The Method has to be one of the most successful commercial-venue feeder tactics ever developed. I still remember when, in the late 1980s, we started to use coil feeders. Things have come a long way since then!
So what’s so different about these flatbed feeders compared with the rest of the field? There are three characteristics that stand out. Firstly, there is a wide gape between the front and middle rib that allows you to bury a big bait in the feed. The angle of the ribs is such that the hook is less likely to snag. The second feature is the small studs on the base weight, which give extra grip when fishing on far-bank shelves. The last feature is the unique line connector that fits into the front of the feeder.
Unlike the quick-change beads that many anglers use, this double-ended connector is attached to the main line with a loop rather than a knot, as does the hook link. These are locked in place by a firm-fitting sleeve that covers the gape in the loop housing. It is important, however, that once both the main line and hook link are attached, the sleeve sits centrally on the connector, covering both slots fully.
The mould is easy to use. I got the best results by not overfilling it, especially when using micro pellets. One really good tip came from former world champion Will Raison. He uses the feeders and mould and, while on a recent feature, he showed me a small modification to the moulds that makes removal of the loaded feeder even quicker. He trims the sides down, so that the feeder slips out unhindered every time. It certainly worked when I tried it in the last few club matches I fished.
The system did take a little time to get used to, but after about an hour of the match, I mastered it. One word of caution, though! Don’t make your groundbait mix or pellets too wet as they won’t stick to the feeder’s ribs, so when you pull it from the mould some feed will be left behind.
I fished with the small 15g feeder, which was ideal for the 25m chucks I was making to the island. There was quite a shelf tight over, so the small studs on the weight ensured the feeder stayed pretty much in place, where it caught the attention of grubbing carp!
| Drennan In-Line Flat Method Feeders RRP: £3.95 inc mould Range: Small (15g & 25g), Large (25g & 35g) Contact: www.drennantackle.com |
