The carp bites either at worms, or at paste: and of worms I think the bluish marsh or meadow worm is best; but possibly another worm, not too big, may do as well, and so may a green gentle: and as for pastes, there are almost as many sorts as there are medicines for the toothache; but doubtless sweet pastes are best; I mean, pastes made with honey or with sugar: which, that may better beguile this crafty fish, should be thrown into the pond or place in which you fish for him, some hours, or longer, before you undertake your trial of skill with the angle-rod; and dobtless, if it be thrown into the water a day or two before, at several times, and in small pellets, you are the likelier, when you fish for the Carp, to obtain your desired sport. Or, in a large pond, to draw them to any certain place, that they may be better and with more hope be fished for, you are to throw into it, in some certain places, either grains, or blood mixt with cow-dung or with bran; or any garbage, as chicken's guts or the like; and then, some of your small sweet pellets with which you propose to angle: and these small pellets being a few of them also thrown in as you are angling, will be the better.
And your paste must be made thus: take the flesh of a rabbit, or cat, cut small; and bean-flour; and if that may not be easily got, get the other flour; and then, mix these together, and put to them either sugar, or honey, which I think the better: and then beat these together in a mortar, or sometimes work them in your hands, your hands being very clean; and then make it into a ball, or two, or three, as you like best for your use: but you must work or pound it so long in the mortar, as to make it so tough as to hang upon your hook, without washing from it, yet not too hard: or,that you may better keep it on your hook, you may knead with your paste a a little, and not too much, white or yellowish wool.
And if you would have this paste keep all the year, for any other fish, then mix it with virgin-wax and clarified honey, and work them together with your hands, before the fire; then make these into little balls, and they will keep all year.
And if you fish for a Carp with gentles, then put upon your hook a small piece of scarlet, it being soaked in or anointed with oil of petre, called by some, oil of the rock: and if your gentles be put, two or three days before, into a box or horn anointed with honey, and so put upon your hook as to preserve them living, you are as like to kill this crafty fish this way as any other: but still, as you are fishing, chew a little white or brown bread in your mouth, and cast it into the pond about the place where your float swims. Other baits there be: but these, with diligence and patient watchfulness, will do better than any I have practised or heard of.
Tight Lines - Izaak