Personally I have never been totally sold on the lift method. My favorite tench set up, distance allowing, was a very small crow quill. This very delicate set up trasmitted every flick of the line quite drmatically. A most exiting way to fish, but you have to sit on your hands a little bit. Laying on about three or four inches this set up will out fish the lift method, which requires the fish to be feeding quite strongly to work to its full effect.
Baits to catch bigger fish? The only true way to be selective is to fish bigger, harder baits. That said I have caught roach on 18mm boilies.
This may be not very helpfull but if you are catching a lot of tiny fish maybe a change of venue, not bait, is required.