ASK THE EXPERTS
Dear Team,
I have recently started to fish for carp, and I have only fished for them using surface baits. I would like to start using PVA with pellet and on my other rod a Method mix. What I would like to know is how often should I be recasting with either a fresh bag of pellet or with the Method feeder? Do I wait for bites, or do I create a blanket of bait?
Regards,
Stuart Sparkes,
Swansea.
Hi Stuart,
Many thanks for your question.
Tackle
To start with, remember that due to the weight of a bag/Method ball your tackle needs to be able to cope. I would recommend rods of between 2½lb and 3½lb test curve and main line of 12-15lb. If you have the softer end of this rod range, then don’t make your bags/balls too big – size isn't everything!!
PVA Bag Tactics
I class this as a ‘one fish at a time’ tactic. By this I mean only use enough bait to attract, and get feeding, one carp at a time. Because I’m not baiting up with this method I prefer to use high-attract baits. My favourite combination of baits is a mixture of flavoured Response Pellets and broken/crumbed boilies with a hi-vis pop-up or balanced boilie hookbait. The classics, such as Tutti Frutti and Pineapple are still accounting for thousands of captures every season and I'm never without a tub or two.
My favourite PVA bag contents.
With the bag, I prefer to use this as a roving rod, casting to showing fish to try to induce a take. I would normally leave the bait for at least a couple of hours if carp are still showing in the area I cast to, but the beauty of this method is that you can reel in and recast to other fish without leaving huge piles of bait everywhere. Always try to leave the bait in the water at least an hour because you could be missing out on captures by reeling in too soon.
The Method Mix
The Method Mix I prefer to fish in the same area, slowly building up a blanket of feed on the bottom. To do this use Magic Marker on your main line to always reach the same distance, then by lining up with a far bank marker (a particular tree, another swim) you will, over a couple of hours, build up a carpet of feed in the same area, attracting the carp in for a feed. I usually recast every 30-45 minutes until I start to receive bleeps and liners, which indicates that fish have moved in and are feeding, and I then try to leave the bait out until a take occurs.
The Method – devastating; don’t rule it out.
Bait-wise I prefer a mixture of coarse groundbaits mixed with hemp, crushed boilies, corn, and scalded pellets. I find either a small hi-vis pop-up or a 10mm bottom bait topped with plastic corn best for the hook.
The end result, The Dustbin at 41lb 7oz!
Good luck, and I hope this helps.
Monki 
