More than enough bait here for a session
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Most of us know how to fish the method, just bung a pop-up on a hair rig, slap a load of soaked pellets on a feeder, whack it out and wait for it to scream off. Perfect for bashing out the little 'uns. But with a little thought you can improve your results…..and maybe net the odd bigger carp as well.
The Mix
Most of the people I see seem to use soaked pellets on the feeder. Nothing wrong with that, but is it the best thing to use? I want to get the mix 'working' as soon as it hits the water, and sometimes the soaked pellet method can take a long time to break down (useful if casting out overnight). You can change the breakdown rate by adding one of the many proprietary groundbaits to the mix, to give it a coarser texture.
The Method Mix ready to go
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Also, by adding maggots, they can help to force the mix apart, as well as adding the obvious attraction of the maggot.
In winter I use very little pellet, as the cold water will slow the breakdown, and I also don't want too much 'food' in the mix. That's one of the reasons why I don't use Vitalin very often - undoubtedly a good attractor, but I don't want to fill the fish up.
The way you mix the ingredients will give different results - as many matchmen know. Make a wet mix and you'll get a lovely cloud as it goes down. Mix it dry and you'll see loads of bits 'n pieces floating up the water column. I have used a mix with a firm core and a wetter outside, but it can be a right pain to do! Don't forget the liquid attractors; liquid liver, fish oils, hemp oils, CSL, Molasses, the list is endless.
My normal mix will normally consist of the groundbait mix, a little pellet, a tin of corn, a handful of hemp, crushed boilies or tigers, and sometimes half a pint or so of maggots. A bit of everything to keep them looking.
Dave and 23lb 4oz carp caught on a stick (click for bigger picture)
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A tip if you're using hemp is to add it just before you're going to put the mix on the feeder. If you leave the hemp in the groundbait it can dry out and just end up floating out of the swim. Good to have a little bait floating up in the water column, but it's like a marker buoy to the ducks!
The Hookbait
How much thought do you put into the hookbait? I think the days of sticking a big, bright pop-up on have gone on many waters - lets face it, if they are feeding on a lump of pellet, and all of a sudden an 18mm fluorescent bait bounces into view, it's a bit obvious isn't it (and ok, it can sometimes be a good method). I think its better to have on a pellet, a single 10mm boilie, a piece of maize, maggots…. keep it discreet. If I have to use pop-ups, I tend to keep them fairly short because I don't want it wafting around 2 inches above the feeder, and use half boilies - something a bit different. Maybe even some of the method mix….
The Rig
This is one of the few times I tend to use short (less than 6 inch) hooklengths. You don't want them so long they can tangle. If I want to bury the bait, I use braid, and if I want the bait a little way from the feeder I use mono as it will fall away from the feeder. I have used long hooklengths, but I don't feel that they were a benefit. The one thing I'll say is keep it simple - 9 times out of 10 the fish will just wolf the whole lot down, making complicated rigs unnecessary.
Fishing The Method
I tend to use the method either over a bed of pellets/particles or casting at fish that are showing. After casting, I'll normally leave it about an hour before re-casting (depending on the make up of the mix) or until I feel that the chance of a fish has gone.
Normally the takes will be screamers, you just have to learn to sit on your hands. You will often get bleeps, rod tip knocking, short pulls and drop backs, which is just the fish moving the lead around. If I get a spell of this, then nothing for say 15 minutes, I'll recast as the fish has probably gone.
Watch the spots that you've cast to - you may see flat spots every now and then as the old piles of bait get disturbed. Sometimes I'll use the line clip to keep the baited area nice and tight, other times I'll vary it a little to keep the fish moving around from pile to pile. Keep them searching and keep them hungry.
A 22-pounder caught on the Method from RMC's Blue Pool
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It's not always necessary to use a Method feeder. If using a baitboat, or fishing close in, just wrap the mix around a normal lead. You'll get a much more discrete presentation this way. A little trick I use is to use a normal lead set up, but put the method mix into a PVA bag (keep it fairly dry and put a little oil in the bag first) and bury your hookbait in it, squeezing it quite hard. That way you'll get perfectly presented bait in the middle of a ball of groundbait mush - it looks a lot better than a pile of pellet (well to me anyway!).
Aren't 'Dynamite Sticks' (see link to Stuart Dennis's article 'The Bait Stick' below) just the method in miniature? I sometimes swap to these if there are fish showing over my baited area, but are being a bit spooky - especially in shallow water. You can still have the attraction of the groundbait, but without the disturbance of 8oz of bait hitting them on the head!
Before you go, make sure your tackle is up to it. A 2½ TC rod is okay for small feeders and a gentle lob, but really 3 to 3½lb is better if you've got to cast any distance. Mainline of 15lb or braid is also a must if you're not using a shockleader.
So, if you use the Method, think about what you put in it and why you use it, and if you haven't used it yet, then give it a try. Remember, it's not just a small fish method.
Cheeky Monkey 
