Method Feeder

Guide
Everything you need to know about fishing
the method feeder for carp.

BEST OF ANGLING FREE GUIDEBOOK | NO. 01

 CONTENTS

What are Method Feeders? ................................ 1

Tying a Method Feeder Rig ............................... 2-3
Preparing Feeder Mix ................................ 4-5
Best Hookbaits to Use ................................ 6-7
Fishing the Method Feeder ................................. 8-12
 WHAT ARE METHOD FEEDERS?

The Method Feeder

This fishing technique sprung into action in around the 1900s so is
still very much a new and modern way of catching carp. In most cases
it can completely blow the more traditional carp fishing methods out
of the water.
The method feeder is used for sinking balls of ground-bait or micro-
pellets with your hook-bait to the lake bed.

How it Works
The method is used to target bottom feeding carp and help attract
hungry fish into your swim and keep them there.
When your feeder reaches the bottom your
pellet or ground-bait mix should start to
break away from your feeder and present
your hook bait perfectly on top of this
mixture.
In an ideal scenario the carp will congregate
in this area feeding on this mixture and more
often than not your hook bait should stand
out among the mixture and be taken by a
hungry fish.

Banjo Feeder
Banjo feeders are less common and used slightly different in the
sense that they allow anglers to change the size and weight of feeder
Flat Bottom Feeder easily without disassemble of the full rig.
The stem remains mixed to the line and the feeder can be pulled off
and new size or weight reattached with ease.
Flat bottom feeders like the one at above
are the most common. While using banjo feeders your rig can also be left set up in transit
They are weighted on the bottom so they lie and the chances of any damage to your rod blank are highly reduced.
flat on the lake bed with the bait facing up.
They nearly always come with a mould to
pack the perfect amount of method mix
around the feeder.

Page 1
 Setting up a
Method
Feeder Rig

Intro
Everyone carp angler should know how to set up a method feeder rig with no excuse. There is no denying that using a method
feeder rig is one of the best way to catch carp at commercial fisheries no matter what time of year it is.
Setting up a method feeder is actually extremely easy and could set you up for some exciting sessions on the bank.
I’m sure you’ll have no issue setting up your rig in minutes after reading this section.

What you'll need

Before you start setting up a method feeder rig you're going to need to get a
hold of a few basic components which will make it whole lot easier. This is
what you'll need;
Method Feeders and Mould
Quick Change Bead
Swivel
Bait Needle
Pre Tied Hair Rigs

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

Feed your main line through the centre Now you are ready to tie on your quick Now what you want to do is take the
of your feeder with the flimsy tube like change bead. Separate the two bottom section and thread it through the
section at the top as shown in the sections and feed the top "bulb like" small hole and tie the bottom section
picture above section onto your main line under your onto your main line using an “improved
method feeder. clinch knot”
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 Setting Up a
Method
Feeder Rig 2

Step 4 Step 5

Slide the pre-tied hair rig loop over the The hookbaits you can use with a hair rig and method feeder are rather broad but i've
end of the quick change bead and then shown two of the most common above. To attatch them slide the plastic stopper on top
push the other half back over the top to of your bait needle and then push it through the sweetcorn, micropellet or other bait.
fix the hair rig in place.

Step 6 Hookbaits
As I said previously the hookbaits you can use
is quite broad. If you are opting for a hair rig on
your rig (which you definitely should) near
enough all conventional carp fishing baits can
be used. These include but are not limited to;
Boilies
Pellets
Pop ups
Sweetcorn
The final step is to pull the plastic Tiger Nuts
stopper off the bait needle and secure Worms
your bait on the hair rig. Maggots

Page 3
 Preparing
Feeder
Micro Mix
Pellets

Intro
The next step in learning how to fish the method feeder is making sure you have the perfect method mix. This is the loose feed
bait that will mould around your feeder which will most commonly be micro pellets, groundbait or sometimes a mixtures of both.
This mix has to be prepared perfectly to ensure you are fishing as effectively as possible. If it is too wet the bait will be too sticky
and not break away from the feeder as it reaches the lake bed. On the other hand, if it is too dry it can break away mid cast or
when your feeder hits the water. This is what you want to avoid! Don't worry you'll learn how to mix perfect pellets if you read on.

