"If I had to use just one bait to fish for carp, then this would be the one." How many times have you read a comment similar to this in the angling press. Tiger nuts are the only particle that many carp anglers use - simply because they do not break down and are not often picked up by other species.  However, these two reasons do not constitute a good carp bait. That tigers catch carp in large numbers has more to do with the sheers numbers that are eaten, crushed by the carp's throat teeth, excreted undigested and re-eaten again than their ill-founded reputation as the number one particle. I use tigers; especially  when facing a large population of tench, bream or crayfish that snaffle or whittle away boilies within minutes  ... but only as a last resort. Other particles are much more instant and attractive to carp. When fishing tiger nuts I generally feed as little as twenty nuts over a small bed of hemp or other particle,  fishing the hook bait either popped up 1" off the bottom or neutrally balanced with foam so that it only just sinks. Enhancing tiger nuts with betaine seems to increase their effectiveness, similarly green lipped mussel extract added to them has brought me several hauls of double figure carp from a local carp lake when everyone else has struggled. 

Lynette and a 15:03 fully scaled mirror taken from a South West reservoir using a single popped up tiger nut (2"off bottom) over a small bed of hemp with 30 loose tigers thrown on top. this fish gave an awesome fight, totally decimating a bed of Canadian pondweed in front of us. 

Maples are one of my favourite particles. They are dark coloured, small yet can be catapulted easily and give off a unique smell all to themselves. When they start to blow on a water they will carry flavours well and realistically extend the baits life for an extra couple of seasons. However, the downside is that every creatures that swims, crawls or flies also likes them. Not for people that like their sleep when fishing (Paul....!) or who have a pathological hatred of tench, bream... and ducks/coots/swans. As they are softer than tiger nuts (what isn't apart from stones and lead weights...) they will not stand as much punishment from unwanted species. It is amazing just how often I have had a single bleep, hit it and found a fish on the other end with the maples totally mashed off the hair.  Despite what some anglers have said in print maples can be popped up by very carefully drilling out the centre and inserting 1- 2mm foam plugs. It is fiddly to do but will fool carp on high pressured waters that are use to seeing maples fished hard on bottom or attached to a maple sized piece of brown foam. Also, maples have a reputation of only being any good fished in the margins -  another old carper's tale I'm afraid. I've spodded out maples 65 yards plus at Durliegh Reservoir over a hard bottom and have had ten fish in six hours fishing....