The result of carp fishing depends significantly not on the luck of the fisherman, but on his knowledge of the features of carp fishing, as well as the correctly selected equipment that matches the conditions.
Fishing for carp using the method may remind most people of a familiar nipple or spring, but the efficiency is much better, this is explained by the special design of the method flat feeder.
The flat method is a feeder fishing method often used when fishing for carp. A distinctive feature of method fishing is the use of special method feeders (photo below). This method of fishing is characterized by economical and aggressive fishing - the carp is not fed kilograms of bait, as in classic carp fishing, but is economically fed with bait in the amount of feed. This allows you not to wait for the fish for hours in one place waiting for the carp to approach, but to start searching on your own. Karpolov is not tied to the feeding table.
Feeder used in the flat method
What is the flat method
The main feature of flat tackle is its design, the so-called method feeder, which is flat on one part. Moreover, its flat lower part has a lead base, and the frame itself for filling the bait is made of light plastic.
The lead base plays the role of a weight, while it allows for the only correct location of the spring after being thrown into the reservoir - with the metal plate straight down, while the plastic mesh with bait is located on top of the bottom of the reservoir.
The flat feeder is fixed to the main line either by a solid installation, when it does not move at all, or by sliding installation, during which the line passes through a tube in a spring and is not secured in any way. With a sliding fastening method, the feeder can move along the fishing line at a distance of up to half a meter.
Installation of the blind flat method used when fishing for carp
Attention: With the blind method of mounting equipment, the flat method implies self-hooking of the carp, therefore the weight of the spring for guaranteed hooking must be at least 50 grams. For sliding gear, which is designed for a more delicate bite, since the carp will not feel resistance in the process of swallowing the bait, you can choose less heavy springs.
The feeder method is equipped with one small leash, its length is usually 5-10 cm, with one hook at the end. The number of the latter is selected taking into account the bait used. Moreover, the hook with bait can either be inserted into the bait or be located near the feeder.
Pros and cons of carp fishing using the method
The design feature of the flat method feeder gives the equipment many advantages:
- the bait is always located on top , and the possibility that the spring will fall down with the hook, making it impossible to bite, is excluded;
- This method is convenient for fishing on ponds that have a muddy bottom or dense aquatic vegetation , since the even, wide shape of the spring prevents it from getting stuck;
- As with the installation of other types of feeders, when using this method, the bait goes directly to the fishing spot ;
- if you insert a hook with bait into the bait, then even after washing out the composition, the bait will be in a clean area , this gives a chance that the fish will swallow the offered delicacy;
- The flat method is good for catching carp in early spring , when a large amount of food for bait is contraindicated, since you can quickly overfeed the not yet active fish;
- Also, this option for installing the hook significantly reduces the number of rig flails .
Feeder filled with bait
The disadvantages of fishing using this method include the fact that the flat shape of the spring sometimes creates certain difficulties with casting accuracy. Moreover, the bait mixture is washed out more quickly from open-type feeders when fishing in rivers with strong currents; this also complicates the use of the method at depth.
Important: It is necessary to select certain types of feeders for method fishing when using them in different conditions for specific bodies of water.
Features of using method feeders
Taking into account the characteristics of the pond in which fishing will take place, you need to decide on the type of spring that you can choose for fishing.
Feeders method are of the following types:
- Classic . These are open springs that differ in the number of partitions on the plate for filling with bait, weight and size. Basically, this gear is used to catch carp using the flat method on the platform, where the density of fish is high and it is active.
- Scoop. These springs resemble the shape of a scoop, which made them more practical when fishing at depths, since the bait is not washed out so quickly after casting the tackle. Most often, they are filled with pellets - a bait composition in industrial granules, but they can also be filled with viscous mixtures prepared by yourself.
- Banjo . This design has small sides; the feeders are the lightest in weight, unlike other types. As a rule, they are used for sliding installation during careful carp bites.
Some feeder manufacturers provide specially designed molds to make it easier to stuff the bait mixture into the springs.
Form for putting food into the feeder
In the process of fishing using the method at short distances, a soft fishing line is used to rig the rod. But for significant casting distances, it is advisable to choose a braided cord. Also, certain companies make springs with a rubber shock absorber, which dampens the jerks of strong fish, especially when fishing for carp in early spring and summer from the shore.
