New to Bite alarm fishing. Need help please:)

[excarper]

Yes goes without saying. Try using bright coloured baits if you can they will give you the edge this time of year as carp seem to home in on a visual bait when its been cold for a while

[alec]

Ye a nice bright bait works well. But Sometimes they may not be up for it. So take some dark ones aswell.
If there is small fish like roach and bream and your focusing in the carp then maybe try a couple of bits of plastic corn these tend to work. Maybe buy a bit of pva tape or nuggets to hold hair in place for casting. If you use a nugget this will come of and float to the too for a visual marker to place a few freebies around your hook bait. You can also get lead clips so you have a fixed lead that will come of of you get snagged up.

Running rigs do work well though
good luck :)

[Fishercal]

Cheers :) I tend to use halibut pellets alot in summer time; it seems to work well. I might try some feeder fishing soon; is feeder fishing any different?

[alec]

I love feeder fishing I tend to go for a day when I want to travel light ie no bivvy and all my carp gear.

But I do this without alarms I have a Avon quiver rod which can be used for float/feeder fishing
and a smaller reel (no need for baitrunner etc)
just take a bit of ground bait small hooks light line and a landing mat bag which holds all my bits and bobs in.

I tend to use a running feeder cage style feeder setup and some pellets and ground bait mixed in.

Then use pellet/corn on the hook and just catch what I catch.
Really nice in the summer specially on lakes with bream etc in

As you can move a about a lot do a bit of stalking and catch a few fish. And nothing can beat when the rod nearly flies into the water when you hook into a bonus tench or carp. I tend go on match type lakes when doing this kind if fishing as bites tend to come most times I go :)

[Fisherwood]

When using a running rig I find I don't need a bobbin indicator because no matter which way the carp swims it pulls the line through the weight; so no drop backs.

A lot of great information in this thread!

[excarper]

One last thing fish for one bite at a time, dont go filling in your swim to early with loads of freebies, just gradually build your swim up. Fishmeal not as good in winter nor are the oily baits like hallibut pellet. Try sticking to corn / meat or small visual baits. Tight Lines

[alec]

I using a feeder I tend to look for fish activity as usual. But fish for a bite. You can always move.
The bait in the feeder is enough to attract the fish in. 3/4 fish fighting over a few pellets will come across your hookbait quicker than 3/4 fish fighting over 5+ spods full.

If fishing boiles I would fish ground bait in the feeder and then catapult a few hookbait freebies near the area aswell.

But like previously said don't put to much in to soon.

Also a good tip is be extra quite wheb close the water edge when in your swim.
As watching anglers on many lakes throwing there last few pellets/sweetcorn in the margins at end of there sessions. I often see decent size carp in the margins when I get to the lake earlier enough. If you don't see any it's always worth trickling a bit if bait in a few meters away (so not to disturb when playing other fish during the day) check threw out the session for fish activity or if the waters clear see if the baits still there.

Good luck :)