Had a good few days free this week so decided to give the grange a bash seen as though the weather was picking up and the carp would be up in the water:).
Now its by far a new method, but i like to think they come and go. You can purchase no end of different type but i prefer to make my own. All i use is a cheap cage feeder or just get some mesh and simply wedge poly into it (but no further than half way).
Something like this...
The idea i go with, is that you want the bait to stick into the feeder so your quarry basically attack it. For this by far the best base to mix with is pure brown crumb, its got a good stodgey thickness to it sticks to anything. I simply just add other items like slow sinking pellets etc. I also either match this so 3-5 reds on a hook and fish 4-5 inch deep, or simply put a floating bait on. The results vary to which bait your choose but i finds as the day goes on, better results are from a floating bait. A sinking bait in my opinions is optimized when i'm chucking to a far bank or feature.
You'll see on the picture that i have extended the feeder with groundbait and sloped it off a little. This is basically a cast aid. You will be surprised how far your can chuck one of these!
How i actually fish this method is simple, i have 2 ways. First of all, i don't watch the tip, nor do i strike when the feeder goes under or moves. I simply watch the slack line at the end of the rod or wait for my drag to go, whilst still keeping the rod at a good angle. This way, your sure to not cause any unnecessary disturbance to the water by striking constantly!
You can pretty much relax with this method.
Some good tips for this method in my opinion are;
- Use a long rod - Mainly i like using a longer rod just because it keeps the feeder up at a good angle off the survive and doesn't cause to much splash on the retrieve. (14ft)
- Light lines - You don't need massive line strengths 4lb can land pretty much anything.
- Use a stiff hook length and change it often, if you do it right, your hooks will bet batter and your line with constantly be under tension so change your links often.
- Don't feel the need to chuck in the same place all the time. Often chucking 5 ft to the left or right will land a bonus fish.
- Don't chase the fish. Don't cast to showing fish. They will come.
Nathan
@Fish4Thought.