Fishing for carp in early spring using the flat method:
Since catching carp or carp requires high-quality hooks, there is no need to try to save money on this element of equipment. It is recommended to select products from popular companies, avoiding counterfeits, as this will prevent many idle hooks or failures due to hook breakage.
Opening of the 2021 carp fishing season - carp fishing in early spring on a feeder flat using the following method:
Choosing a place to catch carp with a feeder
Despite the fact that most reservoirs have an almost flat, silted bottom, you must try to find some changes in the topography or changes in the structure of the bottom. This can be done either using a marker float or by “probing” the bottom with a weight.
Make the first maximum cast. Fix the line on the clip and begin to pull, counting the turns of the handle. Any changes in terrain will be reflected in the hand. Where there is a delay in movement, there is probably an obstacle or edge. We put a mark on the fishing line with a regular marker. Cast again and again until it hits the hand, or onto the quivertip. And so 5-6 times. If the marks approximately match, then you have found what you were looking for.
We put a regular rubber band on the spool and fix the casting distance with it. We pull out the line from under the clip, because anything can happen in the process of catching carp, but from under the elastic, the carp is able to tighten the line.
What kind of rig is used when fishing with a method feeder: selection and production of equipment
Since the method usually uses a heavy feeder, you will need a shock leader to throw it. This is a piece of thick fishing line with a cross-section of 0.45 mm or cord 0.30 mm long, two sizes of the rod.
As the main line, you can use a regular monofilament with a cross-section of 0.30 mm or slightly smaller, or soft braid with a diameter of 0.22 mm. At the same time, when catching a trophy fish, you can fight with it with a high chance of successful fishing. But the fisherman can feel more confident only if there are about 5 turns of the shock leader on the spool.
The actual equipment when fishing using the method is very simple. At the end of the main line, a swivel is attached, a leash is fixed to it, in front of which there is a persistent stopper, and then a flat feeder. You can install a rear stopper, and then, on the pond itself, taking into account the circumstances, move it relative to the spring. That is, make a blind installation for self-cutting or a sliding one.
Installation inline method
Main equipment elements:
- rear and front stoppers;
- flat feeder;
- swivel at the end of the fishing line.
A leash is tied on a carabiner 15 cm long under the hair rig for corn or medium boilies, where a carp hook No. 6-10 is tied. You also need spare leashes with smaller hooks No. 14-18 for a worm or maggot.
However, method feeders from different manufacturing companies sometimes require special fastening and special installation. But, by and large, the meaning of fishing does not change.
In addition, we must not forget that method feeders can be of different sizes and vary in weight.
For example, now in stores you can find “micro-flat” ones weighing approximately 20 grams. These products are designed for catching small carp and crucian carp at short distances. Of course, they are not suitable for trophy fish. Long-range weighted springs with an increased volume for bait mixture and a weight of 80-100 grams will be much more effective.
How to make the snap method correctly, watch the video:
Equipment method installation methods
Blind installation of equipment
Blind installation of equipment method
Self-cutting mounting method, great for fishing with several rods. When biting, the fish makes a jerk and is caught under the weight of the feeder. As a base, we take a fishing line 0.25-0.35 mm thick, depending on the trophy, and thread it through the body of the feeder. Then at the extended end we make a small loop using a figure eight knot. In order for the knot to tighten better, we wet it. Then we thread the connector through the fishing line and attach the swivel using the noose loop. Then we pull the connector onto the swivel. Now we pull the fishing line so that our swivel and connector fit firmly into the body of the feeder. A leash 7-10 cm long is attached to the swivel.
We retreat 35-40 cm from the feeder and knit a figure eight loop; using a noose, we attach a swivel to it. It will connect our rig to the main line.
When installing equipment, some athletes use leadcore instead of monofilament - a braided cord with a lead core inside. Thanks to this, your equipment is not so prone to twisting, is perfectly sunk on the bottom and does not scare the prey, causing less injury to the fish.
Feeder equipment inline method
Sliding equipment (inline) is used for catching cautious fish, as well as on days when they are inactive, because when the fish bites there is no need to move the feeder.
