I won my lake on a recent open at Blundells, near Manchester, and a strict feeding regime involving Sonu Fin Perfect feed pellets, made all the difference as I finished fifth overall and won my lake.

Believe it or not but a switch from feeding around 15 or so 2mm Sonu Fin Perfect feed pellets to feeding just half-a-dozen resulted in a dramatic change in my fortunes as I targeted the lake’s F1 carp.

From catching nothing, I suddenly went on a run and caught seven fish in as many put-ins and ended up with 18 fish for my 27lb weight. I also foul-hooked a couple and lost four, so if I had had a little more of a rub of the green I could possibly have won the match as the winner had 37lb.

I reckon Sonu Fin Perfect 2mm feed pellets are the best you can buy. You can seriously over-wet them and they never lose their shape. You can even use a couple on a small hook to kid fish that have never seen a double micro-pellet hookbait before.
Generally, though, a 3mm Sonu Fin Perfect expander pellet can bring you extra bites on a pressured water and at this time of year, February going into March, the pellet really starts to catch you extra fish.

Talking about F1 pole rigs, when I want to combat windy conditions and tow, I think nothing of using a fairly heavy float with an olivette. Often the olivette will be positioned quite a way from the hook, as far away as at half-depth, with a string of number 11 shot as droppers.

I like using a single strand of Preston Slip original number six elastic when targeting F1s at this time of year, as it is supersoft, when threaded through my Preston Pullakit. I use the Preston 434 hook, which used to be called the PR32, in a size 18 for expander pellet fishing.

Remember to dot the bristle down – I like the Preston Inter 4s with a wire stem for windy conditions as it aids good presentation.

And rein in the feeding. Less is more and a negative feeding approach can yield very positive results.