Andrew Croft wrote:The club in question is quite strict about only fishing from marked pegs, so I can't really move to one side in this instance.Patrick Bateman wrote:most normal people would go further along the bankAndrew Croft wrote:I think the float is my preferred method. I'd need to be sitting so far back on the method that I'd be on the path around the lake!Id go for a float personally as its exciting in the margins but you could try a back lead ?
Daniel wrote:Thanks Dan, that's really helpful info.If using the particular floats I recommended no shot are needed as they are self cocking and perfect for water less than 3' deep fishing big baits. The numbers on these floats are telling you the size of the float should you want to swap to a float of the same size that does need shot. Just attach the float to your line with float rubbers and tie on a size 12 direct to the mainline which doesn't need to be 0.22 on a running line, you could fish with 0.19 just fine because you can let them run, you would use the heavier line for pole fishing though.. Bagging up in the margins is no place for weak links so don't use a hook length, the fish can't dive down so WILL go nuts and charge away from you as hard and fast as they can.
Any decent tackle shop should have suitable pole floats. Use short self cockers in water 3' or less and floats needing shot if its deeper. As for a shotting pattern a simple bulk of stots 6-8" from the hook is all you need.
4x10 on a pole float doesn't mean 4 number 10 shot. Pole floats were, and still are, labelled with the weight required if you were using styl weights, ridiculous really as very few people use them because many sizes of styl are illegal in the UK!
This is a chart I use to convert the marked weight.
TIP: Try the float with one less shot than recommended as that may be spot on and its a bugger removing tiny stot weights even with the right tool!
3x10 = 0.10g (2 x No10 shot)
4x10 = 0.15g (3 x No9 shot)
4x12 = 0.2g (5x No10 shot)
4x14 = 0.4g (6 x No8 shot)
4x16 = 0.5g (8x No8 shot)
4x18 = 0.75g (3 x No3 shot)
4x20 = 1g (4 x No3 shot)
5x20 = 1.25g (5 x No3 shot)
6x20 = 1.5g (6 x No3 shot).
I'll definitely go for the self cocking floats - it'll make life much simpler! 
Patrick Bateman wrote:Ah well thats that then, buggerAndrew Croft wrote:The club in question is quite strict about only fishing from marked pegs, so I can't really move to one side in this instance.Patrick Bateman wrote:most normal people would go further along the bankAndrew Croft wrote:I think the float is my preferred method. I'd need to be sitting so far back on the method that I'd be on the path around the lake!Id go for a float personally as its exciting in the margins but you could try a back lead ?
Patrick Bateman wrote:So I'd thought I'd bump this thread as I'm looking to break the method rod out again. How soon into the year do you folks start using the method again? I assume that I should be starting with a smaller feeder at this time of the year, or should I be looking to use a pellet feeder (or indeed soft pellets on the method feeder?) I picked some Guru pellet feeders up at the end of the year to give this a whirl - just seems like a fairly straightforward feeder swap out to me? Do your baits change or just get a bit smaller on lighter hook links? Any tips on softening the pellets for use with the feeder?
I must admit that I never got back round to those margin carp either last summer, so those are on my hit list, too...
Daniel wrote:Thanks Dan.Patrick Bateman wrote:So I'd thought I'd bump this thread as I'm looking to break the method rod out again. How soon into the year do you folks start using the method again? I assume that I should be starting with a smaller feeder at this time of the year, or should I be looking to use a pellet feeder (or indeed soft pellets on the method feeder?) I picked some Guru pellet feeders up at the end of the year to give this a whirl - just seems like a fairly straightforward feeder swap out to me? Do your baits change or just get a bit smaller on lighter hook links? Any tips on softening the pellets for use with the feeder?
I must admit that I never got back round to those margin carp either last summer, so those are on my hit list, too...
The waters probably a bit too cold and the fish too lethargic for a method feeder to be the best tactic at the moment. If you really want to fish the method then use the smallest feeder possible with a low food content groundbait, don't cast too often or you'll over feed in no time.
Don't bother fining down in terms of line strength, it won't make any difference but you could try going right down to a size 18 hook with a single dead maggot.
It gets sucked up very easily so even a fish thats not feeding hard will still end up with the hook in its mouth.
