Whether you’re a pleasure or a match angler, there’s nothing much to beat watching the tip arc round from an angry carp hooked on the Method feeder!
It’s such a straightforward tactic that has caught thousands of fish but, as with all things, after a while the fish become trickier to catch using it. That means the technique needs to evolve to still be effective.
Fishing a lot of feeder-only matches, I have to try and find ways to get an edge with the Method feeder – not only over the fish, but the other anglers I’m competing against.
One trick that has been really good in the past few years has been using a big baiting-up or ‘bosher’ feeder to introduce bigger baits into the swim aggressively and accurately over where you intend to fish.
Here's how I do it...
Choose your weapon!
Getting the right feeder is essential. The bait-up feeders I use are wire mesh open-end style, but with additional meshing across the top.
Give them a pellet mix
If I could choose one bait it would be hard pellets. I often combine 4mm, 6mm and 8mm sizes in a tub as I like the variety this offers the fish.
Kick things off
I like to introduce two to three feederfuls of the hard pellet mix, although on hot, calm days I’ll rein it back, maybe introducing only one feederful.
Vary the hookbaits
My hookbait is a 6mm or 8mm hard pellet, to match what I’m feeding, but if you’re putting corn or meat in your feed you can try these as a change bait.
Tackle up strong!
Scaling down hooks and line is false economy. My Method feeder hooklengths use a size 16 or 14 KKM-B eyed hook to 4ins of 0.17mm Powerline.
Pick your method
On soft, silty, open water style pegs I prefer the bigger, flatter style Method feeder, but smaller, heavier models are brilliant for casting to islands.
