I’ve been enjoying a rich run of success of late, with four wins in six matches and I’ve enjoyed catching carp using nothing more complicated than a 6mm Sonu Fin Perfect Ton Up expander pellet - presented on a hair-rig with a home-made mini pellet feeder.

The Sonu Fin Perfect Ton Up pellets I’m referring to are the dark brown ones and they stay on well when used in conjunction with a Korum quickstop. I use 4lb reel line and a .17mm Preston Power hook-length.

The feeder is a home-made model, fashioned from thin clear tube. A piece of lead is glued to the side with an end bent up at 90 degrees.

A hole is drilled through this and a piece of Hollo elastic is fitted with steel rings tied at either end of the elastic. The end of the elastic coming through the top of the lead is clipped to a clip swivel tied to the main line, while the other end of the elastic, which also features a steel ring, has the hook-length attached to it.

Make sure the hole that the elastic goes through is large enough for the elastic to move freely through it when a fish is hooked.

The feeder is only capable of carrying in the region of 30 of the 2mm Sonu Fin Perfect feed pellets and the 6mm Sonu Ton Up expander pellet is pushed into the feeder among the feed pellets, which soon fluff up and push out once in the water.

I prefer a PR36 hook in a size 18. The hair is of such a length that the pellet, when mounted on the Quickstop, hangs just off the bend. The hook-length isn’t very long, with just a couple of inches of line showing through the bottom of the feeder, which is only 20mm x 20mm dimension-wise.

It requires patience, fishing this mini pellet feeder method, especially in cold water. But believe me, give it a try as we head towards spring.  Just cast it out and leave it until the tip goes round. And it will, even if it takes an hour to get a bite.

I pump my pellets for the hook on the day, on the bank, and leave them in a little water so that they don’t dry out. I don’t bother jellying them, I just use them straight from the bag. Give the Sonu Ton Up pellets, hair-rigged as described, a try. They work really well.