Mixing Micro Pellets

When you’re fishing for carp with the method feeder I believe micro pellet’s are single handedly the best bait of choice for your
feed mix. No matter the time of year carp just cant seem to avoid them. I usually opt for 4mm pellet’s but 2mm would work just
fine as well. What colour of micro pellet’s you use really seems to have an effect how much you catch on a session. In the colder
months, if the water is clear, I’d advise opting for bright colours like a tempting neon orange to give the lethargic carp something
to hone in on. In the warmer months opt for darker colours like red which creates a good outline in the murkier water to tempt the
carp. The first thing I do when I arrive at the water is start to mix my micro pellet’s. This gives them time to fully prepare when
you’re are setting up the rest of the tackle so as soon as you finish you can jump right into fishing.

Step 1
Fill a bait box, that has holes in the top, with the amount of micro pellet’s you think you
will use in your session. Usually I will mix up half a bag of pellets to get me started for the
day. This means that the same batch of pellets is not used throughout the day if you are
planning a prolonged session. If the same batch is used throughout the day they may
begin to dry out and become less effective towards the end of your session so i would
recommend mixing a few batches throughout the session. Cover the pellets with water
from the venue you are fishing and then clip the lid back on tightly.

Step 2
You should then leave the mixture for 2 -4 minutes. This is dictated by the size of micro
pellet you are using. If you are using 2mm pellets leave it for 2 minutes and 4 minutes if
you are using 4mm pellets. After this time, turn the box over and shake out all the water
through the small holes on the top of your bait box. Make sure no or very little water is
coming out of the holes and then turn the box upside down and leave it sitting on the
ground. Leave the mix to soak and continue setting up the rest of your tackle.

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 Preparing
Feeder Mix 2

Step 3
After waiting around 15-20 minutes (not far off the time it will take to set up your tackle
so mix your pellets first) they should be ready. As I said before, testing your micro pellets
is required to make sure they are just right or they could negatively impact your fishing.
First mould a ball of feed around your feeder as shown in the picture and drop it into the
margins. If the pellet's disintegrate immediately then it is too dry. If they don't start to
break away from the feeder after around 2-3 minutes they are too wet.
If they are too dry add a little water, wait 2 or 4 minutes depending on pellet size, drain
through the holes on the bait box and wait a further ten minutes and try again. If your mix
is too wet add a little groundbait to dry up the mixture. Only add a little at a time to ensure
you don't make it too dry!
Mixing Groundbait
If you prefer using groundbait or micro pellets just don't seem to be getting the attraction you need on a certain session then a
switch to groundbait could make a difference. Throughout the year micro pellets as feeder mix will be the most productive
especially in the winter, but if it just doesn't seem to be working then I'll show you how to mix up some perfect groundbait as well
so you can give it a go;

Step 1
When mixing the perfect groundbait make sure you use a large bucket so you can get your
hands in to give it a good mix. A large bucket allows you to mix enough to make sure all the
corners are mixed in evenly and the water is distributed throughout. The first step is to
pour about half a bag into your large bucket. I would advise not mixing a full bag at once as
you risk the mix trying out during the session before it is used. Next take a small
container or bait box and scoop some water out of venue you are fishing. Add little bits of
water (really not a lot at all) at a time and mix vigorously with your hands. Add water until
the mix binds together when you squeeze and breaks back down easily when you then
push your hands into it.

Step 2
Leave the mix for around 15 minutes and then come back to test the bait as it will most
likely have dried out significantly. What you squeeze a ball together it will probably not
form into a ball so add a little more water and mix vigourosly again. Squeeze the mix into a
mix again to check the consistency. To test if the mix is perfect you should be able to
break this ball in half without the two sides falling apart easily. Once you have made it the
this stage use a groundbait riddle like the one in the picture to the left to run the
groundbait through for consistency and to break up any lumps.

Page 5
 BEST HOOKBAITS FOR THE METHOD FEEDER

Intro
Within this section I'm going to give you a description of the best
baits you can use as hookbaits while method feeder fishing and
basically any other method of carp fishing.
Let's be honest here, all the baits that tackle shops stock will catch
carp if your fishing is right but with that being said there is definitely
clear winners in the bunch.

