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What's the difference between pop ups and Wafters?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on March 02, 2026

What's the difference between pop ups and Wafters?

Well essentially a wafter is a cross between a standard bottom bait and a pop-up – as the wafter holds characteristics from both. It will have some buoyancy, although not as much as a pop-up – just enough to sit-up off the bottom slightly on the Hair with the level of buoyancy countered by the weight of the hook.

In respect to this, can you glug Wafters?

How to glug hook baits. I'm also a fan of adding glug too my hook baits such as popups and balanced wafters. You'll need to take into account any liquids they take on will reduce their buoyancy. To start with, take a pot of your hook baits and cover them in the glug.

Similarly, what is a Wafter? In YourDictionary. Retrieved from WAFTER. (plural wafters) (obsolete) Armed convoy or escort ship. (obsolete) An agent of the Crown with responsibility for protecting specific maritime activities, such as shipping or fishing.

Subsequently, one may also ask, how do Wafters work?

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. This critically balances the wafter and makes it waft.

How long do pop up boilies last?

12 months

How long should you soak boilies for?

You just want to coat your baits. First thing to do, just a give it a good dash and then give it a really good shake up. Really get the coating going until you have coated all of the free base. Let them stand for about five to ten minutes, let them soak in a little bit.

Can you glug frozen boilies?

And when it comes to glugging frozen boilies, you've got to remember to let your bait thaw out. Well basically once the ice turns to moisture it disappears into the bait. So at that time, if you ever want to load your free offerings up with salt by mixing that in the bag, that moisture would suck it in.

How do you strengthen boilies?

How to boost your boilie attraction with Paul Garner
  1. 2) Next, crumble some more boilies, again of the same flavour, into the mix.
  2. 3) Pour some hot water over the baits – just enough to cover them will be sufficient.
  3. 4) Add a teaspoonful of liquid food to each pint of boilies. My favourite is Scopex Squid.

How do you make Wafters?

How to make your own wafters
  1. 02) Sieve out the larger particles from your chosen base mix and add to a bowl.
  2. 03) Then add the cork dust.
  3. 04) Put the two together into a plastic bag and mix thoroughly for a few minutes.
  4. 05) Crack your eggs and whisk.
  5. 06) With the eggs whisked, add your chosen liquids and attractors into the mix.

What size hooks for carp?

What is the Best Carp Fishing Hook? The best carp fishing hooks are #4 or #6 circle hooks. Some Europeans prefer #8 circle hooks for their smaller more indiscreet size.

How do you soak boilies?

First thing to do, just a give it a good dash and then give it a really good shake up. Really get the coating going until you have coated all of the free base. Let them stand for about five to ten minutes, let them soak in a little bit. Then go and do the same to the other bag.

What's the best rig for Wafters?

The sinker ensures the hooklink is nicely pinned down and the Krank hook is the perfect match for a Balanced Wafter. Hookbaits and hooks each purposely designed for maximum hooking potential within a simple Knotless-Knot Rig combined – it doesn't get any better than that!

How do you set up a Wafter rig?

CARPologyTV - How to tie Dave Lane's Simple Wafter Rig - YouTube
  1. Dave Lane's Simple Wafter Rig. [00:05]
  2. Start with 10-inches of soft coated braid. [00:12]
  3. Strip back five-inches of the coating. [00:15]
  4. Tie a small loop for the Hair. [00:22]
  5. Thread on your chosen hookbait. [00:27]
  6. Take a size 8 Curved KD [00:30]
  7. And tie it on using a Knotless Knot. [00:35]
  8. Thread on a Downforce Tungsten Aligner. [00:47]

Is a Wafter a boilie?

Lighter in weight than a standard boilie, the wafter will behave in just the same way as the freebies despite being attached to a rig.

Is a pop up a boilie?

Most commonly, pop ups are made from either a very buoyant mix, known as an 'airball' mix, or frrom a thin layer of regular boilie mix moulded around a cork ball and then boiled. Pop Ups are usually round, to mimic loose feed boilies which are often positioned around it.

What's better shelf life or frozen boilies?

In all honesty, both shelf life and freezer baits are equally as effective in their own right. These baits will eventually go harder, but by simply re- hydrating them in liquids, they will go soft once again and be ready for use.

What do carp like to eat the most?

Carp eat a variety of foods. 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.

How long should I leave my bait in the water?

Some recommend moving the bait a foot or two per minute, working it back in slowly as fish often cruise around a lake or pond at a certain depth. Moving the bait a little at a time and then waiting can help you figure out where the fish are.

How do you balance a pop up?

How to balance a pop-up
  1. Thin lead wire can be trimmed to a sharp point.
  2. This makes it easier to push the wire into a bait.
  3. Push in more than you need then trim it down.
  4. Test the buoyancy before pushing it right in.
  5. Hook flat on the lakebed, bait sitting-up, perfect.
  6. The finished pop-up.

What size hooks for boilies?

A 10mm boilie will not be well presented if it is mounted on a size 4 hook, neither will using a size 10 hook and a 22mm boilie. I'd use a 10mm/12mm boilie with a size 10. For 15mm boilies I use size 8s, and for 18mm/20mm boilies I'll go for a size 6. - The range you are looking to fish.

Can you air dry shelf life boilies?

Although a lot of anglers air dry their boilies I do think carp prefer a nice and soft, attractive baits rather than boilies that have dried out and are as hard as marbles. As long as the shelf lifes are kept cool and dry they won't go sticky or mouldy like freezer baits can if left in a sealed bag.

How do pop up boilies work?

As you would imagine from the name, pop ups are very buoyant baits and can remain suspended just above the lake or river bottom. Most commonly, pop ups are made from either a very buoyant mix, known as an 'airball' mix, or frrom a thin layer of regular boilie mix moulded around a cork ball and then boiled.

How long does bait last?

A 32-ounce container with about 1-2 dozen worms and filled with moist compost should keep the worms healthy and active for about three weeks. Store them out of direct sunlight at a temperature between 50 and 85 degrees.