Boilies I like fusion. IDK if you really have those over there. I find corn, luncheonmeat etc. is good for smaller fish, but boilies is what I use to get the big 'uns. Things like halibut pellets too.
You dont really get boilies here but you can get them if you know where to look. I can get them in canada. Although they seem to attract snapping turtles at the moment.
I fish many for carp (its a European thing ) I have just got back from a trip to France will put the pictures on later but heres a taster .
Getting back to the question boilies were developed to overcome a problem that for the most part does not exist in many American waters. We use them to keep of the nuisance smaller fish. To start of at the simple end Corn and bread has always caught carp. Spam is also good and I will give you some simple recipes for paste that works well. And of cores a big juicy worm.