Which pellets to feed?

[TF_Bear361Participant]

Seeing Steve R`s article in Angling Times this week about feeding expanders made me think about what I`m feeding and what to feed. For example some fisheries don`t allow micro pellets so I would usually feed at this time of year 4mm hard(soaked) pellets but say at a fishery where you can feed any size pellets is it better to feed micro`s this time of year so you wouldn`t fill the fish up? Then there`s the question are hard pellets better or do some of you feed expanders with better results?
Any advice please lads, thanks

[pipikins]

Don’t know if I am missing something here, but surely if softened pellet (ie soaked hard pellet) is taken readily by fish, and they take a soft hooker pellet comfortably, then it makes sense that if you feed softened expanders, then they will take them too! A fish expends less energy ‘chewing’ a soft bait than a hard bait, so may remain in your swim for a little longer, rather than filling it’s mouth and moving away from the swim to crush the food with it’s phryngeal ‘teeth’.

Feeding micro pellets, in my opinion, will only fill the fish up less if you feed little enough of it, the same as any other pellet, but it does mean the fish may stay there slightly longer in order to pick up enough to satisfy them, so are more likely to take your hookbait in the process.

Feeding soft hookers instead of hard pellet isn’t a new concept, surely?? Perhaps it is just another rouse to sell more expanders at a time when anglers seem to have less faith in them and tend towards sweetcorn and other things that better resemble the food fish find naturally at this time of year?

As usual, an angler tries something, writes about it and suddenly we have a wonder method!

[TF_maker]

Omega’s to feed this time of year, 3mm and i go a 4-6mm on the hook.

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

Pipikins, who claimed feeding soft expanders was a new concept? I certainly didnt so i suggest maybe you read the article before slating something without knowing anything about it!
The article in question related to several winter sessions i have had and my findings. It’s designed to get people thinking about what they should be feeding and why. Personally i’m not a fan of feeding micro pellets at anytime of the year simply because you cant put one on the hook. You therefore have a lot of fish feeding purely on the micros and ignoring your hookbait.
Soft pellets on the other and are much easier digested at this time of year, also they appeal to a number of different species far more readily than hard pellets, in my opinion of course.

[TF_tip mon]

Steve,

I have read with interest what you have posted about micro’s…..and this is in no way a negative response….just want to explore a little further your thoughts about micro’s.

You say your not a fan of feeding micro’s at any time of year, and from what you say in your post, your reasoning makes sense. However do you stick by this theory when it comes to method feeder fishing? Do you use micro’s around a method feeder or do you prefer groundbait?

Thanks.

[pipikins]

@carpmagic wrote:

Pipikins, who claimed feeding soft expanders was a new concept? I certainly didnt so i suggest maybe you read the article before slating something without knowing anything about it!
The article in question related to several winter sessions i have had and my findings. It’s designed to get people thinking about what they should be feeding and why. Personally i’m not a fan of feeding micro pellets at anytime of the year simply because you cant put one on the hook. You therefore have a lot of fish feeding purely on the micros and ignoring your hookbait.
Soft pellets on the other and are much easier digested at this time of year, also they appeal to a number of different species far more readily than hard pellets, in my opinion of course.

Sincere apologies Steve, you are right, I haven’t read the article and I should have just put my views on feeding and not made assumptions. Hands up – sorry pal.

I can’t agree about the digestibility of soft pellets at this time of year though, I’m afraid. If you are referring to the wheatgerm used in the pellets, it is a myth designed years ago by koi food manafacturers to get people to buy food in the winter. Wheat germ is no more digestible at this time of year than at any other time.

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

Im referring to the consistency of pellets as opposed to the actual pellet content. For me a softer pellet has to be more easily digested than a hard one which needs to be crunched in order to break it down. A softer pellet also is far easier for a fish to suck in due the weight difference and almost neutral buoyancy of an expander pellet.

[TF_braddersParticipant]

well it certainly made me think about what to feed gonna give it a go next time i go fishing.

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

Tip mon, i have used micros on the method feeder although i now much prefer to use a groundbait and pellet mix. The method feeder is very different since my hookbait is actually buried in amongst the micro pellets thereby increasing its chances of getting sucked in amongst them. You also have the competiton element with the method feeder in that if there are two or three fish feeding in a very tight area then there is a vastly increased chance of one of them making a mistake and sucking the hookbait in. When pole fishing everything is more spread out thereby giving the fish more time to browse.

[Anonymous]

Steve, you wrote one of the best articles i have ever read on the subject of hard pellets V expander pellets. Think that was about 5 years ago with your dad and Phil. Maybe its time for that article to be done again so others learn from your thoughts and experiences on the subject. That article made me think things though and adapt my fishing with pellets. Its not often i use micro,s these days even on some of the very difficult North West commercial match venues where micro,s are the normal feed for most anglers.

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

Steve, i know the article you are thinking about. Its longer than 5 years ago though. When the weather warms up i might look at doing something similar again.

[TF_rseed]

what pellet would you use for feed then? and how would you prepare it?

cheers

[pipikins]

@carpmagic wrote:

Im referring to the consistency of pellets as opposed to the actual pellet content. For me a softer pellet has to be more easily digested than a hard one which needs to be crunched in order to break it down. A softer pellet also is far easier for a fish to suck in due the weight difference and almost neutral buoyancy of an expander pellet.

I see hat you are getting at steve, but to be pedantic, the digestibility of a pellet is dependent on the ingredients used to make it.

