk, sweet potato syrup, sour fruits... (135 specifically refers to the sour fruit flavour)

Fish feed itself is intended for fish farms and aquariums, containing sufficient protein and flavour for the fish to eat; we simply add milk to increase the richness and flavouring essences to make the aroma more vibrant

 

 

Gw sweet potato syrup essence is extremely fragrant and has the strongest aroma

 

Buy Gw sweet potato syrup flavouring here

 

There are so many types of flavourings that Tuấn Kiệt cannot list them all, but please understand that it is just like us: one day we eat meat, another day fish, another day vegetables… when we are hungry, we’ll eat anything that smells delicious, but when we are unwell, even elephant meat won’t tempt us. It also depends on the type of bait and which flavouring suits each lake; this is something anglers must experience for themselves and develop their own bait. It depends on the angler’s experience; bait is only a small part of it.

 

How to make carp bait at home

 

There are countless ways to make carp bait. However, to ensure high-quality bait, we need to put in more effort; making the most delicious bait will increase its appeal. Carp will feed on bait in both rivers and lakes, as well as in managed lakes; however, one must pay attention to the environment and the fishing method. For example, in fast-flowing rivers, you’ll need bait that sticks more firmly, whilst in still waters, you should use softer, more easily dissolving bait, as the fish will prefer this to hard bait.

 

All carp baits can be used at various locations where carp are found; the following are just a few examples for reference

 

Bait for carp in lakes

Ingredients for lake carp bait include:

 

• Wheat flour: 200g
• Fishmeal: 300g
• Sandwich bread: 200g
• Instant mung bean flour: 200g
• Sweet potato: 300g
• Prawn paste: 1 jar

 

Method:

 

• Wash the sweet potatoes, boil until tender, peel, then slice thinly and mash
• Finely chop the bread and grind it into a fine crumb
• Add the mung bean flour, bran, plain flour and prawn paste, then mix thoroughly. Knead quickly to ensure the dough is soft and fluffy.
• Once the dough is ready, shape it into round balls.
• When fishing, hook the larvae onto the hook and then wrap the dough tightly around it.

 

This method for making carp bait for lake fishing has been tried and tested by many anglers and is extremely effective.

 

Sweet potato is a type of grain-based, starchy bait that is perhaps the easiest to make and very effective; see the article on sweet potato bait for more details here.

 

 

Bait for river carp

River carp are generally harder to catch than those in managed lakes. For this reason, to ensure a successful fishing trip, you need to prepare your ingredients very carefully. Here are the ingredients required to make bait for river carp:

 

• Chicken egg: 1
• Sandwich bread: 300g
• Sweet potatoes: 2
• Dried fish meal: 100g
• Soya bean meal: 100g
• Ripe banana: 1

 

Method:

 

• Boil the sweet potatoes, peel them, leave to cool, then mash them
• Grind the dried fish until it forms a fine powder
• Tear the sandwich bread into small pieces and mix into the ground fish powder
• Peel the ripe banana and mash it
• Crack the eggs into the mixture and mix thoroughly by hand. Mix until the dough is pliable, neither crumbly nor sticky to the touch.
• Then shape into round balls.

When fishing, attach a small spring to a single-hook. This method ensures the bait stays on the hook more securely. Use one ball of bait to completely cover the spring. Take two more balls of bait to completely cover the tip of the hook, forming a circle.

With this method for making carp bait, you’ll easily catch even the pickiest carp.

 

Natural Lake Carp Bait

To make natural lake carp bait, you will need the following ingredients:

 

• Sweet potato: 200g
• Wheat flour: 300g
• Birdseed or fishmeal: 150g
• Ripe banana: 1

 

 

Ripe bananas as carp bait

Method:

 

• Peel the banana and mash it
• Wash the sweet potato, boil until tender, then mash
• Mix the sweet potato, banana, plain flour and birdseed thoroughly, then shape into round balls

 

This bait for carp in natural lakes is quite simple, but it will certainly be of great help to anglers when they go fishing.

 

Single-hook carp bait

This type of bait can be used for various fishing methods, not just single-hook fishing. The essence of this single-hook bait is that it is a thick, sticky mixture, allowing the bait to be moulded onto the hook so that it adheres firmly.

