I ordered some commercial pop-ups after determining that they were a missing element from my setup, but...

I have been playing around with some wax items and discovered wax functions very nicely as a pop-up. I know it's a long shot, but has anyone ever taken a vanilla bean or lemon sugar cookie candle and made homemade pop-ups? :P

I molded some from some cheese wax and tested them in my goldfish lab. They LOVED it and went after it multiple times.

I may be way off, but I would think that something like wax or similar products would not break down inside the fish if they eat it. I know some pretty strange things have been used as pop-ups, small cork balls etc.

If you're using a dough bait, you can buy cork balls from a hobby store and mold the dough around them. That'll function as a popup, and even if something nibbles off the dough you're still fishing something. Don't knock just the cork, though. I know of a few guys who catch on a red bead over a bed of pack. If you're making your own boilies you can also find cork dust at a hobby store that you can add to your mix to turn it into a popup or wafter.

TX, you are right. I will amend my post by saying that there a lot of artificial baits out there including fake corn and as you have mentioned beads.

https://www.bigcarptackle.com/ambush-sweet-corn.html?category_id=3

https://www.bigcarptackle.com/enter...ted-fin-classic-corn.html?category_id=12

That first kind of fake corn doesn't float but it's still a killer bait! If you want some imitation popups these are what I use:

Enterprise Immortal Boilies

Enterprise Popup Sweetcorn

Yep, I did order some scented Korda fake corn pop-ups as well as some Frank Warwick 10mm pop-ups. Those will serve as my control in any experimentation. I figured if a carp can eat those (though I understand that is not the intent), wax won't hurt them.

I just enjoy making stuff and trying new things. That probably plays a large roll in my struggles to establish a workable approach, but I'm having fun.

Also got the Bait Bible thrown in to see what's in there. I am slowly conforming.

Carp fishing has been refined over the years, if you really want to experiment then do it with buffalo!