Of course, as you say, a soft bait is easier for a fish to to take, but it will still have to ‘chew’ it before it swallows it. It could be argued that, as the bait will be easier to ‘chew’ a fish may take more in one sitting than it may if the bait was hard, thus making amount of feed required even more difficult to determine? ~think

[Anonymous]

Like Steve (carpmagic) has already stated,feeding expander pellets amongst your feed bait isn’t a new concept at all..In my own experience i have always found it better to feed a few expanders.I always introduce a few 4mm pumped expanders at the start and continually feed 2 or 3 with micro pellets through a toss pot every put in or whenever i feel i need to feed.The thought process behind it is that your feeding a few offerings of what you’re actually using on the hook as well as a confidence thing,the fish nearly always respond in a positive manner.

[TF_baitchefParticipant]

I am no expert but one thing I do know is that you definitely need to match specific types/sizes of pellet to specific situations. In addition I have always believed fish prefer a soft textured bait. You only have to look at how effective casters are, yes initially they have a shell but the main reason is because they are a fluid bait.

[TF_proper tidal boy]

try adding a flavouring to your soft exspanders adds a new dimension to winter fishing ???

[TF_Smed]

id LOVE to read that article re soft pellets/hard pellets

theres been many a time where ive not been able to get a bite on one, then switched to the other and got instant results, ive never been able to suss out why on some days they prefer hard ones over soft and next day the other way round?

[TF_Snooty Fox]

@WOODY999 wrote:

Like Steve (carpmagic) has already stated,feeding expander pellets amongst your feed bait isn’t a new concept at all..In my own experience i have always found it better to feed a few expanders.I always introduce a few 4mm pumped expanders at the start and continually feed 2 or 3 with micro pellets through a toss pot every put in or whenever i feel i need to feed.The thought process behind it is that your feeding a few offerings of what you’re actually using on the hook as well as a confidence thing,the fish nearly always respond in a positive manner.

No wonder you do so well at Makins Gaz~naughty ~naughty ~naughty ~naughty

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

Snooty, I’m sure Mark P told me you can feed the green swim stim sink and soak expanders at Makins.

[TF_Snooty Fox]

Well knock me down with a feather – I never knew that~sick

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

I was only told this year when i questioned Mark about someone else using them!!!!

[redpaste]

Cant believe wot im reading i always thought you could only feed swimstim green not the expanders~sick ~sick ~sick ~sick ~sick ~sick

Snooty thats why we cant compete then lol

[Anonymous]

Green Swimstim sinking expanders,so stick that up yer Jacksy Snoots..Mind you i do have a little trick up my sleeve regarding those ones but i aint tellin ya now !

Anywhere else and its normal 4mm expanders.

[redpaste]

Woody999

I dont think the rules stated you could feed swimstim expanders or is the green swimstim a generic term?

Stand corrected if its right but i will now ask MP next round.

[TF_carpmagicParticipant]

Just spoke to mark and he said yes you can you can feed the Dynamite green swim stim sinking expanders. As long as they are green and they say hook and feed pellet on the bag.

[Anonymous]

Andy,its the ones Dynamite brought out a few years ago,the sinking expanders,you dont actually pump them,just soak em for a bit.
Always been led to believe that these are legal at Makins.

[redpaste]

sorted then only been fishin makins for 3 years not knowing that gutted

wot next 2 keep nets all year round lol

[TF_Snooty Fox]

anyone wnna buy 10 bags of 3mm’s LOL

[Anonymous]

Apologies accepted..lol.

[redpaste]

Woody 999 wrote

Andy,its the ones Dynamite brough out a few years ago,the sinking expanders,you dont actually pump them,just soak em for a bit.
Always been led to believe that these are legal at Makins.

yes Gaz i know about the pellets just gutted I didnt know these could be used as feed pellets or I would have used them.

[Anonymous]

Snoots,keep your 3mm’s mate,the expanders are only for feeding sparingly.

[redpaste]

level playing field now Snooty mate lol

[Anonymous]

@redpaste wrote:

level playing field now Snooty mate lol

normally once the cat is out the bag the top anglers are onto something else mate ~shh

[TF_Craftytafty]

@redpaste wrote:

sorted then only been fishin makins for 3 years not knowing that gutted

wot next 2 keep nets all year round lol

i knew you weren’t listening when Mark was reading the rules out Andy lol
~clap ~clap ~clap ~clap ~clap

[redpaste]

Andy (craftytafty) no wonder you and ninefingers have got the force lol

[TF_AnthonywatersParticipant]

When expander pellets are made are they made in the conventional way like a hard pellet is by extruding the mixture from a machine ? They have a very uniformed shape ?

[TF_Bear361Participant]

Cheers guys, I`ve learnt something because for some reason I thought that micro`s this time of the year would be far superior over say 4mm etc but after reading Steve`s article in AT it got me thinking about what pellets I should be using. Just gotta get out and give it practice now. Thanks.

[TF_GLEBE1]

Bloody hell!! another one that didnt know you could feed the green dynamite expanders!!!!
Still not much use on lake 1 lol

[TF_nodrog]

I did not get a copy of the AT with this article in it but would like to read it.
Has anyone got the article who is able to upload it?
many thanks

[TF_Bear361Participant]

Unfortunately I have thrown it away. I usually keep my AT`s and all fishing mags for years but for some reason I`ve gone and chucked it out, hopefully someone else could help.

[TF_nodrog]

bttt

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