When it comes to carp bait, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest trends but sometimes it’s worth looking back at the baits that have been quietly doing the business for decades.
One of those is the humble chick pea.
It might not be the first thing that springs to mind when you’re filling the bait bucket, but don’t let that fool you. Properly prepared chick peas have caught countless carp over the years, and on some waters they can still be an absolute edge.
Why They Still Work
The biggest advantage chick peas have is that hardly anyone uses them anymore.
Most anglers are fishing over beds of boilies, pellets or the usual particle mixes, so carp on busy venues become used to seeing the same baits day after day. Throw something different into the mix and it can often catch them out.
Chick peas have a natural appearance and don’t look like a manufactured bait. They settle nicely on the lakebed, especially over silt, and their soft texture means fish seem happy to pick them up with confidence.
Sometimes keeping things simple is exactly what pressured carp aren’t expecting.
Preparing Them Properly
Like any particle, preparation is important.
Dry chick peas should never be introduced straight into the lake. They need soaking for at least 24 hours before being boiled for around 30 to 40 minutes. Once cooked, leave them to cool in the same water. As they cool, they release a thick, slightly cloudy liquid that’s packed with natural attraction.
Some anglers like to add extras such as salt, molasses, chilli powder or liquid flavours during preparation, but plain chick peas have caught carp for years without any fancy additions.
Fishing With Chick Peas
One thing that’s easy to overlook is just how effective they are when used sparingly.
Rather than filling the lake with bait, a few handfuls over a spot can be enough to get fish rooting around. Because they’re relatively small, carp spend longer feeding over them compared to larger baits, which can help keep them in the area for longer.
As a hookbait they’re surprisingly versatile. You can fish:
-
A single chick pea on a hair rig
-
Two chick peas together for a bigger mouthful
-
One alongside a small boilie
-
Over a bed of hemp, corn or mixed particles
-
As part of a spod or particle mix
They also lend themselves well to margin fishing. Quiet spots under overhanging trees, next to reeds or along snaggy edges can be ideal places to present a few chick peas where fish feel safe.
Great Value Bait
With the cost of bait continuing to rise, chick peas make even more sense than they used to.
A large bag costs very little compared to modern boilies, and once prepared you’ll have enough bait for several sessions. That makes them ideal for anyone fishing regularly or pre-baiting a spot without spending a fortune.
The carp certainly aren’t bothered how much your bait cost.
Ideal for Longer Campaigns
If you’re targeting a difficult water over several weeks, chick peas are well worth considering.
Introducing small amounts regularly can encourage fish to treat them as a safe food source, especially if they’re seeing the same boilies from everyone else. On heavily pressured lakes, simply offering something different can sometimes make all the difference.
Our Thoughts
Carp fishing has a funny way of coming full circle. While everyone chases the latest tackle and bait releases, some of the old favourites quietly keep putting fish on the bank.
Chick peas may not be glamorous, and you won’t see many sponsored anglers promoting them, but they remain an inexpensive, effective bait that still catches plenty of carp.
If you’ve never given them a go, they’re definitely worth adding to your bait bucket this season. You might just find that one of carp fishing’s forgotten particles is exactly what your local fish haven’t seen for a while.