 

 

A little fishmeal + the traditional bait recipe from the Tuấn Kiệt team

 

For this single-hook carp bait recipe, you will need to prepare

 

• Fresh maize flour: 100g
• Wheat flour: 200g
• Roasted soya bean flour: 100g
• Sugar-free yoghurt: 2 pots
• Egg: 1
• Small snail meat: 100g

Method:

 

• Mix the crushed snail meat thoroughly with the yoghurt, soya bean flour, plain flour and egg, then place in a sealed container and leave to ferment for about 3 days. (This is known as the ‘fermented bait’)
• Once fermented, take about one-fifth of the fermented bait mixture and set it aside in a bowl. Add the finely minced snail meat and mix thoroughly. Next, add the cornflour and egg, and knead until the bait is pliable. (This is known as ‘kneaded bait’)

Take both types of bait with you when you go fishing.

 

• Upon reaching the fishing spot, mix the ‘fermented bait’ with a little local soil from the area until well combined. Shape the bait into a ball the size of a lemon. Take care to squeeze gently so that the ball is neither too firm nor too crumbly. Then cast the bait into the water to attract the fish.
• Once the fish have arrived, shape the ‘mồi vê’ into a round ball, attach it to the hook and cast it into the water.

 

Bait for ‘old’ carp

‘Old’ carp, as they are known amongst anglers, are large, mature fish that are very cunning and difficult to catch. To catch these ‘old’ carp, you must prepare your bait meticulously. The ingredients for ‘old’ carp bait include:

 

• Birdseed: 1 packet
• Maize meal: 40g
• Mung beans: 30g
• Peanuts: 30g
• Soya beans: 40g
• Black sesame seeds: 20g
• Sprouted rice: 300g
• Milk biscuits: 100g
• Star anise: 5g
• Monk fruit: 1 piece

 

These quantities are approximate; adding or omitting one or two ingredients won’t make much difference. We’ve included plenty of delicious grains – people will still want to eat them – but that’s the nature of fishing: it’s a matter of luck.

 

 

10kg carp – the Tuấn Kiệt team

Method as follows:

 

• Roast the rice bran and maize bran in turn until golden and fragrant
• Roast the mung beans, peanuts and soya beans until they begin to turn golden, then wrap them in a cloth and keep them covered until they have cooled.
• Once the beans have cooled, grind them into a fine powder.
• Roast the black sesame seeds until they become fragrant, then remove from the heat and grind them into a fine paste.
• Roast the glutinous rice and sprouted rice until golden, then grind them into a fine flour.
• Crush the biscuits
• Finely grind the birdseed.
• Next, mix all the ingredients together, adding a little water whilst mixing to create a slightly moist mixture. Once kneaded, take half of the mixture and shape it into balls the size of a lemon.
• When fishing, cast the shaped bait into the water to attract the fish.
• Roll the remaining bait into small round balls and hook them onto the hook.

 

Carp bait

 

The nature of carp bait for a spring-loaded hook is similar to the recipes above; the main ingredients are still grains and a few flavourings with a scent that attracts fish. the bait for a spinner must be pliable enough to adhere firmly when rolled onto the spinner’s spring, but not so tight that it fails to dissolve when the fish takes the bait, preventing the single hook on the spinner’s spring from releasing.

 

 

Main ingredients:

 

• Boiled sweet potatoes: 2
• Soya bean flour, roasted soya beans: 2–300g
• Egg: 1
• Ripe bananas: 1–2
• Bird feed (fish meal): 200g

 

Method

 

• Boil the sweet potato until tender, then mash it
• Mash the ripe bananas
• Combine all the ingredients, knead thoroughly and mix until the mixture becomes sticky and cohesive
• Leave for 10 minutes to allow the birdseed to dissolve and expand evenly
• Roll into small balls and use for fishing

 

A more detailed guide to bait for carp fishing can be found here.

 

 

Carp fishing bait

 

Here are some of the most effective ways to make your own carp bait; you can refer to these and follow the instructions:

 

Cold rice and rice wine lees

 

Ingredients:

 

• Cold rice
• Rice wine lees
• Stork feed

First, prepare the cold rice in a 1:3 ratio, mixing it with one bowl of rice wine lees or, alternatively, one bowl of glutinous rice wine. Next, leave it to ferment for about three days in an airtight container until the cold rice has softened sufficiently. Next, mash the rice until smooth together with the stork bran. You should use stork bran that has a fragrant smell, is not fishy, and does not have the rotten odour of fish bran. Then, leave it to ferment for another half a day, after which it will be ready to use.

