Big carp on the Method

Dynamite Baits’ Steve Coe wants to put the underused and almost forgotten Method feeder firmly back on the carp-fishing map...

CARP fishing can be accused of being fashion-led. And, sadly, this is why tactics such as the Method have fallen out of vogue in recent years. But compared to techniques like PVA bag fishing, the Method offers a host of advantages. Which is precisely why I still use it a great deal on a whole range of waters. The Method is often labelled as a ‘small-fish, match tactic’. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. Last year I had a 33lb fish from this very water – Linear Fisheries B2 – and I’ve caught loads of 20lb-plus fish over the years using this so-called ‘match’ tactic!

The advantages of the Method

As a carp-catching tactic, the Method brings a lot to the party. Firstly, it creates a different presentation in the water, compared to spodding or fishing a solid PVA bag. When the payload breaks down, it creates a dinner plate of food on the lakebed, with the hookbait smack in the centre. With PVA bag fishing, the hookbait will be at the end of the loosefeed. The breakdown also completely covers the feeder, whereas with PVA bags, the lead is always visible. Secondly, when it comes to what you can use as bait, the world is your oyster, unlike with PVA, when you are limited to PVA-friendly items. As the payload is packed on to the feeder, you can use what you like when it comes to Method feeder fishing. My big thing is using wet baits, like corn, as well as loads of different liquids, to produce a huge flavour and taste trail in the water. With the Method, you can play around and adjust its breakdown time, whereas PVA will melt quicker or slower depending upon the water temperature. A further advantage is that you can cast a Method almost anywhere. As long as it is loaded so the hookbait isn’t sticking out, you can cast it into weed and it will still be presented perfectly. This makes it ideal for casting to showing fish, as you don’t always know what the lakebed is like in that area, but you can be confident of still getting a bite. The final advantage is this: if you are fishing through the night, it is so much quicker to load and recast the Method than it is to tie up a new solid PVA bag. On waters like B2, where the fish travel in shoals, the faster you can recast, the more you will catch.

Choosing feeder types

Over the years I have moved away from the traditional three-prong feeders to the larger flatbed versions. They work well for the match boys, so why not for us carpers? The trouble with the larger feeders is they are quite heavy once loaded so you have to fish at short ranges or use very heavy rods and lines. I also find flatbeds are better when fishing on the sides of bars or up to islands as they don’t move, unlike traditional feeders. To handle the rigours of casting a fully-loaded feeder I use a 13lb mainline paired with a 25ft, 30lb braided shockleader to take the sting out of the cast. The feeder I’m using today is a 100g version, although I always carry a range of sizes. I like the heavier ones as I tend to fish tight lines, so these work better for me. The hooklink is four inches of 20lb supple braid to a size 6 Wide Gape hook. My hookbait will be either a hair-rigged dumbell wafter or a kernel of fake corn. I prefer response baits like this, as fish will be looking to eat the feeder’s payload, not just the hookbait, so the hooking mechanics are greatly increased by the use of a wafting-style hookbait.