Inline method
To mount this gear, we use a monofilament fishing line of the same diameter as for the blind one, the length of the entire equipment is about 40 cm. We knit a swivel to the edge of the fishing line, and then the main fishing line will be knitted to it. then we thread a bead or silicone stopper through the opposite end; their task is to prevent the knot from hitting the feeder. After we thread the feeder, again we pass a bead or stopper and knit a swivel, the bead and stopper are selected with such a diameter so that they sit tightly on the fishing line and do not wander. The rubber stopper can be pulled onto the swivel. In this case, the size of the bead or stopper should not allow the swivel to enter the body of the feeder. Then we knit a leash 7-10 cm long to the swivel. The difference from the blind installation is that the equipment will slide freely along the fishing line.
Carp rig method for feeder
Here we will use flat-method feeders with feeder rubber ; you can buy them with rubber already installed on the feeder, or you can do it yourself.
Method-on-carp
Feeder Gum or Power gum is used for these purposes. We take an elastic band and attach a swivel to one edge using a figure eight knot, then thread the cambric and pull it onto the knot. Then we measure out the segment, as shown in the figure, the rubber at this moment should not be stretched, then we cut off the excess, skip the feeder and knit a swivel. If you did everything correctly, your feeder rubber will not protrude from the body of the feeder. Then, on the side where we have the cambric, we knit a leash 7-12 cm long, and on the opposite side, we knit the main line.
If there is no rubber, then install a 10 m shock leader made of monofilament with a diameter of 0.4 mm. The main line is also a monk 0.25-0.3 mm (we also use the same diameter when fishing with rubber). Then you do a dead-on or in-line installation. The thickness of the leash is 0.02 mm less than the diameter of the main line. When fishing for carp, it is recommended to use hair bait.
Hooks No. 12 - No. 16 according to the international classification.
Lures and Lures
Bait for catching carp using the flat method must meet certain conditions:
- have a strong attractive aroma for carp so that he can find it and the bait at the bottom of the pond;
- have sufficient viscosity to remain in the spring during casting and lowering it to the bottom of the pond;
- The bait composition for the method must lure fish better, unlike the starting one;
- the consistency of the bait mixture must be made such that it does not wash out within an hour after casting;
- have a small fraction so that the fish cannot quickly get enough, and thereby focus the carp’s attention on the large bait that is on the hook.
The bait at the bottom should be washed out gradually from the feeder.
You can use already prepared factory bait compositions, they also differ in viscosity, but if you wish, it is quite possible to make the bait yourself.
To make your own feeding mixture, you will need the following components:
- 1 kg of millet;
- 1 kg corn flour;
- 100 grams of canned corn;
- 100 grams of bran;
- 200 grams of milk powder.
Millet, flour, corn, and bran are cooked over a fire until they are completely boiled; powdered milk is poured in 10 minutes before readiness. Also, a small amount of honey is sometimes added to the already prepared bait mixture; it is the best flavoring agent for warm water.
Important: When cooking baits for carp fishing, it is necessary to ensure that they do not burn under any circumstances, as this significantly reduces the chances of bites.
As bait on the hook when fishing using the method, you can choose baits of animal or plant origin - peas, corn, worms, boilies, bloodworms, maggots and others, taking into account what exactly the carp likes in a particular pond at this time time.
Groundbait and maggots as bait
Fishing for carp using the flat feeder method, tackle, bait and fishing tactics using the Flat Method Feeder:
Catching carp on a feeder. Common mistakes made by newbies
The technique and tactics of carp fishing are quite difficult. Often, after spending a lot of time searching for fish, the result leaves much to be desired. The main thing in carp fishing is not to give up.
Experienced carp anglers spend 3-4 days to select the optimal baits, baits and flavors.
As a reward for their efforts, they will almost always get the desired result. So, when it comes to carp fishing, patience is not the last thing.
Carp are more often found in stagnant water, next to reeds. Prefers to hide in small dumps and holes.
Beginners often make the mistake of starting to look for carp far from the shore. Sometimes carp prefer the coastal zone. To better know the bottom topography of the reservoir where you are fishing, you need to tap the bottom with a marker rod.