Sweetcorn
If you've been into carp fishing for a while I'm sure
you will know that sweetcorn can be an absolute
game changer when it comes to getting carp to pick
up your hook bait. Sweetcorn is one of the most
basic but most versatile carp baits.
But why is sweetcorn so good? Well I'm sure we'd all
agree that the bright yellow colour of sweetcorn will
stand out like a beacon in even the murkiest of
waters.
It can be used effectively hair rigged as a hook bait
Pop Ups
and even mixed in with loose feed such as Pop ups are basically boilies that float up off the bottom hence the
groundbait and micro pellets for baiting up swims or name. Pop ups are also great in certain situations and especially
even moulded around a method feeder it really is a come into play when you are fishing weedy bottomed lakes.
great all-rounder and that is why it features at the The fluorescent colour of most pop ups acts as a beacon in the water
top of this list. to gain the carps interest and as it sits off the bottom the fish will
find it hard to miss.
Sweetcorn is not only good at visually attracting
carp the sugar and salt added to tinned sweetcorn
are both excellent at attracting carp.
Sweetcorn is also naturally full of amino which are
proven, through various studies, to be highly
attractive to carp and actually stimulate feeding.
If you are opting for tinned sweetcorn make sure and
opt for the variety with full sugar and salt content as
nowadays there are few that take these additives
out.
Pop ups are packed with flavours that along with their bright colour
seems to make them irresistible to carp so they definitely deserve
there place on this list of the best carp baits.
In my previous experience single pop ups fished without any loose
feed around them can still catch you many fish.
This can save you quite a bit of money as you don't need to buy
pellets or groundbait to attract the carp in the swim. Don't get me
wrong though fishing a pop up with loose feed in theory should
catch you more fish.

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 BEST HOOKBAITS FOR THE METHOD FEEDER

Boilies
Boilies are small balls of bait formed from boiling a
paste mixture, hence the name boilie.
Boilies are one of the most used baits and you'll find
large selections of them in tackle shops and online
with varying flavours colours and sizes.
There's a lot of factors that will decide what boilie
you should opt for some of which are size of fish you
are targeting, clarity of water, time of year and
Pellets
Pellets and boilies are sometime classed as being similar but this is not
angling pressure on the water you are fishing. really the case. One massive difference between boilies and pellets is in
the way that they break down in the water. Boilies will stay intact for a
Boilies are great to use as a hook bait as they don't much greater time than pellets.
break up in the water and can stay on a hair rig for
hours at a time. Pellets will become soft and mushy over time and will eventually break up
altogether so they are basically just compressed groundbait.
Boilies are packed with ingredients that attract carp
such as fishmeal, which work great in the spring
summer and autumn when carp are feeding heavily,
and amino acids which are proven to stimulate carp
feeding so no wonder they seem to love them.
Boilies usually range from 8mm all the way up to
around 25mm and there's a few things to consider
when choosing what size of boilie to buy. Pellets work great in the summer months due to their high oil content
Just because you are using a small boilie does not which is great at attracting hungry fish.They are also packed with protein
mean you're not going to catch the biggest fish in the so once the carp start feeding on the pellets in your swim they will find it
lake but you should still be conscious of what size hard to stop.
you are using to give yourself the best possible
chance. Yep this means more fish to catch, that's what we all want right? Just like
boilies they come in varying colours and flavours depending on your
When fishing with a boilie as hook bait you'll want to personal preference.
make sure your rig is balanced. Well if you rig a large
boilie on a size 10 hook then your bait will not be Most pellets for hook baits come in "meaty" flavours and many anglers
presented well at all. believe these flavours work best in the summer months but to be honest
you will find they work all year round just make sure and scale down during
Its good practice to match a 10 or 12mm boilie to a the winter months and don't over feed your swim as the carp will be less
size 10 hook and if you are bringing out the large 18 active.
or 22mm boilies then a size 6 will do just fine.
One of the great advantages of pellets is also one of their disadvantages
and this is how they break down in the water.
As loose feed pellets are great as they break down and work like
groundbait but if you are planning to use them as a hook bait this can
become a nuisance as you will need to change your bait regularly when
they become mushy.
Many other fish seem to take a fancy to pellets so if you are purely looking
to catch carp then a boilie will be best suited but that's not to say other
fish wont go for a boilie either on odd occasions.

