With the arrival of spring it’s important not to get too carried away by the slight uptick in temperatures, because carp will emerge from their hibernation relatively slowly, as opposed to racing out of the blocks. A Method feeder is ideal for introducing the bait you require, but Jamie Hughes is a firm believer that how you fish at the start of the session right now should be very different to how you finish it.
"A day on the bank is almost like two different sessions at this stage,” explained Jamie.
“The day will start quite cold, and the fish will be cagey, but the water temperature will pick up a degree or two by midday once the sun has been out, and that slight change will often be the catalyst for them to start to have a proper munch."
THE BEST SHORT FEEDER RODS ARE PERFECT FOR THIS STYLE OF FISHING.
Pick the perfect mix
I’m a big believer in using a blend of groundbait and micro pellets on the frame of the feeder in spring. Groundbait provides lots of attraction, and releases a bit of a cloud into the water, while the pellets provide a limited source of ‘proper’ food. My favourite mix for the Method isSonuBaits F1 Original, but it needs to be mixed in a certain way to obtain the perfect consistency.
I’ll pour a third of a bag into a bucket and add plenty of water so that it is on the verge of becoming a slop. I’ll leave it to stand for 20 minutes, run it through a riddle, and it’ll then be ready for use.
It’ll still be quite dry, but sticky enough to cling to the feeder’s frame on the cast, before breaking down quite quickly once it’s on the lakebed. I don’t anticipate the carp being particularly hungry at the start, so I’ll kick off with a 70/30 ratio of groundbait to micros. This leaves minimal bait in the swim and prevents overfeeding the handful of carp that may have shown an interest.
TRY ONE OF THESE EXCELLENT VENUES TO CATCH YOURSELF SOME BIG CARP.
Rely on robust tackle
Any features in front of you should be the focus of your attack. The cover provided by overhanging trees and other vegetation is appealing, as is the shallower water in such spots, because it warms up quickly.
A hooked fish is going to bolt off quickly, and you’ll need to stop it in its tracks to prevent it from snagging you up. I’ll use either6lb or 8lb mono mainline to a 4ins hooklength of 0.18mm mono and a strong size 12 or 14 hook.
A small 25g Matrix Alloy Open Feeder is my starting point, as this carries a similar quantity of bait to what you’d introduce with a small cup if you were pole fishing.
IF YOU NEED MORE TIPS FOR METHOD FEEDER FISHING, CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE.
Try a 'tiddler proof" hookbait
Carp are my main target on the Method, but I don’t mind catching other species early on. Quality skimmers, F1s and other big silverfish will put a bend in the rod and add to the enjoyment of the day.
What I don’t want is to be casting 30m and having a small roach take the bait each time! With all of the above in mind, I use a semi-selective hookbait that any fish weighing from 10oz upwards can, and will, eat.
Sonubaits Micro Band’Um Wafters are perfect when banded, as they are small but hard. Unlike maggots, I don’t have to worry about them kicking over the hookpoint either, and if bites dry up, I’ll simply switch to a different colour to try and get the next run of action.
SETUP CORRECTLY WHEN YOU ARE FEEDER FISHING AND YOU WILL CATCH MORE FISH!
Extend your casting times
Right now, noise can still have a detrimental effect on your results, especially early in the day. When the fish are huddled up in a ball because the water is still a little chilly, they don’t want disturbing so, to keep the swim as quiet as possible, I’ll leave the feeder in for eight to 10 minutes at a time early on in the day. Once the water warms up and they start to compete for the bait, it can pay to speed things up and cast a little more frequently.
Drop your wait times down to between four and six minutes once you get into the second half of the day, and suddenly the noise can actually work as an attractant.
USING ONE OF THE BEST METHOD FEEDER REELS WILL HELP YOU WIND CARP IN WITH EASE!
Vary your bait ratios
I expect the fish to be a lot more active in the second half of the session, and that leads to me making changes on the bait front. My 70/30 ratio of groundbait to micros will change to at least a 50/50 mix of the pair, or even 70/30 in favour of the micros.
The reason is that I now want to leave some bait in my peg after I’ve hooked a carp. Early in the session I want them to hoover everything up to prevent overfeeding, but now that they are being more competitive, I want to give them a reason to stay put while I am playing a fish.
This can lead to a bite within a minute of the next cast touching down, because the fish are already over the target zone and grubbing around.
The best way to work out if you have the ratio correct is to watch the rod-tip. If you get no liners and just proper bites, you have got it right. This means the fish aren’t dithering about and are instead diving straight in to feed, because they’re finding the blend of free offerings irresistible.
