THE BASICS
So you’ve managed to get your equipment set up for method feeding, the pellets are now holding to the feeder just right and your boilie is nicely tucked away inside waiting for a hungry carp to move in and scoop up your bait. Your rod tip is moving so you strike… nothing? You re-cast and it moves again, sometimes doing different things, sometimes the rod is bending so far around that you must be in… strike… nothing. Frustration sets in too “crap technique” you say, no! I can assure you it’s part of the learning that you have to go through. What’s happening?
TAP, TAP, TAP
Action
Your rod tip makes lots of movements and the tip is bouncing usually moving about 1-2inches all the time.
Usual Reason
The fish are doing exactly what you want them to, they are feeding on your bait. As the fish eat the pellet it moves and pulls at the line causing you rod to bounce. Don’t strike! Wait for the fish to pick up your hookbait.
THE SLOW PULL
Action
Your rod tip pulls right around, maybe moving as much as 1.5 feet. It pulls at a slow pace, the same speed throughout and then drops back.
Usual Reason
A fish is swimming into you line. Your line is in the water and fish do swim into it. As the line drags over their body your rod is pulled around slowly with it. The movement is slow as the fish is moving slowly, the line pull will only speed up if the fish gets “spooked” and shoots off. The rod may drop back slowly or suddenly depending on how the line falls away from the fishes body. Either way, don’t strike! I know that you will want to, but don’t! The rod action is a clear indication that there is a fish near to your feeder.
THE TAP, TAP, TAP SLOW PULL
Action
A combination of the 2 above rod tip actions. The rod moves only a short distance, 1-3 inches with a slow constant pull.
Usual Reason
Crayfish have found your feeder. Get the bloody things out of the lake! If you real in slowly you might bring it in where you can introduce it too your shoe size. (Don’t throw the dead crayfish back in).
THE DROP BACK
Action
The line suddenly goes slack and the rod tip drops back to neutral.
Usual Reason
So many reasons here ranging from your feeder slipping down the bank to a fish picking up your hookbait and swimming toward you. If I’ve been having loads of positive feeding tap, tap, taps on my rod right before the dropback I will usually strike. If the rod drops back out of the blue I will usually wind the real to re-establish line tension. The drop back is something you have to get a feel for after seeing it for yourself many times.
THE AGGRESSIVE TAP, TAP, TAP
Action
Your rod tip repeatedly pulls around up to 6inches in a sharp aggressive manner.
Usual Reason
Fish on, STRIKE!
THE WRAP AROUND
Action
The one that you want. Your rod tip aggressively wraps around and usually won’t stop until your rod is swimming down the lake. This usually follows the tap, tap, tap but will also often come completely out of the blue. This is why your hand needs to always be ready.
Usual Reason
A carp has felt the hook in its lip and is going to bomb it away. The carp will usually look for safety, which is all to often something that will snap you up… apply the pressure to the carp by striking straight away.
THE STILL ROD
Action
Sod all.
Usual Reason
Karma, try smiling more!
