Pop Ups vs Bottom Baits Underwater Test (Wild Carp Fishing)

Fishing for wild carp with popup and bottom hook baits. One bait caught more fish than the other on this day. More fishing videos, carp bait recipes, fishing gear list, and other good stuff linked below. Thanks for watching.
Date Filmed: 5/28/2024
Location: Iowa, USA
Underwater Camera: bit.ly/4c69YID
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/ outsidewithtom
CARP FISHING PLAYLIST • 🚩Carp Fishing
CARP BAIT & RIGS PLAYLIST • 🚩Homemade Carp Bait & ...
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My Primary Carp Rig (Tutorial): • The 99% Carp Rig (Full...
My Spring Feeder Carp Rig (old): • My Carp Rig Setup - Sp...
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SHIRTS & HOODIES DESIGNED BY ME: outsidewithtom.myspreadshop.com/
GEAR I USE:
Carp Rigs & Baits usacarpfishing.com
Find deals on fishing gear on Ebay bit.ly/OWT-EBAY
How I Get Cash Back at Cabela's and 100's of other Stores bit.ly/OWTCASHBACK
RODS:
Ugly Stik GX2 Medium Heavy 6.5 ft (Carp) cabelas.xhuc.net/DVY4by
Ugly Stik Elite Medium Heavy 9 ft (Carp) cabelas.xhuc.net/gbm3D5
Ugly Stik Bigwater Medium Heavy 10 ft (Carp) cabelas.xhuc.net/yRaVyD
Ugly Stik Catfish Medium Heavy 7 ft (Catfish) cabelas.xhuc.net/qnQPEn
Ugly Stik Elite Medium 6.5 ft (Pike, White Bass, Trout) cabelas.xhuc.net/P0e5r6
Ugly Stik GX2 Medium 6.5 ft (Catfish, Pike, White Bass, Trout) cabelas.xhuc.net/DVY4by
REELS:
Daiwa Regal BRi 4000 (discontinued, replacement below)
Daiwa Emcast LT BR 5000 cabelas.xhuc.net/YgEv2j
Okuma Avenger ABF 55b ebay.us/xuTAC3
Kastking Sharky III Baitfeeder 5000 ebay.us/CwuQw8
Piscifun Carnivore 4000
Daiwa Crossfire 3000 cabelas.xhuc.net/Keavy9
LINE:
Carp Line: 20lb Trilene Mono cabelas.xhuc.net/5gZr09
30lb Spiderwire Braid cabelas.xhuc.net/DKeodo
Catfish Line: 20lb Trilene Mono cabelas.xhuc.net/5gZr09
Pike Line: 10lb Trilene Mono ebay.us/tdlvLL
White Bass & Trout Line: 6lb Trilene Mono ebay.us/QDvkU0
CARP TACKLE:
Carp Hooks: Lazer Sharp Octopus L2 Needlepoint size 4 cabelas.xhuc.net/e4yBG1
Hair Rigs: bit.ly/3umZaWf
Method Feeders: bit.ly/3umZaWf
Spring Feeders: ebay.us/nwWQq3
Flavored Tiger Nuts: bit.ly/3umZaWf
Flavored Corn: bit.ly/3umZaWf
Bulk Rolled Oats: bit.ly/44WohNJ
Sinker Stops: cabelas.xhuc.net/m5EBm7
Carp Unhooking Mat: ebay.us/6nA677
Raw Tiger Nuts: ebay.us/Zdj3oI
CATFISH TACKLE:
Catfish Hooks: Lazer Sharp Octopus L2 Needlepoint size 4/0, 2/0 cabelas.xhuc.net/e4yBG1
Bank Sinkers: scheels.sjv.io/vN199O
No Roll Sinkers: scheels.sjv.io/da3PPq
Sinker Slides: cabelas.xhuc.net/Kj2vvA
Fish Grips: cabelas.xhuc.net/DKAZZo
GEAR:
Net 1: Drifter Marine Sport Series Telescopic 2968/PVC
Net 2: Ranger Tournament Series Big Game Telescopic 9788TFB cabelas.xhuc.net/Kea7Zx
Bank Sticks type 1: Fishin' Stix ebay.us/Vs58Yb
Bank Sticks type 2: Lixada Bank Sticks 34-56cm ebay.us/CWJZ9U
Fish Scale: cabelas.xhuc.net/XYovR4
Rod Bag: Lixada 150cm rod bag ebay.us/IlTGoE
Big Umbrella: Sport Brella Premiere XL cabelas.xhuc.net/AW3ZQx
Folding Wagon: cabelas.xhuc.net/0ZjqKP
Rig Tying Vise: cabelas.xhuc.net/ORGREP
Awesome Reusable Water Bottle: nalgene.pxf.io/PyVZ9M
Mosquito Repeller: thermacell.pxf.io/q43RmN
Kayak: Old Town Sportsman 120 scheels.sjv.io/ORV5JZ
Underwater Camera: bit.ly/4c69YID
15% off discount code: RQvfc6jH6
Many of the links above are affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through the link I may receive a commission.
#carpfishing #carp #americancarp #usacarp #wildcarpfishing #bigcarp #bankfishing #fishingtips #fishingvideo #fishinglife

