I am relativley new to carp fishing and have recently started fishing my local match lake to get some experience of playing and handling carp. I am considering using a feeder but I am not sure which is the best one suited to the lake as there are so many options.
As you can imagine, the carp are predominantly small, but there are a handful of 15lb plus carp in there too. Does anyone have any advice on how I could increase my chances of catching one of the larger carp in the lake?
Thanks in advance
As you can imagine, the carp are predominantly small, but there are a handful of 15lb plus carp in there too. Does anyone have any advice on how I could increase my chances of catching one of the larger carp in the lake?
Thanks in advance
Buy a couple of method feeders (the smaller Korda ones are decent). You'll be able to keep using them no matter what size carp you are after. Great fun slinging out big method balls for doubles.
In reply to Post #2
Will vitalin stick to a method feeder? Do I need a method feeder rod or can I just use my wychwood extricator 2.75lb tc?
Will vitalin stick to a method feeder? Do I need a method feeder rod or can I just use my wychwood extricator 2.75lb tc?
In reply to Post #1
Agree with bluebeat- lots of fun to be had on the method feeder.
I'll often fish my local small mixed water with just my feeder rod and a pint of maggots. A kamasan black cap feeder full (lots of sizes depending on how delicate you want to go) with a couple of wrigglers on a size 12 or 14 hook. I fish it free running to a hooklength of about 6 - 10 inches. Catapult a few freebies in every couple of minutes to keep the swim going and you'll get all the practice you need. Enjoy!
Agree with bluebeat- lots of fun to be had on the method feeder.
I'll often fish my local small mixed water with just my feeder rod and a pint of maggots. A kamasan black cap feeder full (lots of sizes depending on how delicate you want to go) with a couple of wrigglers on a size 12 or 14 hook. I fish it free running to a hooklength of about 6 - 10 inches. Catapult a few freebies in every couple of minutes to keep the swim going and you'll get all the practice you need. Enjoy!
In reply to Post #1
If you are interested in method feeders then look at the speedy feeder from mosquito angling
If you are interested in method feeders then look at the speedy feeder from mosquito angling
Advice re bigger Carp, if your catching the smaller ones the bigger ones will come. Yes you could use bigger baits to put the smaller fish off but the smaller ones will still clear the paste of the feeder leaving you with less attraction around the hookbait. As your targeting a match fishing lake I'd assume the Carp are used to crumb type feeder paste, personally I'd be using something a lot more dense and sticky so it stays put with the attention of smaller silvers etc.
I predominanlty use method feeders, my personal preference is for the Avid MFs but that's just my choice, plenty of alternatives out there. I use a 4" braided hooklink, that length means the hooklink is too short to tangle around the top of the 2.5oz feeder on the cast if keeping the hooklink loose and not within the paste. Personally I prefer to use a small amount of paste to hold the hooklink to the methed ball. If I wanted a longer hooklink I'd part load the feeder, fold the hooklink on the paste and push it partly into it, then load more paste to cover it. I always have the bait on the top of the feeder on the cast, like a Cherry on a cake if you will.
I have the hoolink swivel pushed home into the feeder stalk to create a bolt effect, if fishing in heavy weed I'll make it a run rig by putting a bead between swivel and feeder. I used to predominanlty use spiked pellet for hook bait but these last few years 12mm pop ups have also been very effective.
I predominanlty use method feeders, my personal preference is for the Avid MFs but that's just my choice, plenty of alternatives out there. I use a 4" braided hooklink, that length means the hooklink is too short to tangle around the top of the 2.5oz feeder on the cast if keeping the hooklink loose and not within the paste. Personally I prefer to use a small amount of paste to hold the hooklink to the methed ball. If I wanted a longer hooklink I'd part load the feeder, fold the hooklink on the paste and push it partly into it, then load more paste to cover it. I always have the bait on the top of the feeder on the cast, like a Cherry on a cake if you will.
I have the hoolink swivel pushed home into the feeder stalk to create a bolt effect, if fishing in heavy weed I'll make it a run rig by putting a bead between swivel and feeder. I used to predominanlty use spiked pellet for hook bait but these last few years 12mm pop ups have also been very effective.
In reply to Post #1
The ESP method feeder would be my choice , quick to reload using the mold.