Page 7
Fishing the
Method
Feeder
Now that you know how to set up a method feeder rig, mix your feeder mix to
perfection and select the best hookbaits for catching more fish you're probably
wondering how to actually fish the method feeder. Don't worry I've got you
covered. 
The first step in fishing the method feeder effectively is making sure you're
fishing the right spot on the venue in the first place.
If you are casting to an area with not a carp in sight how do you expect to attract
the near by carp into your swim?
Luckily there's things you can look out for on a lake to give yourself the best
chance of finding and casting to the hungry carp

FINDING THE BEST SWIM AND PEG

A swim is basically just the small area of water you plan on fishing and the peg is
point on the bank you will be fishing from.
When choosing a swim and peg to fish there will be certain areas that will stand
out as being more likely to have fish and some areas that don't look as good.
These swims and pegs can vary throughout the year but as a general rule of
thumb carp are often found near "features" on the water.
Features are places on the lake where the carp feel safe sticking close to. You'll
find an example of features below;
Reed beds
The margins
Overhanging trees
Islands
Lilly pads
In the summer on warm days carp are quite often found in shallower water but in
the winter months the chances are the fish will be in the deepest part of the lake.
When selecting a peg you should be looking for somewhere that is within easy
casting distance to your chosen swim and with a clear area in front of you.
If you choose a swim with a lot of weeds or reeds around you the fish can run into
these areas and get caught making them near impossible to catch.
When fishing a new swim as a beginner I would take some time to speak to the
owners and more knowledgable members fishing to get an idea of the best pegs
and swims to fish.

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Fishing the
Method
Feeder
CASTING A METHOD FEEDER

Casting a method feeder can be quite tricky as you should be casting to the same
swim every cast but there is a few simple steps you can follow that will help you
perfect your cast through practice. By Using these tips your casting should
improve rapidly
1. Correct Amount of Line Between Rod Tip and Feeder
It is recommended to keep the line distance from rod tip to feeder around 4 ft.
If the line is too short between these points then the chances are you’re not
going to get enough force to cast the feeder large distances.
This 4ft of line will also help to compress the rod through the cast and will help to
catapult your feeder further into the water.
If the distance is much long than this you risk touching the ground the cast,
tangling line on things around you and generally the cast will be a lot harder to
control with so much loose line behind you.
2. Use Both Hands
Too many people tend to cast with one hand over the reel and cast with more of a
flick of the wrist.
Don’t get me wrong this is perfectly fine if you are fishing close margins or
features that don’t require a lot of distance but when trying to cast distances
this should definitely be avoided.
By using two hands to grasp the rod, one hand above the reel and one at the end
the rod butt you apply a lot more force to the cast.
By pulling with your bottom hand much more speed is created through the rod
that results in your feeder moving at a much faster rate that should result in
further casts.

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Fishing the
Method
Feeder
3. Stand Straight
More often than not at your average fishing venue across the UK cast distances
will not need to be anything too severe.
In the odd case you are fishing a large open body of water that required casts
over 40-50 ft then this simple step can really make a difference.
By standing up straight you can really put a lot more effort into your cast.
For these long casts you’ll want your hands right above and over your head so
standing up will give you enough clearance from your feeder to the ground.
By standing up you can also put the weight of your body into the cast which can
have a massive affect on distance.
4. Point the Rod Tip
By paying attention to where you rod tip ends up through the cast you should
start to see a large difference in accuracy.
When you cast your feeder should land near enough in line with your rod tip so
make sure you keep your rod through a straight line through the cast.
By looking at the spot you want to cast too through the cast and concentrating
on keeping your rod on a straight path you can ensure your casts will be a lot
more accurate.
5. Release at the Right Time
To make the optimum cast you must release the line at the correct point through
the cast every time.
Alot of people have no real idea where the best place to release the line is but
after some practice it’s not too difficult at all.You should aim to be releasing the
line just before the rod comes directly above your head.
If you imagine the point above your head being 12 o’clock you should be releasing
the line when the rod tip is at around 11 o’clock.
If you release the feeder too early it will travel higher into the air and travel less
distance.
If you release too late the feeder will travel downwards into the water not far
from the bank.