[@OutsidewithTom]

If you enjoy these videos and find them useful, you can show your thanks by sharing on your socials and becoming a member www.patreon.com/OutsidewithTom

[@Familyman0838]

When it's a clan hard bottom use bottom baits pop ups are mainly used in silt and weed to ensure the bait is presented properly with the method in this situation bottom baits and wafters are best tight lines mate from the UK 🇬🇧

[@davidgarcia9808]

Your videos just get better and better Tom. Amazing how many fish are all over the bait and don't get hook. I always learn something watching your videos, hope people just don't zoom through the video and only watch the catching part, because all the good information is in between the catching. Thanks again Tom

[@OutsidewithTom]

Thanks David!

[@mump71]

These camera videos are really good. So much to learn from them.

[@OutsidewithTom]

Glad you like them!

[@chrisdado]

Yeh Tom, pop-up baits are only really any use IME if you know you're fishing over a thick bed of dead leaves where there's a risk of your bait getting covered up as the carp rummage in the feed. Even then a snowman rig is my goto for known bad ground. Nice underwater footage, keep them coming Tom 👍

[@herbsuperb6034]

Always fun to see underwater footage of Carp & Cat behavior. Many thanks for taking the time. I use pop-ups the majority of the season (Korda Pop-Up Corn in early spring/late fall, and Korda Pop-Up Maize, same thing as Corn, only bigger, once it warms up a bit). I use natural corn and Hominy when it gets real hot in the summer. My theory is that they salt-deplete, like any other creature, in the heat, and they can be caught in the summer with saltier baits. Hominy is half-again as salty as Sweet Corn, so I add it to my pack bait when it's real hot, and sometimes use it as Hook Bait, coated with Pineapple or Strawberry Jell-O mix from my pack bait. Works really well, and my numbers go up substantially. Banked my second Triple of the season last week at my favorite pre-spawn/spawn spot. The third line that went had a fish that just wouldn't stop. Second was very stubborn, so when I finally got to #3, the line was completely stripped. NOTHING left, it was at the arbor knot, and about to break. 2 seconds would've done it. But I managed to get a tiny bit of line around the reel, and eventually landed the fish. Heart was going about a mile a minute. Carping can be a stressful activity 🙂. Triple fish were all pretty average for that spot/time of year. 12.8, 11.0 and 10.0.

[@OutsidewithTom]

Glad you enjoyed the underwater video, thanks Herb!

[@DanielOnTheBank]

great video Tom! After seeing your footage i will start using a rod with a bottom bait from now on. I mainly use pop ups

[@TheIridescentFisherMan]

Hey Brother for that pop-up style you really want the rig to be critically bouyant. So it just BARELY sinks. You can see a lot of fish mouthing it but because it seems " anchored or heavy" they cant suck it up. I prefer bottom baits but have had a lot of success with pop up/ chod rigs in the weeds as well.

[@k9er233]

Hey Tom, I learn a lot from your underwater camera footage. Have you ever thought about adding a section of cylindrical foam on the top your camera rig to get it to settle upright? Maybe just enough to right it without lifting off the bottom? I find 1" x 6" sections of foam at dolr tree in the craft section. Zip ties could maybe be used to attach it. Maybe also add a section of pencil lead to the bottom if needed to counterbalance the foam. Camo the whole rig with tan/brown/green rust-oleum duck boat paint. I don't know how much all of that would affect the casting of the rig, but it might be worth trying to always get an upright view.

