With the popularity of the chod rig and fluoro pop up approach in recent years it made sense for ESP to develop a range of pop ups to complement its chod rig range of terminal tackle.   With chod rigs and various other pop up rigs generally incorporating large hooks prolonged buoyancy and a hard texture to prevent water ingress and swelling were vitally important in the make up of the pop up mix ingredients.   So a mix was developed incorporating a high percentage of silicone micro-spheres which give the bait their excellent buoyancy, plus egg albumen which binds the other ingredients tightly so once dried and cured the baits go very hard. This prevents swelling and water ingress even when the baits are pierced rather than tied on with floss.   A chod rig incorporating a size 5 stiff rigger will hold up a 15mm pop up for days on end whilst the 12mm are excellent when combined with size 8s or used to balance bottom baits as part of a snowman rig.   So with the mix perfected we paid special attention to the attractor combinations. Its not widely known but a lot of pop ups on the market are made with no attractors added at the mixing stage at all, just the coloured dye. The attractors are simply sprayed on afterwards, coating the surface of the baits and therefore washing out very quickly leaving an inert bait which is not leaking off any long term attraction. The ESP range however have had optimum levels of flavours added at the mixing stage, then after the cooking process the baits are dried and  another 'hit' of the attractor package is sprayed over the finished baits.   This gives the baits two stages of attractor leak off, straight away as soon as the bait is immersed thereby providing instant stimulation and then over the duration of the baits being in the water the attractors inherent in the mix will continue to leech off.   The flavour range contains a few tried and trusted classics plus a couple that are a little more unusual:   Salt n Pepper Squid (white) A combination of two of the best all time carp attractors, black pepper essential oil and one of the best squid flavours, plus a generous helping of rock salt, a mineral that carp just can't get enough of.   Black pepper is the overriding smell with a squiddy background. This will work all year round and a white hook bait fished over food bait or as a single on a chod rig over a silty lake bed is a sure fire winner.   Tutti Twist (orange) Incorporating a blend of one of the most successful tutti frutti flavours ever and amyl acetate which is a flavour component used in pear drop sweets. A really zingy, punchy fruit flavour that is an out and out classic.   Salmon Smokies (pink) Pink is one of the most productive colours for single hook bait fishing. The smoked salmon and caviar attractors blended together make this a classic fishy bait with unmistakable rich, smokey aromas just like smoked salmon. Eucalytus Cream (yellow) A really evocative smell that works all year round but really comes into its own in winter. A blend of eucalyptus essential oil and a sickly sweet cream flavour which are highly effective on their own but when combined together make a deadly attractor package.   Thai Curry (green) Perhaps the 'oddball' of the range but this one is a real dark horse. A blend of lemongrass and ginger essential oils and a rich coconut flavour give the unmistakable Thai Green Curry aroma and the zingy vibrant green colour is a bit different and has been proven to nick bites when other more conventional colours are struggling.   Available in 12mm (approx 50 baits per pot) and 15mm (approx 40 baits).

• published: 17 Mar 2014
• views: 904