Tommy Pickering

shows you how to hold your pole and feed at the same time

THE fish have started to have a real go on a lot of the waters I fish, and so I’ve started to feed with a catapult a lot more.

One of the biggest benefits of feeding this way is the noise that is creates. Carp and F1s associate that commotion with food entering the water, and as a result will be attracted into your swim by it.

But accuracy is still very important – this week I show you how to catapult pellets into the same spot every single time. THE positioning of the bait box from which you are taking feed is very important. It needs to be located on your bait tray in a place where you can reach into it and pick out a few pellets without looking.

If your bait tray is on the left side of your box, the best spot to put your tub is in the top right-hand corner of it.

Your hand will naturally wander to this area, and you’ll be able to pick up the quantity of pellets you need while still looking at your float.

WHILE still looking at your float, fill the pouch of the catapult with the required loading of pellets. I use a Preston Innovations PelletPult as the flat-bottomed pouch makes sure the feed is all tightly packed together. BY this stage you still haven’t taken your eyes off the float. To gain pinpoint accuracy, line the catapult elastic up along your pole. If it is lined up even a fraction to the left or right, your bait will miss your target zone. Release the pouch and note how far back you stretched the elastic. If the feed goes right over the float, pull it back the same distance next time. If it falls short, extend it slightly further and if it goes too far, reduce the tension next time.

“A flat-bottomed pouch makes sure the feed is all tightly packed together”