Method feeder fishing for carp and other coarse fish can be extremely effective in the right conditions, especially when the carp are actively feeding on the bottom.
The small plastic device allows you to mould ground bait or micro pellets around it with your hook bait on top.
If your mixture is mixed perfectly, the method feeder will sink to the bottom of the water before it starts to break away from the feeder, leaving a small pile of attractive carp bait with your hook bait on top.
Method feeder rigs are fairly straightforward to tie, and I’d say one of the most challenging steps in method feeder fishing is ensuring your method feeder mix is mixed to perfection so it reacts as it should in the water.
If mixed too dry, it will not mould and bind to the feeder correctly, which can cause your bait to break away mid-cast or just as the feeder enters the water.
If the mixture is too wet, it will not break away from your feeder once it is rested on the bottom effectively and your hook bait will stay stuck within the mixture, making it far more difficult for the carp to feed on.
So, how do you make the perfect method feeder mix?
How do you make the perfect method feeder mix?
In this post, I will focus purely on how to mix your method feeder mix and not so much on the fishing and tying of the method feeder rig.
If that is something you’re looking for, then I’ve already written posts on this that you can read at by clicking the links below:
Typically, method feeder mix is mixed with either groundbait or micro pellets of various sizes but some anglers will add some extra ingredients to their mixtures to increase attraction.
First of all, I’ll explain how to mix the perfect base mixture and then I’ll provide some information on some other bait you can sprinkle through the mixture that can help encourage the carp to feed comfortably.
Micro-Pellets
Micro pellets have become increasingly popular for method feeder fishing with many anglers making the switch from groundbait to use 2,4 or even 6mm pellets depending on the size of feeder you’re using and the type and size of the fish you’re targeting.
Generally speaking, micro pellets seem to work better than groundbait in colder weather as they create small tight piles of bait instead of clouds in the water.
It is recommended that you always carry both micro pellets and groundbait as if one if not working, the other might do the trick.
Micro pellets can take a while to soften and mix perfectly, so mixing is always one of the first things I do when I arrive at the banks.
You’ll need a large bait tub with holes on the lid that are usually used to allow air into the container when maggots or live worms are stored within.
Let’s get into the steps needed.
- Pour your micro pellets into your large bait box. How much you pour in will depend on how long you plan to fish and also how often you plan to cast and bait up your swim. The process is generally the same, no matter what quantity of pellets you mix.
- Now, pour water from the lake into the bait box until the pellets are completely covered.
- You should then time how long you leave the water in the box, if you’re using 2mm pellets, then leave the water in for 2 minutes, and if you’re using 4mm pellets, leave them soaking for 4 minutes.
- Put the lid on the box, turn it upside down and shake all of the water out of the bait box through the holes in the top of the lid.
- Place the box upside down and leave it for around 15-20 minutes.
Groundbait
The steps involved in mixing groundbait are fairly similar, and you’re going to need to let it soak for a while before it’s ready to be fished with so you should also start this as soon as you arrive at the venue.
It can even be beneficial to leave the groundbait for as long as an hour before it is fully ready to be fished with. This will ensure the groundbait is not still drying out as you’re fishing which can mean it can become too dry and break away from the feeder during the cast or as soon as it hits the water.
The following video will detail the steps you need to take to mix the perfect groundbait every time.
You’ll need a sieve and a few buckets for mixing your groundbait.
He mixes a few different types of groundbait together for making the groundbait in the video, but this is not something you need to do and mixing all types of groundbait should be roughly the same.
- Pour the dry groundbait into a bucket.
- Start adding in water from the lake in small quantities, mixing thoroughly, and making sure you get into the edges of the bucket where the groundbait can stick. You should add water and mix to a consistency that may feel a little too wet.
- At this stage, when you squeeze a handful of groundbait, it should squeeze through your fingers.
- Once you get to this stage, leave the groundbait to sit for around 30 minutes, and it will begin to dry out. it should now feel dryer and have more of a fluffy texture.
- The groundbait will likely be lumpy, so you should run this through the sieve to break it up and make it even.
That’s All
Mixing groundbait or micro pellet mixes shouldn’t be overly complicated, but if the mixture is too wet or too dry, it can have a massive impact on how successfully you will fish.
If your mixture is too wet, it won’t break away effectively at the bottom and may conceal your hook bait, making catching any fish near impossible.
Also, if the bait is too dry, it will break away during the cast or as soon as the feeder hits the water, so you won’t benefit from your mound of free bait on the bottom to attract fish into your swim.
The steps outlined in this post should be easy enough to follow and ensure your method feeder mixture is perfect every time.
If you have any questions, drop a comment below, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
