I think fishing past your feed works best when it’s solid because your not getting liners and the bigger fish will sit back from the feed,also if your swim goes quiet is another time when it works and sometimes putting a long line when fishing shallow past your feed gets good results.
I do think it works better in the warmer months and fish are activly feeding through,never had a great deal of success in winter with it

Thanks for the plug Chris.

As for fishing inside your feed, big roach often come under the bank to mop up maggots that get dropped. Think dead ones you take off the hook and throw in the edge, or spraying through a catty and some drop short.

If you decide to fish around your feed area, give it a maximum of five minutes. If there is a fish in that area, you will get indications straight away. So don’t waste time there unless you can tell there is a fish there.