The ESP method feeder would be my choice , quick to reload using the mold.
In reply to Post #7
ESP would be my choice as well
I do like the guru ones as well
ESP would be my choice as well
I do like the guru ones as well
The reason I use the Avid MFs is because you can take the lead/flatbed off the stalk when packing up. I use to hate the lead clanging against the rods when using captive feeders, used to try and use rod bands to stop it but they always slipped off! Can you do that with the ESPs out of interest?
In reply to Post #9
Nah
Shame as they really would be perfect then
I still have a load of the fox leads that had a stem so you could remove them
Nah
Shame as they really would be perfect then
I still have a load of the fox leads that had a stem so you could remove them
In reply to Post #2
At the moment, im just slinging out vitalin and goat mix balls
At the moment, im just slinging out vitalin and goat mix balls
In reply to Post #2
Cheers
Cheers
In reply to Post #4
Fishing a match lake for carp is so much fun. Especially after a few sessions of blanking at specimen lake. Gives you the confidence back.
Thinking about getting a match feeder rod. At the moment my lightest set up is a 8ft 2lb tc carp stalking rod with 15lb mono. Would you recommend I get a specific match feeder rod or just stick to the one Im using? I guess the lighter the set up the more feel you get of the fish and its more fun.
Fishing a match lake for carp is so much fun. Especially after a few sessions of blanking at specimen lake. Gives you the confidence back.
Thinking about getting a match feeder rod. At the moment my lightest set up is a 8ft 2lb tc carp stalking rod with 15lb mono. Would you recommend I get a specific match feeder rod or just stick to the one Im using? I guess the lighter the set up the more feel you get of the fish and its more fun.
In reply to Post #5
Why this feeder?
Why this feeder?
In reply to Post #6
Good advice, thanks. Interestingly, my friend made a float rig with a 18mm boilie on a hair rig and waggler float and started to only catch 10lb plus carp! I dont know if it was just luck and location but it looked like heaps of fun on a float.
Im also having good success on 12mm sticky pop ups in pink and yellow colour. Would you recommend I get a specific method feeder rod and reel or should I just stick to my ngt 8ft 2lb tc rod and ngt profiler reel?
Good advice, thanks. Interestingly, my friend made a float rig with a 18mm boilie on a hair rig and waggler float and started to only catch 10lb plus carp! I dont know if it was just luck and location but it looked like heaps of fun on a float.
Im also having good success on 12mm sticky pop ups in pink and yellow colour. Would you recommend I get a specific method feeder rod and reel or should I just stick to my ngt 8ft 2lb tc rod and ngt profiler reel?
In reply to Post #7
ESP make some great tackle. Ill take a look at that
ESP make some great tackle. Ill take a look at that
In reply to Post #15
I'd stick with what you've got, 2lb is a nice tc for good sport.
@ Framey, bugger re the ESP feeder. I too have some of those Fox leads left, I also bought 100 of the Avid 1's when I heard they were being discontinued, by far my fav design. I've also stockpiled some of the Avid method feeders in case they go the same way.
I'd stick with what you've got, 2lb is a nice tc for good sport.
@ Framey, bugger re the ESP feeder. I too have some of those Fox leads left, I also bought 100 of the Avid 1's when I heard they were being discontinued, by far my fav design. I've also stockpiled some of the Avid method feeders in case they go the same way.
In reply to Post #14
The flexibility of the mosquito feeder helps me. The method feeder clips directly to their inline lead. You can add and remove weight to the inline lead without changing it. I like using a quiver tip with it but at night I unclip the method feeder attachment and just fish it inline. You can add a pva bag to the lead as well although I don't do that. There is a clear demo on you tube that you can find by searching with “mosquito speedy feeder”.
The flexibility of the mosquito feeder helps me. The method feeder clips directly to their inline lead. You can add and remove weight to the inline lead without changing it. I like using a quiver tip with it but at night I unclip the method feeder attachment and just fish it inline. You can add a pva bag to the lead as well although I don't do that. There is a clear demo on you tube that you can find by searching with “mosquito speedy feeder”.
In reply to Post #6
Would you recommend the mould as well for the avid method feeder?
Would you recommend the mould as well for the avid method feeder?
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