Southern Specials
Pop Ups

The next time you get a chance, have a look on-line and you will be amazed at the number of independent bait company’s that have appeared over night. It seems that many anglers who own a rolling table, a source pan and roll 10kg a month for there mates are now bait companies (really). Whilst sifting through what seems hundreds of little firms rolling baits and advertising on facebook, UKMA discovered a name that has the endorsement of numerous well known Essex based rods including Lee Merritt, Rob Marsh and some bloke called Derek “The Don” Ritchie.

‘Southern Specials’ as they are lovingly known are a range of products that have been put together by well known Essex based rod Gary “Milky” Lowe. Over the past several months this range of quality baits has established a cult following in the Home Counties by putting large numbers of big fish on the bank. The basic idea behind the southern Specials is to offer anglers baits made using popular Mainline base mixes and flavours but incorporating different colours and flavours to fool fish that have learned to associate standard Mainline baits with danger.

So after a few phone calls (five in fact) we finally convinced Milky to part with some of his precious products and send them to the UKMA office for us to have a play around with out on the bank. The first package that arrived in the UKMA office contained a selection of pop ups in round and barrel (dumbbell) formats. To keep things simple, both ranges of pop ups are available in four fluro colours and flavours  that have been named after what can only be described as various forms of medicinal foliage found in the Caribbean, so I have been informed. 

You have the White Widow which has a very mellow creamy aroma that because of its plain white appearance, I would describe as being more of a visual than fragrant bait option. At the other end of the spectrum you have the Orange Bud (fluro orange), these scream colour and ooze a strong citrus aroma that fish will definitely notice. Next up is the Yellow Haze that is fluro yellow with a mellow banana flavour and to complete the quartet you have the fluro pink in colour Pink Panther that are either plum or mulberry in flavour and my personal favourites.   

Final Thoughts

These well rolled 12mm Pop Ups and Dumbells (12 x 16mm) have really made a name for themselves in there carping homeland of Essex and have attracted the support of some of the carp worlds biggest anglers (no pun intended Rob & Lee) They sell for £5.99 for the Pop Ups and you get around 90 baits per tub on average. The Dumbells sell for £6.50 and there are 75 baits per pot.

For full product range information and availability;
Please call Hooked Carp Tackle on 01268 793346 and ask for Milky or simply click on the link below.