{"id":26020,"date":"2019-02-01T13:14:10","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T12:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/?p=26020"},"modified":"2019-01-31T15:17:45","modified_gmt":"2019-01-31T14:17:45","slug":"targeting-cold-water-carp-play-dirty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/targeting-cold-water-carp-play-dirty\/","title":{"rendered":"Targeting cold-water carp? Play dirty."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Why smarter carpers are trading solid PVA bags for messy method balls this winter…<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst Fox\u2019s excellent Rapide system has propelled solid PVA bags back into fashion \u2013 along the way, earning a place in many a carp angler\u2019s armoury – method feeder fishing remains largely overlooked by a majority of big carp hunters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which is strange, when you come to think about it. After all, both techniques are great for coping with underwater debris \u2013 protecting your rig and hook from snag-ups on weed, lily stems, rushes and the like.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both enable the use of supple, braided hooklinks \u2013 all but eliminating tangles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And both can be cast pretty well anywhere with confidence \u2013 secure in the knowledge you\u2019re fishing effectively at all times: your hookbait nestling atop the chod, amidst your freebies, and surrounded by a halo of attraction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
An example of a method feeder, courtesy of The Tackle Shed<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s as a winter tactic that \u2018the method\u2019, for me, has the edge; especially during day-only sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst bag-fishing requires you to dry your hands and rig, load your bag, miscast, curse\u2026 and start again – rinse and repeat \u2013 the feeder allows you to recast quickly, whatever the weather:  you simply mould your feed around your feeder, bury your hookbait in your groundbait ball, and let fly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which is ideal if you\u2019re casting to showing fish. Or indeed adopting a roaming approach; seeking out those notoriously tight cold-water holding spots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So: method feeder fishing is quick, easy and effective. What\u2019s not to love?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We-ell \u2013 it\u2019s also extremely messy. Which may explain its limited popularity; in particular among those inveterate \u2018tackle tarts\u2019, whose OCD demands showroom condition kit – at the expense, often, of bangers on the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because make no mistake: however stiff your groundbait mix, you will, at some point\u2026 end-up wearing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, your rod butts will become clarted with crumb – or pellet, or Vitalin (depending on your recipe of choice). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in the wake of every other cast,  you will \u2013 unless you\u2019re extremely careful – leave behind a mound of fowl-friendly tucker, sufficient to entice the lake\u2019s entire duck population into your peg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, the method has always been my go-to, well, method \u2013 having accounted for my first double-figure carp, my first 20lb carp, and indeed my first UK 30lb carp. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And countless fish since – in conditions which, I am sure, would have otherwise resulted in a big, fat duck egg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How come? Well, alongside confidence \u2013 which is key to every aspect of carp angling \u2013 the method, to my mind, is all about attraction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you choose a readymade mix, straight out of the bag, or your own recipe, your feeder begins kicking out feeding triggers throughout the water column, from the moment it hits the deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, which is best: a just-add-water groundbait, courtesy of the likes of Bait-Tech, Dynamite et al \u2013 all of which can be extremely effective – or your own personalised recipe?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well actually it\u2019s not an either \/ or situation: rather, there\u2019s nothing to stop you adding your own liquids, and other bits and pieces, to a proprietary mix. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
One of Dynamite’s offerings<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

That said, I prefer to create my own groundbait from scratch. Not least because it\u2019s invariably cheaper, based as it is around a low-cost dog \u2018muesli\u2019 called Vitalin (available in all good pet stores, natch).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vitalin can be used on its own; or you can incorporate other bits and piece, to enhance the attraction levels further still.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For my part, I\u2019ll invariably incorporate a handful of small pellets and particles (including, usually, hemp and a few grains of corn, to add a little visual attraction), crushed boilies, and often some dead maggot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Really, if the fish like it, there\u2019s no reason it can\u2019t go in; provided: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1\/ you don\u2019t overfeed the carp, at a time of year when their metabolism has slowed to a crawl. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And 2\/ the mix binds together well, making it easy to cast and ensuring it adheres to the feeder all the way to the lakebed, where it should break down at a suitable rate for the prevailing stock and conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experimentation is key.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a heavily stocked runs water, when they\u2019re really \u2018having it\u2019, a couple of minutes\u2019 breakdown time will usually suffice \u2013 in which case you might add more pellets than groundbait. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conversely, if a slower breakdown is needed, you should add more groundbait to make the mix stodgier – possibly incorporating a little molasses, which acts like \u2018method mortar\u2019, holding the mix together both on the cast and on the deck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do I achieve the same mix every time? Not even close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If I\u2019m honest, I use whatever feels right (and comes to hand); simply making up small batches as I go along, to ensure the consistency is just right before going in to \u2018full production\u2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And for the record, I prefer not to use lake water to bind my mix; rather, I tend to use coke (the beverage, that is!) which, being sweet and sticky, adds further attraction whilst improving the binding process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So: the method offers similar \u2018go anywhere\u2019 presentation to solid-bagging; it\u2019s just as easy to cast; and it\u2019s cheaper, quicker and simpler.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, whilst PVA bags are a one-shot (one-cast) deal, method feeders should – crack-offs notwithstanding \u2013 last you\u2026 well, if not a lifetime, then certainly several sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As to the feeders themselves, you have a couple of options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst the old-school trilobed feeders popularised by Fox and Korda require you simply to mould your groundbait around the feeder, ESP\u2019s oversized match-style flat feeders are used in conjunction with a \u2018mould\u2019, ensuring the shape and weight of your groundbait is identical every time (facilitating consistent casting).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, it\u2019s all about personal preference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just bear in mind, by the time the feeder is loaded, it may weight 5oz or even more \u2013 so, depending on your chosen hardware, lighter feeders nay have the edge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, a 3lbs plus test rod is preferable to take the strain of the cast, with a reasonably beefy (12lbs+) line, and possibly a leader, to match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rigs too should be strong and simple, comprising a short length\u2013 maybe four inches or so – of braid, in conjunction with a brightly-coloured wafter or pop-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This latter can be buried in the groundbait ball prior to casting, helping to eliminate tangles, and ensuring an effective presentation, irrespective of the make-up of the lakebed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apropos of which, just one note of caution: you\u2019ll want your hookbait to settle above (rather than underneath) your feeder \u2013 so try to mould more groundbait around the opposing side of the feeder from the rig (thus making that side heavier, and ensuring it hits the lakebed first).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either that, or choose a Korda BaitUp feeder<\/a>, which has one lead fin, ensuring your hookbait will land on \u2018top of the shop\u2019 every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Simples! Not unlike the method itself which, clearly, does all the stuff PVA bags do\u2026 without the ag. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So why not give it a try, this winter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make no mistake: the first time you launch one of those Barnes-Wallace style bad boys into the drink, you\u2019ll likely hear more than a few giggles from your fellow carpers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But their smirks will quickly evaporate when those bobbins start to dance \u2013 and your rod screams off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Been there. Done that. And I hugely recommend it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steve Calder<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Why smarter carpers are trading solid PVA bags for messy method balls this winter… Whilst Fox\u2019s excellent Rapide system has propelled solid PVA bags back into fashion \u2013 along the way, earning a place in many a carp angler\u2019s armoury – method feeder fishing remains largely overlooked by a majority of big carp hunters. Which […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26031,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[946,1,1113,890],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-carp-bait","category-carp-fishing-news","category-steve-calder","category-carp-tackle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26031"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.anglinglines.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}