[@OutsidewithTom]

Good idea. I've actually done almost exactly what you describe. Those videos are over on my Patreon page. www.patreon.com/OutsidewithTom

[@user-mo5zn5su6b]

You have to use ronnie rig in this situation.it's pop up rig presentation but the hook is touching the lake bed

[@pastmasters9591]

Very interesting! This is why I watch your channel 👍🏻

[@OutsidewithTom]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@driveabout1world872]

Great video. Not sure about Iowa, but Mother Nature sure has cranked up the heat and humidity here in Missouri..

[@OutsidewithTom]

Yep, 102 here tomorrow. Yippee!

[@teod8165]

Interesting. I have been testing pop ups and have found weed collecting on the hook has caused me to lose fish. Switched to non floating fake corn and then the bite died. I think the pop up has a place when trying to get off the bottom out of muck or low lying weeds, but I agree far better success with hook bait on the bottom. I'm going to switch back to spicy feed corn for a bit, the carp in my area don't seem to care about tiger nuts as much as corn. My theory is they can see the yellow a bit better in the dank water I fish.

[@carpfishingarkansas3992]

Really digging the underwater cam. I learned so much from watching this video. It adds an element to the video all its own, and you do a great job of sequencing the bank shots with what's happening underwater in real time. Great work!

[@OutsidewithTom]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@richardwarfield7386]

Thanks Tom - great illustration of why maybe I have had little luck with boilies/pop up baits over the years. Gonna stick with corn as my go to hook bait

[@OutsidewithTom]

Good luck!

[@pavelkostenko1621]

I was trying to use the cork last weekend, no luck. Thanks Tom for your amazing videos!

[@OutsidewithTom]

Glad you enjoy the videos, thanks!

[@thomaskass6668]

Very interesting footage tom! You can really learn alot by observeing the fish in action. I think the pop up would work better were you have a grassy bottom or muddy bottom were your bottom bait is not as visible. With sandy lake bed you were fishing I would definitely use a bottom bait or a wafter. Thanks fo teaching us few things tom

[@OutsidewithTom]

Definitely are scenarios where having the bait up off the bottom could potentially be useful. Thanks Tom.

[@troutheadadventures6521]

Hmm, more things to think about. Do common, mirror, and grass carp spawn at the same time?

[@OutsidewithTom]

Yep, they all spawn in the spring, and sometimes again in the fall.

[@ron-je2yr]

The camera really is interesting showing whats going on. I've fished with just corn on a hook with success, but I'm thinking the floating pop up rig should help keep the bait off of the bottom when the weeds start to grow?

[@OutsidewithTom]

Yes indeed, thanks for watching.

[@WestCoastCarpSlayer]

Hi Tom, your film footage confirms what I my team has confirmed (through trial and error) over the last several years. In my humble opinion, the popup you used was still too high even after you placed a weight on the line. I have found that popups should only lift slightly off the ground to be effective. If you want to test this theory I suggest you adjust your popup accordingly. I believe the results will be significantly different.

[@OutsidewithTom]

Maybe I'll try that in the next one, thanks.

[@DaveMunsie]

Awesome video. If you don't mind, what's the typical battery life with the underwater camera? Thx.

[@OutsidewithTom]

Around 2 hrs. Link is in description if you want all the details.

[@DaveMunsie]

@@OutsidewithTom Thanks!

[@Skork]

that pop up rig presentation is a little high for my liking. The eye of the hook should just about be touching that lake bed.

[@professorchucke4087]

You should buy a solar charger for your camera

[@OutsidewithTom]

Good idea. I have battery banks, but unfortunately the camera takes 3-4 hours to recharge.

[@Shmegg]

I can see the camera being a staple of your pond/lake fishing because it's fun and interesting to see what's really happening. Probably just gonna have to visualize in our heads for those muddy rivers. It's good stuff with an extra added dimension.

[@carpcounty]

What kind of go pro do you use?

[@OutsidewithTom]

Underwater camera is linked in description.

[@carpcounty]

@@OutsidewithTom not the under water camera your chest cam?

[@OutsidewithTom]

@@carpcounty Just a 10 year old gopro.