Such a rod will not only help you recognize the bottom topography, but will also help you mark the point that we will feed in the future.
For ease of fishing, it is better to place all tools, baits and groundbaits next to you, so that you are less distracted when fishing.
Each feeder rod has replaceable tips. They vary in rigidity and sensitivity. The choice of tip depends on the weight of the feeder, as well as the size of the fish you are going to catch.
Each feeder also has a test. It is indicated either in grams or ounces. Test rods should also be selected based on the weight of the feeder and the size of the fish.
Method fishing technique
When catching fish using the method, first of all, you need to get acquainted with the features of the pond where you plan to fish - depth, flow speed, topography of the bottom plateau.
Before fishing, you need to start feeding the fish, and you must not forget that the starting bait composition must be inferior in attractiveness to the bait that will be introduced into the method.
You need to throw the equipment in one place - for which you select a landmark (for example, a tree or building) on the opposite bank and place a limiter on the spool for the cord or fishing line, so you can fix the distance of the thrown equipment.
You can choose a neutral bait, to which you can add different attractants already on the pond, selecting the most attractive ones for the carp.
Life hack. To find out the density of the prepared bait, you need to make a small ball out of it and throw it into a body of water right next to the shore, so you can determine how long it will take to wash it out with water.
Fishing for carp using the flat feeder method - expert video:
When fishing for carp or carp using the method, several fishing rods are often used at once - this makes it possible to fish a large area, and at the same time quickly determine which bait the fish prefers best. There is no need to recast often, once an hour is enough, since splashes will scare away cautious carp, especially when fishing in shallow water.
Special attention must be paid to bites. You should not react to barely noticeable impacts or vibration of the rod whip, of which there are always many during method fishing. Especially if sliding installation of equipment is used. These bites only mean that the carp is just trying the bait or has found it in the spring. You should expect a strong blow that will bend the rod blank.
When fishing using the method, the hook should be kept short, but at the same time sweeping. While fishing, try to be careful and attentive to the jerks of the carp. Any action by a fisherman against the movement of fish can cause loss of equipment and loss of prey.
Bait for the feeder method - do it yourself
Despite the huge range of ready-made bait mixtures, most fishermen, for various reasons, prefer to make them with their own hands. Below, I have compiled a plan for making bait for a method feeder at home. In which, as it were, he answered the most exciting questions of newcomers.
Naturally, the very first question is: what is “method” bait and how does it differ from other mixtures? This is a separate type of bait, designed specifically for “filling” “method” feeders. Most often used in reservoirs (in still water) for carp fishing. A distinctive feature of this type of bait is the ability to stay securely and for a long time on the feeder.
Mixing
How to mix method bait correctly? In principle, the same as other mixtures intended for some other types of fishing with a feeder. The only difference is the consistency (i.e. the degree of thickness).
Consistency
At the moment, there are 3 main ways to achieve the desired degree of thickness:
- Mix the bait with slightly higher humidity (but not very wet), so that when “tamped” around the feeder it creates a fairly dense ball. This is necessary so that the fish will have to work hard before it can “break” it.
- Mix relatively dry bait. Only in such a way that when compressed, it is still able to form into a ball, but after casting, it begins to gradually crumble itself, forming a bait slide at the bottom.
- Divide the dry mixture into two parts, in a ratio of 1/3 - 2/3. Make most of it wet (as indicated in step 1), and the rest as indicated in step 2. Next, form a ball of wet bait around the feeder, and create a coating of drier bait on top.
What happens with option 3? Immediately after casting, the drier bait will immediately crumble (attracting passing fish with “scented paths”), and the molded ball of the wetter bait will lie exactly in the middle, then holding the fish in place.
Ingredients
In fact, this list can be endless. Below, as an example, I will show you only the most popular ingredients:
- breadcrumbs (you can buy red or brown);
- ground “classic” or carp pellets;
- whole trout/halibut pellets;
- dry milk mixtures for children;
- dry custards;
- sweet corn (chopped in a mixer or whole);
- corn (“store-bought”) flakes;
- finely chopped boilies;
- dead maggots;
- corn flour;
- hemp seed (both crushed and whole);
- “Vitalin Original Dog Food” (super food for dogs);
- fish flour.
