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 Fishing
the Method
What is "The Method"?
The Method is the name given to a type of
fishing whereby a mixture of groundbait
and particles is moulded around a special
weight which is in the form of a cage allowing
a bed of bait to be placed on the bottom
in the middle of which lies your hookbait.
It has accounted for some astounding catches
of carp and is well worth giving it a try.
Although often associated with catching
smaller fish, it has been known to fool
a few larger specimens as well and can certainly
give a great days sport when the carp get
feeding on it.
How the Method works
So, how does it work? The way
I like to fish it is with a Ritchworth Method
Feeder mounted as a sliding weight above
a bead and swivel, and a fairly short hooklength.
I tend to stick to a fairly small hook size,
usually about a size 8 or 10, onto which
I mount either one or two pieces of sweetcorn,
or a small hair rigged boilie. I like to
use a pop-up so that my hook bait sits just
above the bed of groundbait. It works very
much like an ordinary feeder except that
the mix is moulded around the outside of
the cage and so doesn't have to come out
of the feeder. It dissolves on contact with
the water, and the secret is in getting
the mix just right so that it doesn't explode
on impact but falls to the bottom and then
starts to break up. Once the carp start
feeding on it they will even attack it as
soon as it lands on the bottom.
 Get
the Method mix right
If you get the mix right, you
can add particles to it, which can include
whatever you are using as hook bait, although
some anglers prefer to use small particles
and a slightly larger hookbait so that it
stands out and is likely to be taken quicker.
I usually press my hookbait in to the groundbait
mix so that it is right in with it when
it reaches the lake bed. This has the added
advantage of leaving a bit of slack line
between hook and weight, so that when the
fish moves off with your bait, it feels
no initial resistance, but is soon in contact
with the lead, having a bolt rig effect.
 Sometimes
it will take a few initial casts to get
a bit of bait onto the bottom and for the
carp to move in on it. Some specially prepared
Method Mixes contain strong attractors and
this will often bring the carp in fairly
quickly. Of course other species are likely
to move in as well, and you may want to
use a slightly larger or harder hookbait
if this happens. Usually though the activity
of the smaller fish will merely attract
the carp as they move in to see what all
the fuss is about. Once the carp start to
feed they will find the small particles
in with it and begin hoovering up, stirring
up the bottom as they do so. This can often
result in some fairly frenzied activity
as they begin competitive feeding, and the
results can be spectacular. I have even
known carp to be seen heading towards the
swim as the bait hits the waters surface,
and they know it's feeding time. If your
bait is right in the middle of this, then
expect some fun.
Alan Kirk recommends the following
for fishing the method
The best rig for the
method has got to bevitalin round a fox
feeder and a glugged asassin-8boilie. Snakebite
hooklinks and a long length of tubing above
the rig. Chuck this out with no freebies
and you will catch. If you want extra attraction
then pour a bit of asassin-8 dip on the
vitalin. A carp in the net is guaranteed,
15 carp in 5 sessions says it all.
Alan Kirk gives us another tip, his
"choco-chip method"
what you do is put a
ball of vitalin on your feeder (fox) then
stick 5-6 pellets inside the method but
all of the pellets sticking out. Then have
a 22mm pellet as hook bait. I call it this
because it looks like a fat chocolate chip
cookie with all the 22mm pellets hanging
out!!!
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