Can bottom baits be as effective as pop-ups for hookbaits?

Steve Renyard

I’m a huge fan of bottom baits and always use them if I can get away with presenting one. Pop-ups are great, there’s no denying that, but when a carp feeds, it’s usually sieving its way through the contents buried in the lakebed.

Bottom baits are my go-to hookbaits

So why would you use a pop-up if the carp are happy to feed amongst it? It’s all about the situation you’re putting the hookbait in…

If you’re looking to fish right on top of a weed bed, then a chod rig with a pop-up will no doubt be far more effective than a bottom bait. If, however, you can present a bait on the deck - whether that’s a wafter or bottom bait - I’d always favour it.