Top English angler and English fishing editor Bob Roberts has baited a few carp in his day, including Great Lakes carp. He says seeds, corn, beans, and full-kernel wheat make proper baits. A good bait for starters is hardened field corn. Cover it with enough water to allow for expansion and soak it for about two days. Then boil it for an hour or until it's just soft enough to push apart with your thumbnail. Before draining, stir in a flavor enhancer, like vanilla, or any common flavoring used in cooking. Or try the taste sensations designed for carp in Europe. As a common guideline, add about a teaspoon of flavoring for every pint of bait.

"Much better to underdo the flavoring," Roberts said. "If you overdo the flavoring, it's like too much salt and vinegar on the chips. 'Scuse me, you call them fries, don't you? Too much salt on the fries as opposed to just right, you see? They spit it out if it's overdone."