4mm scretting pellets on the method

[nicky]

Hello guys it's been a long time since I last visited but need some help.

I bought a sack of 4mm screttings pellets recently as they used to be my go to on the method feeder but they just don't seem the same as they used to be.

Dampened some overnight, not to wet and been bucket testing them on various method feeders, they seem to be more paste like than they used to be and not breaking down very well.

Depending on how hard I press the pellets on the feeder, the bait is often still stuck after 12 mins.

Anyone using them for the method and if so any advice

 

[Alan Whitty]

You don't mention how you go about wetting them, which might get a response from others, I must say pellets do change and just yesterday I was feeding 4mm mainline cell pellets, lots floated and after soaking them for a few minutes and draining them and the water drew in many still were floating away, something I hate, especially at this stage of the year when I'm feeding hardly anything, when they float off I'm feeding nothing.....hope you sort the problem.

 

[markcw]

Try mixing a bit of groundait with them
Or put a handful in a couple of cheap food bags the night before , just cover with water, tie the bag tight with pellets in a corner . Leave in fridge overnight .
When at venue just put in bait box with slight covering of water . They will be fine on the feeder .
Another option is use 2mm on feeder and 4mm on hook

 

[nicky]

Thanks Mark, I've got a groundbait recipe I use on the method feeder that breaks down perfectly maybe ill try to mix a bit of that in.
I did buy them so I wouldn't always have to make groundbait, hey ho.
Maybe they will break down better when the water is warmer.

 

[Alan Whitty]

Maybe don't wet them as much, or maybe a bit more, also, don't compress them so hard on the feeder, experiment on small batches at home and try them in a bucket, 2mm'ers work better, some match anglers put small amount of 4's in however...

 

[nicky]

Yes I'm sure I could compress them a little less especially on smaller waters.
I was bucket testing them last night and compressing them hard for use on a largish water where may need to punch the feeder out to 17 wraps or more to reach the fish

 

[nicky]

I definitely used to use 4mm screttings with no problem probably 10 years ago now, but stopped using them as my local tackle shops stopped selling them and moved to coppens which set like concrete on the method feeder, that was when I started making my own ground bait to overcome the problem.
Bought an agricultural grinder for the purpose

 

[@Clive]

A lot of products that have grains in them are being changed because of shortages caused by the situation in Ukraine. These pellets could be similarly affected.

 

[Alan Whitty]

Nicky, the pellet your using aren't breaking down, so therefore you would be able to cast twenty wraps plus, it sounds like they are forming up like putty, I understand the method well, I was using skrettings 2mm's which I soaked for four minutes, then drained, leaving a lid on for 30 mins, perfect, then I went onto a different flavoured pellet, had to soak them 6 mins plus, often having to add small amounts of water...manufacturing methods have probably change, or new machinery bought...

 

[markcw]

Yes I'm sure I could compress them a little less especially on smaller waters.
I was bucket testing them last night and compressing them hard for use on a largish water where may need to punch the feeder out to 17 wraps or more to reach the fish

Bucket testing will be a little different than actual fishing with them .
Say you are casting 30-40 yards . The feeder lands with a splash . The water pressure as it sinks should loosen them .
Sounds as if you are compressing them to hard .

 

[nicky]

A lot of products that have grains in them are being changed because of shortages caused by the situation in Ukraine. These pellets could be similarly affected.

I think you might be right there I read the recipe can change depending availability of ingredients from batch to batch

 

[nicky]

Bucket testing will be a little different than actual fishing with them .
Say you are casting 30-40 yards . The feeder lands with a splash . The water pressure as it sinks should loosen them .
Sounds as if you are compressing them to hard .

I think I am I need to practice on easier water as where I'm fishing is hard at the best of times to get a bite, and this N easterly wind isn't helping.

They deffo not the same though more putty like, I remember bucket testing them and watching them expanding and swelling off the feeder

 

[mikench]

I use Skrettings 2mm pellets on the feeder as Coppens are no longer available, I wet them before casting out and , if the weather is warm, I regularly add more water as they dry out.. sometimes the mould doesn’t release the compressed pellets just as the fish decline the hook bait. That’s fishing.

 

[nicky]

I bought 4mm pellets as opposed to micros as that's what I used previously, and also have more options as they can be cast further when used as free bait for tench fishing, can be turned into jelly pellets, and used for barbel in the feeder.
They will get used, plus if all else fails I'll make groundbait.
My usual mix is 6 cups of dark best pellets, 4 cups of aldis cheap cat biscuits, and 2 cups of cornflakes just to add some different particles.
The cat biscuits particles expand and help break the method feeder down.
Nothing fancy but works for barbel carp tench and bream.

 

[S-Kippy]

Dear Lord…life is complicated enough without timing pellets. I’ve had the odd issue with floating expanders but a bit of extra water usually sorts it.