Pole fishing is massively popular, and it should be as it is a devastating way of catching fish, but this method is not for everyone. For this months ADTV Match Masterclass, I have brought the cameras to the newly refurbished Oak Lake which is full of decent sized carp at the popular Decoy Lakes, to show you a method that will not just compete with the pole anglers, but will beat the pole anglers and what’s better it uses an already popular tactic but with a twist!
This tactic is the massively effective method feeder, but instead of normally chucking it to the far side or the middle of the lake, we are going to be underarming a method feeder no more than 5-6m (2 rod lengths) out!
But why fish so short? The reason is because this line is an area of the peg that pole anglers normally have to themselves, and one which is normally their best line. Not only that, this line is fed with lots of bait, and is normally situtated at the bottom of the near slope, so carp and f1s are used to feeding there.
The method feeder is arguably an even better way of catching fish on this line, as you eliminate missed bites and prevent foul hooked fish, while still managing to keep your feeding incredibly accurate, thus maximising the swims potential.
The set-up for this method is incredibly simple with strong robust gear an essential. Starting off with the hooklength which is 4 inches of 0.23mm Matrix Power Micron Line to a size 12 Matrix MXC-4 Hook tied to a bait band.
Feeder choice is slightly different, because as I am underarming the feeder and looking to build up the swim so I can catch fish quickly, I have gone with a traditonal flat bed style method feeder rather than a hybrid feeder. Around 12 inches above the feeder, I have added a small blob of tungsten putty to pin the line down, so the fish cannot feel the line and get spooked.
Mainline is the ever faithful Daiwa Sensor in 8lb, spooled on a 4000 fixed spoole reel and I have chosen the Advanta Pro 10ft Bomb Rod as the fish will pop up shorter, causing less disturbance, but has more than enough power to land the big carp that live in this lake.
A key way of making this tactic effective, is to treat it similar to as if you were fishing a pole, and I find the thought "think pole, fish feeder" is very appropiate when fishing the short range method, as I want to regulate the amount of bait going in to maximise the swim on any given day.
This is why I always have a stopwatch on my side tray, as I can build a pattern of when I am getting my bites, so I don't have to leave the feeder in the water any longer then needed. Not only that, I can regulate my feeding and build a pattern. I find the Matrix Digital Clicker is perfect for this, as it has a stopwatch function, as well as a clock and clicker so I can keep track of my weight and not go over any net limits!
Bites on this tactic are electric, so be ready for bites that will rip the rod in. I always make sure that my drag is set loose and do not clip up, so when I get a bite the fish is free the take off, without the risk of losing it.
As the bites are so aggresive, I will fish with fairly slack lines, but this also helps prevent any spooked fish as if the angle of the line was tight it would likely knock feeding fish. I also like to have my rod set up on both a front and rear rest, and the rear rest actually grips my rod and elimiates any chance of the rod shooting into the lake, because the ferocity of the bites needs to be seen to be believed!
Just because you are fishing a method feeder, doesn't mean you can't feed some bait, and as I am looking to build this swim through the day, I always like to feed some pellets through a catapult over this swim.
By using a catapult, even at this short range, I am able to keep my feed really close together, but it will also make a more inviting sound when it hits the water, which is more likley to draw fish in the swim. Normally I will feed every 5 minutes, and like to feed two pouches of bait as this will drive the fish down in the water column making them easier to catch on my method feeder.
For catapulting over my short line, I love the 6mm Dynamite Amino Original Swim Stim Pellets, but to even more attractive, I have covered in lake water with some of the Dynamite Betaine Green Pellet Soak before draining off after 60 seconds. This creates a crust on the pellets which breaks down quickly and helps draw fish in.
Bait choices for the method feeder are 2mm pellets, boosted with the Dynamite Sticky Pellet Syrup and the Dynamite Swim Stim Feeder Groundbait in Betaine Green. I can either use these seperate or together, and by having a few bowls with me, I can constantly vary it till I find the right mix for the day. For hookbaits, I like to stick to pellets again, and have a selection of different flavoured 6mm pellets and some Dynamite Wowsers in yellow.
Today, as I am pleasure fishing, I expect to catch on this line all day, but in a match situation you will need to have different options, as I find this line is most effective in the first hour and last couple of hours in the match. Also, by giving it a couple of hours rest in the middle part of the match, you find the latter stages are more prolific as the fish have gained confidence.
Therefore, in this middle part of the match, I will start fishing the method feeder as you would normally expect and look to cast to features or open water. Today, I have spent a couple of hours fishing along the tree-lined bank to my left and have managed to keep carp coming to net. But in the meantime, I have been continously feeding and drawing fish onto my short line, so I'm hoping for a grandstand finish.
The short range method feeder does not only cover fishing 5-6m out from the bank, and I will aways look to underarm a method feeder down my edges later in the session, and be prepared to rotate lines, just like you see from the pole anglers.
I will always feed both my edges with the same 6mm pellets to try and draw fish in and normally as the depth is very shallow in the edges at only 1-3ft, you will normally see signs that the fish are feeding with confidence. Look for areas of coloured water, or fish swirling and it won't take long till your rod will be ripped off the rest!
Today, has been a perfect example of how devastating this short range feeder fishing can be, and I have been able to catch some lovely on this line throughout the session. . By regualting my feed, I have found that most of my bites have come in a 4-5 minute window, and I have managed some beautiful carp well into double figures.
It may not be fast and furious, but when the fish are this size it does not take long to build a big weight that will beat any pole angler. So if the pole anglers at your local venue catch short and down the edge, then give this tactic a try!