Understanding Carp Particles

Dry carp particles are simply seeds used in farming that become great fishing baits once prepared. There are plenty of different types, but here I’m focusing on the most common ones used by carp anglers.

Maize: A Carp Fishing Favourite

Maize comes in a few different forms, each with its own benefits.

Whole Maize

Whole Maize is one of the most traditional particles in carp fishing. It looks similar to sweetcorn but is bigger, tougher and usually much cheaper. Because of this it is used a lot in particle mixes.

You can buy it ready cooked, which is handy, but cooking it yourself gives you better value. Once soaked and boiled properly it can double or even triple in weight. You can also add your own flavours and liquids which shop bought particles cannot offer.

Ready cooked particles are still useful if you want something quick. Many now come in frozen and shelf life bags so you can take them straight to the bank.

Flaked Maize

Flaked Maize has become popular because it needs no cooking at all. Just soak it in water and it will turn soft and porridge like. Even lake water will do if you are short on time.

Because it is so light a small amount spreads across a big area. One or two kilos in a spod or particle mix covers a lot of lake bed. It is ideal for trips abroad or for sessions where preparation time is limited.

Cut Maize or Cut Corn

Cut Corn is another maize product becoming more common. We use it in our Hemp and Cut Corn mix. It bulks out a mix and adds texture.

You can cook it or simply soak it in boiling water. Once it softens it can be squashed easily and blends well with other particles.

Hemp Seed: The Most Popular Particle of All

Hemp is probably the most used seed in carp fishing. It releases natural oils when cooked that carp find extremely attractive. These oils create a slick in the water that draws fish in quickly.

Quality and Supply

The only issue with hemp is availability. The human and medical industries take priority, so anglers often get whatever is left. This means the size and quality can change each year.

We always buy the best quality we can. The main thing to look for is the chit rate which is the percentage of seeds that split open when cooked. Larger hemp does not always chit well, but the Chinese hemp this year (2025) has been excellent with good size and a high chit rate.

Cooking Hemp

Hemp is easy to cook whether you soak it first or boil it straight away. The important rule is that the seeds must sink before the water starts boiling. If they do not sink you will end up with floating particles.

You know hemp is cooked when most seeds have white shoots coming out and the water has an oily film on top. Keep the liquid because it is very attractive to carp. Use it to soak other baits or freeze it for later. Cooking hemp yourself gives great value because nothing goes to waste.

Buckwheat: Very Oily

Buckwheat is another seed packed with natural oils. It has been around for years but has become popular again as many anglers mix it with hemp for extra attraction.

It cooks in the same way. Bring it to a boil until the white inner kernels pop out. Buckwheat is very consistent in size and the bright inner produces a strong oily slick.

We use it in our HBM Mix which contains hemp, buckwheat and maize. It is a cheap but very effective particle mix. Buckwheat is much cheaper than hemp which makes it a great alternative.

Tiger Nuts: Powerful but Must Be Prepared Properly

Tiger Nuts can be a brilliant bait but they must be prepared correctly as badly prepared tigers can harm fish.

They need to be soaked for 24 to 72 hours so they swell fully. Then boil them for 30 to 60 minutes until they are soft inside when split open. Once you understand how to prepare them you can add flavours, colours or create the well known gloopy tigers.

They are more expensive than most particles but very rewarding when used correctly.

Other Useful Seeds

There are many other seeds often added to particle mixes such as maple peas, tares and white or red dari. These are used in what anglers call Parti Mixes. They bulk out the bait and add variety or can be mixed with hemp or maize depending on the situation.

Final Thoughts

There are lots of particle choices and it is easy to overthink it. My main advice is simple. Use a bait or mix that you trust. Confidence is everything in carp fishing. If you sit behind your rods doubting your bait you will not fish as well. Pick something you believe in and stick with it.