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With the introduction of flat-bed feeders and moulds it has never been easier.
The Method feeder and mould creates a great way of presenting a hook bait surrounded by some attractive free helpings which prove irresistible to feeding carp and other species.
Method feeder fishing plays a huge role on the match circuit – it is responsible for some massive catches and some big-money wins.
With the simplicity of the mould coupled with the simple-to-attach feeders it’s a great part of a match angler’s armoury.
Fishing the Method evolved from standard open and block-end swimfeeders and was initially developed with greedy commercial carp in mind.
It has now become a highly successful approach, not just for commercial bagging style venues but also for fooling those larger lumps.
It’s also a devastating tactic for tench and bream, and even now has a place on sluggish rivers when targeting chub and barbel.
Here are our top tips, along with insight from Guru match ace Adam Rooney, on how to get the most out of Method feeder fishing.
1) Take plenty of dry ingredients so that you can mix more Method mix together if you have a bumper day on the Method feeder.
2) There are lots of additives to experiment with in your groundbait for Method feeder fishing, from nut meals such as roasted peanut and tiger nut to spices such as chilli powder.
3) Don’t add particles such as hemp or pigeon mix to Method mixes – they dry out and float.
4) If your Method feeder is being rattled around but no takes come, try changing hook baits until you find action.
5) Get into a routine of regular casting, even if a swim is quiet. Method feeder fishing is a busy tactic if you want to get the best from it.
6) Don’t worry about the splosh that a loaded feeder makes when landing; it isn’t perceived as frightening to carp in the same way that a lead crashing in puts them on edge.
7) Tucking the hook length into the Method ball so that just the bait and an inch or two of link are proud of the groundbait can win extra takes.
8) Think about where you are fishing your feeders. They can easily be rolled down steeply shelving island margins.
9) Loaded feeders flatten weed and can be fished confidently in the green stuff, where carp are less cautious.
10) Don’t forget a towel, to keep hands and rod butts from getting absolutely plastered in Method mix.
11) The trick is to present your hook bait as close to the food ball as possible to guarantee it’s in close proximity to the feeding activity. Even better is to actually push your hook bait into the ball before gently squeezing a final layer of mix.
12) Your typical Method feeder rig results in countless nods and twangs on the rod tip as grubbing fish begin to whittle away the ball of feed. Don’t strike at these knocks, instead wait for a definite positive slamming bite, or a spool churning screamer!
Adam Rooney's Method feeder fishing advice
"An important factor of Method fishing is making sure you have the right tackle to get that Method feeder to that all important spot in the lake where the fish are feeding," says Adam Rooney.
"Another tip when choosing the area you wish to fish, I always use a bomb of similar weight to a loaded Method feeder. This is so that when you cast to your clip you get the same amount of stretch in your line and get to feel the force in which you need to cast the feeder. This will help keep your feeder in a tighter area, which is essential especially when fishing to islands.
"When fishing the Method to islands I like to fish very tight to the bank. On most venues the bank is very undercut and this is where the carp will take cover and feel safe.
"It is important that once you have cast the Method to the required spot not to move it when you tighten your line up. Once I have cast, I dip the tip of my rod under the water and watch the line sink without moving the reel.
"Once it’s all sunk I leave the line quite slack as I like the line to lay flat on the bottom by the feeder to avoid as many liners and fish moving the feeder.
"At the start of a match I like to cast the Method regularly whether I’m catching or not. I do this to build the swim up with the idea that when the fish arrive they will stay because there will be plenty of food in the swim.
"I will usually cast every two minutes in the first hour of the match to achieve this. After that I will leave the Method in up to 15 minutes between casts. This way I can get an idea on how the fish are responding. For example, if I get bites very quickly after casting it shows me that the fish are feeding well and are confident to feed off the ball of food straight away.
"If it takes ten to 15 mins to get a bite it shows the fish are more shy or there are not as many fish in the swim so they don’t have to compete for the food. So waiting that extra time can result in more fish."
