How to fish the pellet cone for crucians

All-round ace Duncan Charman explains how to use the pellet cone to catch tricky specimen crucian carp that may have sussed the method feeder...

How to fish the pellet cone for crucians

by James Furness |
Published on

When asked what is the most effective method for catching crucians in the modern day most would instantly say the Method feeder.

This tactic has certainly taken crucian fishing by storm in recent years. Yet, is it the most effective rig going?

In recent years I've perfected something that I feel now out-fishes the Method feeder. That's the pellet cone, something more normally seen on commercial carp fisheries in the depths of winter.

Here's how I fish it...

FIND AN AWESOME CRUCIAN VENUE NEAR YOU TO TRY THIS METHOD IN THIS WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.

The pellet cone works wonders for crucians!

DAMPEN THE PELLETS

Mix 2mm Dynamite Baits F1 Sweet pellets by flicking water over the pellets until they’re shiny. Leave for a few minutes before repeating the process twice more.

Dynamite Baits F1 Sweet pellets are perfect for the job.

LISTEN FOR THE CRUNCH!

Compress the pellets into the cone and push a baiting needle through them to feel a ‘crunch’. This means that they are damp on the outside but still hard in the middle.

Compress the pellets.

ATTACH THE CONE

To attach the cone of pellets, push a baiting needle through the cone and then attach the loop on the end of the hooklength to the baiting needle.

Attach the hooklength.

TUCK IT IN NEATLY

Pull the hooklength through and then bury the hook point, but not the entire hook, into the pellets. This is particularly necessary in weedy or silty swims.

GET ALL THE TACKLE YOU NEED FOR FEEDER FISHING BY CHECKING OUT OUT BUYER'S GUIDES TO RODS, REELS, CHAIRS AND MORE.

Tuck it in neatly.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH

Carefully push the pellets out of the cone. You should have a perfectly formed cone of pellets that holds together on the cast. If not, chances are, the pellets haven’t been prepared properly and need some more work!

Push the cone out.

READY FOR ACTION!

Time to attach the hooklength to the Quick- Change Bead and cast out. With practice, making the cone will become as easy as putting a Method feeder ball together – and offer the fish something totally different.

Ready for action!

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