Looking forward to those warmer days when the fish are properly on the chomp! Do you use pellet feeders much? I've also got a question re the tips on my Mini Plus. Are you typically using the softest tip you can get away with or do you use something with a bit of beef when using the heavier method feeders? I'm tending to use the stiffer tips, but (thinking out loud) may use the softer tips this season so that I can get a bit better indication from the bream that a couple of the waters I was fishing last year also produce on a routine basis.Patrick Bateman wrote:I only bother with the soft tip in winter when fishing with maggot for anything that comes along. I can't say I've done much with pellet feeders, I just used scalded pellets on a method feeder if I wanted a pellet approach.Daniel wrote:Thanks Dan.Patrick Bateman wrote:So I'd thought I'd bump this thread as I'm looking to break the method rod out again. How soon into the year do you folks start using the method again? I assume that I should be starting with a smaller feeder at this time of the year, or should I be looking to use a pellet feeder (or indeed soft pellets on the method feeder?) I picked some Guru pellet feeders up at the end of the year to give this a whirl - just seems like a fairly straightforward feeder swap out to me? Do your baits change or just get a bit smaller on lighter hook links? Any tips on softening the pellets for use with the feeder?
I must admit that I never got back round to those margin carp either last summer, so those are on my hit list, too...
The waters probably a bit too cold and the fish too lethargic for a method feeder to be the best tactic at the moment. If you really want to fish the method then use the smallest feeder possible with a low food content groundbait, don't cast too often or you'll over feed in no time.
Don't bother fining down in terms of line strength, it won't make any difference but you could try going right down to a size 18 hook with a single dead maggot.
It gets sucked up very easily so even a fish thats not feeding hard will still end up with the hook in its mouth.
So to cheer myself up, I'm trying to sort out a few minor issues that I noted from fishing the method last year. 
How much tip angle is required when fishing the method? Because of my back, I'm never going to be buying a seat box with all the handy uprights to mount kit off (and it's OTT because I don't pole fish either). I see Preston have a station with a seat on it, but a) I'm a lard a**e and I'm not sure it'd take it(!) 
and b) it doesn't look anywhere near comfortable. And anyway, both are more expensive than the feeder chair...
Steve Dennington wrote:b******s!Only problem with your lure box bait storage is that it's not airtight, so your baits will dry up and lose all their smell
some sort of glug is in order... Daniel wrote:I've sold a few tropical lures and other bits recently, so I've just picked up one of the 2500FA's up to go on the Mini Plus this season. Will be loading it up with 8lb Daiwa ST mono and possibly picking up a spare spool (I assume a spare doesn't come with the reel Dan?) and loading it with 6lb for the waters with just tench and bream in them. I've even bought a keepnet for the first time in at least 25 years, too for those waters that allow them!Patrick Bateman wrote:The 4000 is a big reel, much more suited to a 12' rod.Daniel wrote:Is that the reel I pictured Dan? I can only find the 4000 posted earlier.I use the 2500 size aero feeder on my mini and its a perfect combination for me. It has a wider spool than other 2500 shimmies.
I use this.
http://www.futurefishing.co.uk/shimano- ... 2593-p.asp
Patrick Bateman wrote:Only just seen this. Try a glug in that box, and see how it lasts!Steve Dennington wrote:b******s!Only problem with your lure box bait storage is that it's not airtight, so your baits will dry up and lose all their smell
Steve Dennington wrote:Your hugely knowledgeable and logical assessments are ruining my buzz!Patrick Bateman wrote:Only just seen this. Try a glug in that box, and see how it lasts!Steve Dennington wrote:b******s!Only problem with your lure box bait storage is that it's not airtight, so your baits will dry up and lose all their smell
Andrew Croft wrote:They're a bit on the large side if you want a selection of baits soaking in different potions. Besides which, they'd last about 5mins with me before I had a bag full of stinky glug and broken glass...Save up yer jam jars!?
Patrick Bateman wrote:Mine came with a spare mate.Daniel wrote:I've sold a few tropical lures and other bits recently, so I've just picked up one of the 2500FA's up to go on the Mini Plus this season. Will be loading it up with 8lb Daiwa ST mono and possibly picking up a spare spool (I assume a spare doesn't come with the reel Dan?) and loading it with 6lb for the waters with just tench and bream in them. I've even bought a keepnet for the first time in at least 25 years, too for those waters that allow them!Patrick Bateman wrote:The 4000 is a big reel, much more suited to a 12' rod.Daniel wrote:Is that the reel I pictured Dan? I can only find the 4000 posted earlier.I use the 2500 size aero feeder on my mini and its a perfect combination for me. It has a wider spool than other 2500 shimmies.
