So that’s commercial venues covered, but what if I need to leave a bait in place for longer? Well, like nearly every bait in fishing, there is a plastic alternative, and pellets are no different.
RIGHT A powerful rod is needed to punch out a fully-loaded spod. BELOW Be careful not to overfill the
spod because it won’t fly straight. BOTTOM To stop spod spill, plug
the top with groundbait.
They come in a variety of different sizes and buoyancies, all of which are very handy, and obviously don’t
of the bag, and helps to negate the
break down and can withstand the
weight of the hook. I’m fairly convinced
attention of nuisance species, including
that when a carp drops down to feed on
crayfish and poissons chat. My personal
a tight group of pellets like this, it tries
favourites are 12 or 14mm pop-up
to suck in everything in one go, and this
versions which I use in a very particular
small hookbait goes in the mouth very
way. The ones I use have a large hole at
easily. This style of fishing has caught
one end, so I can add a counterbalance
me loads of fish when I’ve launched a
shot if I so wish. I fish them on a fairly
solid bag out towards showing fish.
standard pop-up rig and fill the whole
My final little presentation is the
with a liquid attractor, then plug it
Method, a tactic that is overlooked
with groundbait or paste. Once cast
by many, and I must say it’s their loss
out the plug dissolves and releases
and my gain. I either fish Method balls
the attractor; try it in the edge and
on the clip to create a baited area
you’ll be amazed at how well it works. This is fished in conjunction with
that’s topped up every cast, or just like the PVA bag approach, as a chuck-
what I describe
it-and-chance
as a PVA mesh
technique.
stringer. Thread
Rather than use
several 12mm
a dedicated
pellets into
Method mix,
some mesh
I much prefer
and tie them
to scald the
under tension;
pellet to create
this creates a
my own individual
presentation that scatters the pellets underwater. As the PVA dissolves it actually shrinks, contracting the
mix. Simply add several good handfuls of 4mm pellets to a bowl before pouring boiling water over them till
mesh tube,
they’re covered.
until the mesh
Then leave
finally gives,
them for just a
scattering the
minute before
pellets over a saucer-sized area – a great technique. My next tactic may seem a little old hat, but boy, if you get it right it will catch
draining off the excess water, and let them stand for several minutes; it’s even better if you can seal the container, but not
fish all day long. I simply balance one
necessary. After a short period the
of my pre-drilled pellets with a piece
pellets become sticky and can be
of plastic corn; this gives the bait a
moulded around a Method feeder.
very visual aspect, as well as adding
With a few different presentations
a degree of buoyancy. This is fished
covered, I think it’s fair to complete
with a very small PVA bag of micro
this guide with an explanation of how
pellet nicked onto the hook, a deadly
to feed pellets. As I’ve said, I tend not
presentation in its own right. I have
to go overboard with feed, but it can
also found that by utilising the line clip
be an advantage when it comes to
and marking the line, I can get better
encouraging carp to feed. Most people
results. By regular recasting to the
carry around a bucket filled with a mix
same spot I can create a small tight
of different types of pellets. These
baited area that attracts and holds fish
will be a variety of sizes, densities and
for longer, which means more bites.
have varying breakdown times, and I do
For long-range work, or on small
exactly the same. The problem is how
bite-sized packages, I tend to use solid
to get them out into the swim. If you
PVA bags, with a small artificial pellet
try to catapult them out, range is an
the same size as my free offerings,
issue, and because of the variety they
normally 4mm or 6mm. This might
fly all over the place. So when using the
seem tiny but it matches the contents
catapult, I’ve always found it best to
52
Crafty Carper
049-053_MasterPelletFishing_CC188.indd 4
11/03/2013 11:29