With warmer weather just around the corner and the fish ready to start feeding, I’m looking forward to getting amongst the carp using two top tip methods - the Method feeder and the open end feeder.

Tom displays a perfect Method feeder

There are two Sonubaits groundbaits that I swear by for this - Fin Perfect Mix 1 and Fin Perfect Mix 2. I use Mix 1 for all my Method feeder work and Mix 2 for the open end feeder.

Mix 1 is the best Method feeder groundbait I have ever used. It absorbs a lot of water and is best mixed the day before your match or session.
To create the perfect Method mix just follow these simple steps.

Step 1 - Mix 100ml of demerara sugar to a full bag of Mix 1 in a large plastic bowl.

Step 2 - Add one pint of water and mix vigorously. Leave for one hour.

Step 3 - Give the groundbait another good mix and add just enough water that the mix goes damp again.

Step 4 - Leave the mix in a bowl or bucket overnight in a  cool, sheltered place such as your garage.

Step 5 - The following morning mix it again with your fingers or a drill and add a small amount of water, just enough so that it is not dry but just damp enough to squeeze a hardish ball.

Moulding a Method Ball
This is something a  lot of inexperienced Method anglers struggle with. Here’s my way:

1 - Firstly use Mix 1 and fill in the gaps between the rails of the Method feeder.

2 - Take a good palmful of Mix 1 and put your hook bait on top of it, nearest your face. Now bring the method feeder to your palm and compress. This second skin will contain the hidden hookbait and give it a good firm squeeze, just using your palm. What you want is a nice smooth outline to the groundbait, not a series of ridges, caused by finger pressure. After all, the Method ball needs to be aerodynamic to cast accurately.

Finally, just a few more words about why I swear by Mix 2 as well. Mix 2 is an extremely versatile groundbait and it is one that I prefer to mix up on the morning of the match or at the peg. It is a groundbait which works extremely well in the warmer months. I like my mix to contain plenty of air so that the particles break off and fizz, making the ground bait ‘work’ by attracting fish into my peg because of all that activity.

Mix 2 is also a superb carrier of larger feed particles such as sweetcorn, luncheon meat, casters, dead maggots and pellets.Give them both a try this spring and enjoy your fishing.
Tight Lines!

Tom and a superb catch of F1s using Fin Perfect Mix 1 on the Method