TOP TRICKS TO TRY

ALWAYS USE A METHOD MOULD This little gadget ensures that filling the feeder is easy. Start by filling the mould with your pellet mix, then drop your baited hook on top of the feed. Turn the feeder over and press it hard into the mould to seal the hookbait and pellets on to the feeder.

Remove the feeder and give it a quick squeeze to ensure the baits stay on during the cast.

GO HEAVIER Generally, the heavier the better, as this increases the bolt-effect of the rig, ensuring more fish hook themselves.

A heavier feeder will go further on the cast and stays put when cast on to far bank slopes. You don’t want the feeder to move or slip down the slope, as this can mean your hookbait isn’t in the same place as your feed.

CAST REGULARLY Look to cast every 3-5 minutes to get some bait down. Then, when the carp turn up, you can hold them in the swim for longer. In summer, if you’ve not had a bite for 10 minutes, reel in and cast out again.

CLIP UP TO BUILD A SWIM The key to success with the Method is to build a swim up by regularly casting to the same spot. The best of way of doing this is to use the line clip on your reel’s spool to ensure you’re hitting the same spot every time.

If you’re worried about fishing for big carp using the line clip, mark the mainline before you clip it up with a line marker pen. This way, if you hook a big fish and need to unclip, you can easily get back to the same spot.

GET MORE FEED OUT There are times, usually when the fish are really having it, that you need to increase the amount of bait you feed, but without having to switch to a massive feeder.

Do this by ‘double skinning’. This basically involves loading the feeder in the normal manner and then putting a second layer of pellets on the top, using the mould again, to double the amount of pellets you put on the feeder and into the swim.

MAKE STICKY PELLETS Anglers often struggle to get their pellets right for the Method, and part of the problem is that you can’t prepare every type of pellet in the same way – some will take on more water than others.

Take a look in the carp side of your tackle shop for a bottle of Stick Mix liquid, a thick additive which will help you stick the pellets together for easy moulding around the feeder. It also gives them a great flavour boost.