Kev Hewitt was closely involved in the development of the ESP Mega Method Feeders and Mega Method ready tied rigs which are already taking waters apart this spring. In this article Kev explains why they are so affective.
The winter seemed to last forever as always is the case. I was fortunate to get out for a few sessions and as much as I enjoyed every minute, I was fully looking forward to spring. With the weather warming up and the carp becoming more active, it is time to take advantage of the carp waking up from their winter slumber and getting on the feed. With water temperatures on the up there is no better time to pull out all the stops to try and something new.
I have been using flat bed method feeders for a number of years now and have had some fantastic success on them but have always found the existing feeders on the market too small and not heavy enough for conventional carp tackle. Last year I was fortunate enough to be involved with the development of the new ESP Mega Method Feeders and now all my problems have been ironed out and there is the perfect method feeder available for all situations.
The Mega Method Feeders are available in two sizes Large and Extra Large. The large size comes in two weights, 2oz and 3oz which make them perfect for smaller commercials and ideal for casting up tight to islands. What’s more they have a number of knobbles on the underside which helps them grip island marginal shelves.
The extra large size method feeders are slightly heavier in both 2.5oz and 3.5oz which I use for long range fishing on the bigger waters. I prefer the 3.5oz versions on the larger waters as they are more stable in flight and distances of 100 yards plus are easily achievable. Delivering a small package of groundbait with a hookbait in the middle has been the downfall of many carp for me over the past few years and I have already been out catching a few carp using the new mega method feeders this year.
It is probably a tactic which is new to most anglers but I am sure that anyone who has been carp fishing for more than 10 years has used a method feeder at some point. I grew up using the method and caught a huge number of carp on it in my teens. I suppose I stopped using it around 10 years ago probably as it was seemingly becoming unfashionable. It is something you don’t see too often on the banks in recent years and it seems like anglers have forgotten just how effective the method used to be – and still is I might add. Just because it has perhaps become a little unfashionable to us, it doesn’t mean it has lost its effectiveness. In fact I firmly believe it has done a full circle and is becoming more effective than ever.
The evolution of the Mega Method Feeder has taken method fishing to a new level. Something which I was always paranoid about with the old style method feeders where you mould bait round the whole of the frame and it was actually possible for the hookbait to land on the underside and therefore be concealed and inaccessible. With the Mega Method’s having a flat base with the lead on the underside it has the advantage of always landing heavy side down which guarantees your hookbait is always on top and the first thing to get hoovered up when a carp mops up the small pile of groundbait.
The ready tied Mega Method rigs are the perfect length for tucking back inside the feeder and the soft ESP Camo Sink Link is the perfect material for these rigs as stiff mono or coated braid can make the hook bait spring back out of the feeder – not what you want!
The streamline shape and consistency of the amount of bait added to the feeder thanks to the mould makes the Mega Method’s one of the most accurate casting tools on the market. They fly straight as an arrow and make difficult island casts a whole lot easier. In fact I have literally bounced the feeder off the face of the island and received takes within seconds.
Well thank god that spring is finally here. I will be out using the Mega Method Feeders now that it is warming up. Do yourself a huge favour and if you haven’t already, then give it a try and see just how effective the method can be.
Tight lines,
Kev Hewitt
