The great majority of carp anglers feed hempseed and fish boilies over the top. Often, when wandering around a carp lake,  I've been told, "They're preoccupied on the hemp and ignoring the boilies." When politely suggested that it could be wise to try fishing hemp all I generally get is the response that it is too much trouble to mess about with. If it's the difference between catching and blanking, then it's never too much trouble! I think it was Rod Hutchinson who first seriously tried using hempseed as a hook bait. he threaded several pieces of hemp onto a fine wired hook and attached several lengths of cotton with hempseed threaded on them. He hooked several fish, but lost them due to the hooks failing. This was probably one of the first usage of 'hair rigged' baits (1968).

I use a similar method except that I use a three strand hair, each strand threaded with 5-6 grains of hempseed and a tiny piece of cork (coloured black) at the end. The hook lies on the bottom whilst the hemp 'strands' are 'popped up'. Carp never seem to wise up to this presentation and is one of my favourite approaches on any water where large amounts of the 'seed' are thrown in. Once again, be prepared for the tench, bream and roach that will pile into the swim and take the bait. Generally when the carp arrive they tend to push their smaller brethren out and life becomes less hectic!

Chick peas are another instant particle. The lazy ones amongst us can even buy the stuff already cooked in cans, though these are softer than if you prepare them yourself.  Chick peas are one of those particles that seem to take ages to blow, I've been catching fish on them from a local water for the past four seasons, with the added benefit that some of the larger commons have fallen to this bait. Chick take  colourings easily; I've found that dark brown, pale orange and deep red to be the most successful colours. Curiously, I catch more carp on bottom fished chicks than those popped up - it is a big enough difference to be significant. If single chicks start slowing down, try putting three on a long hair, it has produced an immediate upturn in catch rate for me in the past.