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Fishing the
Method
Feeder
6. Line Clip
By getting to know how to use the line clip on your reel you can guarantee
accurate cast distances every cast.
Unfortunately the other steps will be needed to ensure you hit the same swim
every time but at least the line clip will guarantee you are at the right distance
every time.
You should set your line clip before you fill your feeder with any mix and without a
hook bait to avoid spreading feed across the full lake which could occupy the carp
away from your swim.
If you are casting to open water you can cast to your chosen swim and then
simply put the line under your clip.
Every time you now cast the line will never travel past the clip so you will always
be casting the correct distance.
Be careful though, you should not be bashing line off the clip every cast as this
can weaken the line or even break it off completely.
Also, when casting into open water and clipping up you risk large fish taking your
bait and running past the line clip which can also snap your line easily.
Due to this I usually tend to only use the line clip when fishing close to islands or
features.
This means even if I hook into a large fish it is unlikely it will be able to run further
than the line clip.
To clip up close to a feature once again cast without any feed or hook bait. I will
usually cast a few feet short and then unwind a few turns of line with my hands
and then clip up.
I will then cast to the clip and to see how close I am to the feature
.I will then repeat this step until I’ve reached the desired spot and then you’re
ready to fish.

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Fishing the
Method
Feeder
7. Rod Type
What type of rod you are using will also have an impact on your cast
distances.Longer rods will allow for more force through the cast and will add in
propelling your feeder further.
If you plan on fishing large open bodies of water then aim for a longer rod of
around 13ft.
On the other hand if you want to cast short distances accurately then a shorter
rod is adequate.
Also, what “action” your rod is rated at will have an impact on casting accuracy
and distance.
Fast action rods will bend the least and are excellent at casting large distances.
Middle to tip rods are most suited to casting mid range distances and provide the
opportunity to cast fairly far with plenty of bend in the rod when fighting fish at
close distances.
Through action rods bend all the way to the rod handle and are usually only used
for casting short distances with light feeders.

LINE BITES

Line bites are indications on your feeder rod that might look like real bites
which can cause striking at a fish that doesn’t actually have your bait in its
mouth.Lines bites are when a carp or other fish touch your line which will
cause your rod tip to bounce or twitch which to a lot of new carp anglers can
look like a fish taking your bait.
When this is the case don’t get overly excited and pick up your rod as this will
most likely scare the fish out of your swim and you will end up back at square
one.Instead, watch closely and wait for one of these fish to pick up your bait
and run. This will mean your rod tip will bend dramatically and you’ll know
without a doubt you have a fish on.
Line bites can be an extremely exciting indication that the fish are there and
ready to be caught.The more your rod tips moves with lines bites the chances
are the more fish are in your swim.
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Fishing the
Method
Feeder
CASTING TIME

When fishing the method feeder in the summer it is essential that you cast quite
often after around every 5-10 minutes to ensure your swim is full of free bait to
attract the carp into your swim and keep them there.
There is no point in moulding feed around your feeder, casting it out and then
leaving it until you catch a fish.
After around 5 casts i will leave the rod out for around 15 minutes until the fish
start to arrive.
After this time you should hopefully be starting to catch and you shouldn't worry
too much about timing your casts unless of course its been out for a prolonged
period of time I would reel in, check baits and re cast.
If after an hour or two I have had 0 bites I will consider changing swim and repeat
the process again to bait up this new swim properly.
In the winter this can be very different and you might find yourself casting in
different swims until you find the fish.
The fish will commonly group up in sheltered areas during the winter but as they
are cold bloodies their metabolisms slow down in colder water and they don't feed
heavily.
Due to this, I would advise using fine groundbait to attract the fish and not feed
them. This means if they come into your swim the only thing available to eat is
your hookbait.
I prefer to cast around the lake after every 10 to 15 minutes until i find the fish.
Once I have found them, after catching a fish or line bites, I know i can fish this
swim for a while knowing the carp are in the area.

Page 12
Thanks for reading!

I hope this small

guide will aid you in
catching fish on the
method feeder.

Keep an eye out for the next free guide!