Pop Ups, Wafters & Hookbaits (2024)

FAQs

Are pop-ups better than wafters? ›

When fishing over hard ground, such as gravel or clay, I would 99% of the time recommend using a wafter. It's just less blatant than a pop-up and will get you far more bites. Alternatively, in any scenario that has weed, soft ground or leaf litter involved, I would always go for a pop-up.

Boilies are available as bottom baits, pop-ups and wafters. Bottom baits are fine when fishing over a firm clean lakebed. A pop-up boilie will ensure your hookbait is easy for the fish to find if there is any debris or light weed.

What are they? “Wafters are 8mm in size, and basically visual hookbaits that are highly attractive and very robust, available in several colours and flavours.

The hinged stiff rig is probably the most famous pop-up rig and not without reason. It is a hugely successful rig and a favourite of many big fish anglers. It isn't subtle being one of those that presents the pop-up a couple of inches or more off the bottom.

The Slip D rig is a very versatile rig, perfect for presenting wafters, balanced baits or even out of the bag bottom baits. The 'hair' in the case of the Slip D, is the doubled over braid that is passed through the eye of the hook and looped over the point, therefore making a 'D' – hence the name.

I prefer to tie my pop-ups on, so like a good hard bait anyway. Mine have been in a tub in the bait bag for three years I think it is. I also make a one egg mix of my own Garlic Spice recipe pop-ups myself, and put them into tubs. Two tubs last me a year or so.

Take your carp fishing game to the next level with Relish Wafters. These perfectly balanced 14mm baits will slow sink on impact, creating a presentation that's impossible for carp to resist. With a free mini booster spray included, this pot of wafters is sure to become your go-to choice when you hit the lake.

If you're prioritising conversions above all else then pop-ups are probably something you'll want to test. On the other hand, if the highest rankings or best user experience are more important to you, then these probably aren't for you.

“Basically, if I can get away with fishing them three-inches then I will do, as to a certain extent, the higher the pop-up, the better the hook holds. The less bait I'm fishing over the higher I tend to fish them. For example, if I'm fishing singles then I'm quite happy fishing them three-inches off the deck.

The Spinner Rig is almost always used with pop-up hookbaits, but there is nothing to stop you attaching a bottom bait or wafter to one. The mechanics of the rig will still function, though the swivel, hook and shrink tube will be much more visible as they won't be suspended beneath a buoyant bait.

Do fishing wafters float? ›

Wafters have been used by specimen anglers for many years. Wafters were first introduced by Sonubaits 2014 in smaller sizes to appeal to match anglers. Since then flavours and colours have changed but the principle remains the same. A wafter should float, but sink slowly with the weight of a hook attached.

As above, Sweet corn and bread are two of the best baits to use for carp but nightcrawlers (earthworms) are excellent as well. For bigger fish and longer fishing sessions hard boiled baits or 'boilies' as they are known are excellent to use on a hair rig. They really do tend to catch the bigger fish.

They are also the best choice for fishing over weed, silt or other bottom debris. What colour pop-up is best? This really comes down to preference, but in general, the main colours that are most popular and considered to be most effective are yellows, pinks and whites.

They favor insects, aquatic worms, crustaceans, and mollusks, but also consume algae and other plant matter. Due to this diverse diet, a variety of carp baits trip their triggers, from natural offerings to homemade doughbaits and mass-produced softbaits, dips, boilies, and such.

The top 10 percent performing pop-ups have a whopping 9.28 percent conversion rate, according to a Sumo analysis. Despite how annoying pop-ups can be (when used incorrectly), they're incredibly effective at driving conversions, increasing email lists, and encouraging users to convert.

Visibility - They're right there front and center or at the bottom—wherever you choose to have them pop up. Conversion - This is the main reason sites use them, and they work very well to convert visitors to subscribers. Having a pop-up on your site can increase your subscriptions by as much as 35%. That's HUGE.

The Ronnie rig is probably the most used pop-up presentation in modern day carp angling. It works best with small hookbaits and is the most versatile when it comes to when and where to use it. The rig comes into its own when fished over light detritus over a tight bed of small freebies.