Carp Bait Recipe

Every carp angler has a carp bait recipe that he swears is the best. Some are as simple as crushed white bread soaked in a bit of juice from a can of corn. Other carp bait recipes are more complex, including such ingredients as corn meal or even Koolaid powder. The carp bait recipe below falls somewhere in the middle in terms of complexity. You get your hands in it enough to feel that you've done a little magic in the kitchen, but, you don't spend all day fixing a carp's last meal.

To make carp bait dough balls, you will need:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups cornmeal
• 2 cups water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons corn syrup
• sprinkle cinnamon

1. Stir together flour, water and cornmeal in a medium saucepan. This recipe can get messy, so, it is best to use an old saucepan that you don't mind messing up.
2. Heat over medium heat, gradually stirring in corn syrup and vanilla extract. The texture will be loose at first.
3. Continue stirring until it makes a cohesive dough that is similar to play dough in texture. Make sure that the dough does not burn.
4. Sprinkle cinnamon over all. You want enough that the scent is noticeable, but not overpowering.
5. Let cool, then roll the dough into balls. Each dough ball should be about the size of a marble.
6. Package the results of your carp bait recipe in zippered plastic bags. Dough balls not used that day can be refrigerated for one to three weeks.

Tips: If you are not having enough luck with one carp bait recipe, try out another. Rice, crushed cereal, farina and crackers all make good starch bases for carp bait. Never freeze a cornmeal-based carp bait recipe, as the dough balls can get crumbly when they are defrosted.