Manilla Sticky Baits The Madagascan Vanilla, from which the bait gets its name, is only one of several elements that contribute to the Manilla being one of the greatest winter carp fishing baits I've ever used. It works very well in waters where larger baits would struggle to go further because there's just not enough oxygen present for them to live up to their full potential. The secret behind the Manilla's success as a winter bait is its sticky nature. When it comes into contact with water, it immediately begins to dissolve, releasing its stickiness into the surrounding air. This allows fish to smell it from far away, and when they do get close enough to grab some bait, it takes only a few minutes for the whole thing to completely dissolve. The bait is made by mixing sugar with cornstarch and cooking it until the mixture turns a light brown color. Once cooled, it is cut into pieces and wrapped in aluminum foil before use. The bait is available in both 3.5" and 5" lengths. It is important to choose baits of a similar size if you are going to use them interchangeably on your line. Smaller baits will tend to swim away more quickly than larger ones so need to be replaced sooner.