Don Travers, email

QAre Method feeders worth a go in winter at day-ticket ‘runs’ waters? If so, what sort of ingredients should I pack around the feeder?

AThe Method feeder is a really underrated tactic for larger carp which, to be honest, has more to do with fishing fashion than its effectiveness. Millions of carp are caught by match anglers using this simple, precise tactic, so why not larger carp too?

Through the winter months the tight patch of bait produced by the Method feeder is ideal, attracting fish to the hookbait without overfeeding them.

I use a coarse groundbait made from crushed maize, carp pellets and grains moulded around my Method feeder in winter. This mix binds together well, but breaks down quickly - a critical factor when the water is cold. This mix, although attractive in its own right, is merely the carrier for the other goodies that I include in my mix.

As with a lot of winter baits, you can afford to increase the attraction with your Method feed as you won’t be introducing much of it. I add a tablespoonful of NashBait Squid powder to each kilo of groundbait. A similar amount of rock salt also goes into the mix. The liquid attraction is in the form of one teaspoonful of liquid betaine and two teaspoons of Cappuccino flavour.

I tend not to add too many particles to my mix, but a handful of cooked hemp and sweetcorn is the ideal complement, adding a small amount of feed to the swim that won’t fill the carp up. On the hook I use a 12mm wafter hookbait that is very easy for the carp to suck in.