I use this.
http://www.futurefishing.co.uk/shimano- ... 2593-p.asp
Steve Dennington wrote:Colemans mustard jars, just wrap in a dish towel and use an empty icecream tub to keep them in. actually no thats my idea im doing it this year.Andrew Croft wrote:They're a bit on the large side if you want a selection of baits soaking in different potions. Besides which, they'd last about 5mins with me before I had a bag full of stinky glug and broken glass...Save up yer jam jars!?
Daniel wrote:It arrived today but they've sent the bloody HG version instead of the standard FA I ordered! Muppets!Patrick Bateman wrote:Mine came with a spare mate.Daniel wrote:I've sold a few tropical lures and other bits recently, so I've just picked up one of the 2500FA's up to go on the Mini Plus this season. Will be loading it up with 8lb Daiwa ST mono and possibly picking up a spare spool (I assume a spare doesn't come with the reel Dan?) and loading it with 6lb for the waters with just tench and bream in them. I've even bought a keepnet for the first time in at least 25 years, too for those waters that allow them!Patrick Bateman wrote:The 4000 is a big reel, much more suited to a 12' rod.Daniel wrote:Is that the reel I pictured Dan? I can only find the 4000 posted earlier.I use the 2500 size aero feeder on my mini and its a perfect combination for me. It has a wider spool than other 2500 shimmies.
I use this.
http://www.futurefishing.co.uk/shimano- ... 2593-p.asp
Lovely reel, though and pleased to see a spare spool! About a week or so to sort out the c*ck up I'd have thought! 
Steve Dennington wrote:So basically, if I wanted the baits to retain any smell, I just should have kept them in the little tubs they're sold in!As neat as your solution is, I think a few of the little airtight clip-top containers from the supermarket will serve you better. The bait will be preserved then, as will any glug. If you put any liquid in the lure box it'll evaporate into a mess at best, or spill out all over the place if it's a bit more runny. The lure box won't keep the stench of any particularly evil glugs contained either!
Patrick Bateman wrote:That would be the simplest solution, yes!Steve Dennington wrote:So basically, if I wanted the baits to retain any smell, I just should have kept them in the little tubs they're sold in!As neat as your solution is, I think a few of the little airtight clip-top containers from the supermarket will serve you better. The bait will be preserved then, as will any glug. If you put any liquid in the lure box it'll evaporate into a mess at best, or spill out all over the place if it's a bit more runny. The lure box won't keep the stench of any particularly evil glugs contained either!
Patrick Bateman wrote:So it took a bit longer than anticipated, but the 2500FA in the correct gearing has finally arrived - I've spooled it up with 8lb Daiwa Tournament ST and I have to say I'm impressed with the line, even before I've had a cast!Daniel wrote:It arrived today but they've sent the bloody HG version instead of the standard FA I ordered! Muppets!Patrick Bateman wrote:Mine came with a spare mate.Daniel wrote:I've sold a few tropical lures and other bits recently, so I've just picked up one of the 2500FA's up to go on the Mini Plus this season. Will be loading it up with 8lb Daiwa ST mono and possibly picking up a spare spool (I assume a spare doesn't come with the reel Dan?) and loading it with 6lb for the waters with just tench and bream in them. I've even bought a keepnet for the first time in at least 25 years, too for those waters that allow them!Patrick Bateman wrote:The 4000 is a big reel, much more suited to a 12' rod.Daniel wrote:Is that the reel I pictured Dan? I can only find the 4000 posted earlier.I use the 2500 size aero feeder on my mini and its a perfect combination for me. It has a wider spool than other 2500 shimmies.
I use this.
http://www.futurefishing.co.uk/shimano- ... 2593-p.asp
I've got everything from white chocolate, through every type of fruit and cream you can imagine to even more exotic stuff like port and whisky - there are going to be some interestingly flavoured method mixes in a few weeks! 
) davelumb wrote:You need help Dave...!I reckon a garlic/doughnut cocktail would make a great ice cream flavour!
