A good binder is essential as this dictates how well the mix will roll and bind together. The most commonly used binders are soya flour and semolina and many homemade boilies feature just these two ingredients as binder. However most flours work well and ingredients such as rice flour, maize meal, wheat flour and durum flour can be used. It is a good idea to use a mix of these binders, so to get to 50% of the total mix you might consider something like 20% semolina, 20% soya flour and 10% rice flour.
The binder's job is mostly to hold the boilie together and the exact quantity necessary will depend on the other ingredients. So, if you can get away with 40% and still get your homemade boilies to roll well and hold together then you should consider that. Carp are genetically hard wired to seek out good sources of protein.
Good protein content is essential. On a day-ticket water you can sometimes offer more attractants and less protein, but for a decent long lasting bait make sure there is plenty of protein. This will keep the fish coming back and they will learn that your boilies are a good food source.
There are two main sources of easily digestible proteins for you to consider; milk proteins and fishmeal. Fishmeal is a good source of protein, having a protein content of 70-80% and being readily accepted by the fish. There are pre-digested fishmeals available that can have a protein content of up to 90%. These work well but can tend to be quite expensive.
Soluble proteins will dissolve in the water. This causes them to leak from the bait making a cloud of attractants in the water which will pull the fish in. Soluble fishmeal and soluble milk products work well here and are available from bait suppliers or online. Try to keep the amount of soluble proteins at around the 10%-20% mark.
If you include too much in the final mix your boilies may become too soft too quickly. Texture is an important feature of your boilie and one that is often overlooked. Carp eat a great many shelled animals such as water snails and a whole range of invertebrates. These food sources contain a crunch factor and carp will often associate crunch with good food.
One of the most commonly used ingredients for added texture is bird seed. These will also add some protein to your mix, although the levels are not as high as you might think. Ground down dog biscuits (or cat!) can help add crunch and a bit of flavour. There will be lots of treat type items at your local pet store which can be ground down for added texture. Be sure to check out the labels and pick one with a high protein content as well as a good crunchy texture.
Perhaps the most commonly used way to add texture is to leave the shells on the eggs when you add them. Egg shells give the perfect amount of crunch and you have them in your hands already when you are making your boilies! Carp like good strong flavours. You will learn what they like from experience, but also from the names of the proprietary baits that are available on the market. Think spicy, chilli, fishy, salty, sweet and fruity.
Your supermarket can help you out here. Bottles of sweet chilli sauce for example provide an excellent flavouring. Like all living organisms, carp have a requirement for certain trace elements and minerals in their diet. Minamino is one of the most commonly used supplements. It is readily available and will provide for a carp's complete mineral requirement. Carp know this and can't help but be attracted to it.
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