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Boilies are the most common type of bait when it comes to Carp fishing. They are used by beginners and experienced anglers and have a wide variety of sizes, colours and flavours. A boilie is basically a small dough ball with added attractions.Â
This guide will cover what type of boilie to use in different situations and whether or not you should use them.
DOES SIZE MATTER?
One of the things to consider when buying a pack of Boilies is the size. Generally the larger Carp you're fishing for, the larger Boilie you will use.Â
Boilies range anywhere from 6mm up to 28mm and beyond, however the most popular sizes are between 12mm and 20mm. When using a larger boilie it's also a good idea to use a larger hook.
Boilies are also a popular choice when it comes to scattering freebies. However in this case the size shouldnt matter too much as long as you're attracting carp into your swim and using a good enough rig then you'll get a bite. Â
COLOUR
There's a great range of boilie colours on the market, from pale washed out colours to vibrant pinks and yellows. Colour is mainly down to personal preference however in some situations the brighter colours stand out and make it easier for the carp to find.Â
Some anglers also like to match the colour of the hookbait to the colour of the freebies. However, some anglers disagree with this and say that it's better to use a vibrant colour hookbait so the carp finds that one early before eating all of the freebies first. This could be something to consider when heavily prebaiting an area, otherwise if you're only using a solo hookbait or a small scattering of boilies then it's not something to worry about.
However, if you know the most commonly used boilie colour on the lake, then swapping it up and using a less used colour might land you a carp. Carp are intelligent fish and will sometimes avoid a popular colour if they think they'll get hooked. So if you know the fish are in the area but just not biting, maybe throw on a pop up or try using a different colour.
FLAVOUR
The flavour of a boilie is also personal preference, however there are some flavours that are mostly used in certain situations. The three types of flavours are split into natural, sweet and fishy. The more natural flavours work well with a natural colour and are great in the summer.Â
The more sweeter flavours are the most popular among modern anglers. They work great in the winter but are still a popular choice all year round.
POP UPS
Pop ups are becoming more popular and are a great way to attract carp. There's also a wide variety of colours, flavours and sizes. When using a pop up it's important to use the correct rig otherwise your hookbait might be way too high from the lakebed. In this guide to fishing with pop ups we explain the different types and the best rigs to use with a pop up.