 

 

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll find that this bait has a deep, fragrant aroma, doesn’t stick to your hands, is soft and not damp. With this method of making bait, if you fish for about 1–2 hours in the same spot, you can switch the hook to different types of bait. This is because every time you jerk the rod, it’s just like casting fresh bait.

 

Yoghurt and bread bait

Ingredients required:

 

• Cornflour
• Breadcrumbs
• Wheat flour
• Finely ground roasted peanuts
• Cheese
• Yeast
• 1 tin of cat food (liver)

Method:

 

Mix all the ingredients together. Note: the mixture should be just soft enough so that it dissolves after soaking in water for 10 minutes.

 

 

According to research by an angler in the UK, these ingredients contain the essential nutrients that carp need for growth. However, depending on the conditions, you can adapt the recipe to your own preferences; for example, replacing roasted peanuts with a little cooking oil works just as well. One thing to bear in mind is that in flowing water, this method is not suitable for carp fishing.

 

Soaked rice bait

 

Ingredients required:

 

• A bag of glutinous rice
• Soaked rice that has sprouted
• Maize meal
• Cold rice
• Crushed snails, left to ferment for just 2 days
• Finely ground roasted peanuts
• Sweet potatoes, boiled until tender then roasted until the skin is charred
• Roasted star anise, crushed (but only a little)
• A little soya bean flour
• Fish attractant with a strawberry cream scent

 

 

Method:

Mix ingredients 1, 2, 3 and 4 together and leave to blend for about 5 days. Then, crush the snails and mix them in two days before you go fishing. When you’re ready to go fishing, mix ingredients 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 into the mixture. This bait is slightly runny; cast it near the tip of a branch, releasing only half a scoop at a time. After an hour, release another scoop. Once the carp catch the scent of this bait, they’re guaranteed to linger around the bait spot and won’t be able to resist.

 

Rice bran and soya bean bait

 

Ingredients required:

 

• 400g bread crumb (with the hard crust removed)
• 300g rice bran
• 100g soya bean flour
• 2 carrots, diced and steamed until tender
• 2 star anise pods
• 1 teaspoon of finely ground, lightly toasted seeds.

Method:

 

Mix all these ingredients thoroughly with water – it’s even better if you use ‘pork cooking water’ – then leave to marinate overnight before use. This method for making carp bait is incredibly simple, isn’t it?

 

 

 

Fishy-smelling bait

 

Ingredients required:

 

• Fishmeal and dried shrimp powder.

 

Fishmeal is simple and easy to find, isn’t it? As for the dried shrimp powder, here’s how to make it: Buy about 100–200g of dried shrimp. Then, place them in a frying pan and stir-fry gently for about 15 minutes over the lowest heat. Turn off the heat once they turn a deep golden brown. Leave to cool for about 10–15 minutes, then grind them to a fine powder in a food processor.

 

Note that you must let it cool so that the shrimp becomes crisp and fluffy. This also makes it easier to grind into a powder and easier to store. Once ground, place it in an airtight jar or container for future use.

 

Mix the bait using the following ratio: 1 cup of fishmeal to 3 teaspoons of dried shrimp powder. From 100g of dried shrimp, you’ll get approximately 20 teaspoons of powder once blended. Next, add boiling water and knead thoroughly until the mixture is pliable, then use as required. The reason for using boiling water is to ensure the fishmeal swells completely, resulting in bait with a stronger aroma than when using cold water.

 

Pre-packaged bait

 

If you do not have much time to prepare carp bait, some of the best carp baits currently available on the market are ready to use, saving you the time spent preparing ingredients and allowing you to head straight out fishing, such as:

 

- Silver-coloured pellet bait: small in size but with a colour that attracts many species of fish, including carp

- Carp bait – specifically formulated for carp; this bait is non-toxic and does not harm the surrounding environment

- Pioner fishmeal bait, which is highly effective for carp fishing, particularly in bright sunshine; it is suitable for shallow ponds or those of moderate depth, etc.

 

Thanks to these convenient pre-packaged products, your fishing trips will be much more convenient and straightforward. Also, don’t forget to choose the right spot, location and fishing hook to achieve the best results!

Buy fishing tackle at Tuấn Kiệt’s shop on Shopee: