Does anyone care to share what they use to make method mix in these parts? I have heard of using oats, catfood, hen scratch, tuna...Anyone have any other tips?

Big can of old fashion oats
1 can cream corn
1 can sweet corn

does this work everywhere?

There are probably as many method mixes as there are carpers...

This is a good one: http://www.americancarpsociety.com/cypr_baiting_method.html

Another from Mr. Evil:
Grit pack
24oz Instant Grits
12oz Quick Grits
2 cans cream corn
1 cup cooked hemp seed or bird seed

breaks down in about 3 minutes and packs hard . I usually fish it on a method/gripper lead with maize or fake maize


I've also used:
~4 cups calf manna
~1/2 cup Hogg Wild
1 can sweetcorn
1 can creamed corn

They all seem to work, but some work better at different times, on different waters. It pays to try different mixes.

I have 2 that I use most of the time.

the first one is my Quick oats mix. I keep it semi dry so it doesn't turn into a wet pasty mix. Works really well when the fish are turned onto bread
1 can quick oats
1 can creamed corn
2 cups calf manna
a good amount of flavor(I use superior Fruitanilla flavor)

The second is an old fashioned oats mix. Bigger particles, and it's heavier. seems to keep them in the area longer but bites aren't as quick
1 can old fashioned oats
1 can creamed corn
a few handfulls of sweet corn
2 cups calf manna
a good amount of cinnamon and chili powder

1 Can old fashioned oats
1 can quick grits (not instant)
chili powder (however much you like)
salt
2 cans creamed corn
1 can lake water (using an empty corn can)

You can cut this in half to make a partial batch.

Mix dry ingredients first,then add the corn,then water.

Let it sit for 10 minutes or so.

Simple,but effective

Mine is

Quick oats,
Maize
Flavoring
Flavored water from my maize bucket
Bird seed

I just eye ball it until it's sticky enough to cast

Is calf manna the dry powder for young calves? You gentlemen definitely know your carp feeding!!

I think you're thinking of milk replacer.

Calf manna are small feed pellets that you can get at any feed store. It smells like anise and breaks down quickly in water, making it ideal for method/pack mixes.

Both of them work, but most of our mixes contain the pellets. they smell great and the fish really turn onto them.

I use both the powdered milk replacer and the pellets in my PVA stick mixes

Thanks for the education!!

It's a secret! Lol

Danged 'ole secrets...guess I gotta put some trial and error into work!!

mine is :
30% ouick oats
10% dry mollasses
20% chick starter
25% calf manna
25% crushed boillies
to make it stick together i use 1 can regular sweet corn and ! can cream corn.. i dont know but i have good luck with del monte for some odd reason. josef:)

Carpfisher, there are also some on-line sources for premade groundbaits and methodmixes:
http://www.wackerbaits.com/sf/contents/en-us/d71.html
http://www.worldclassicbaits.com/groundbaits.html
http://www.bigcarptackle.com/store/home.php?cat=362
http://www.carpkit.com/groundbaits-method-stick-mixes/
http://newworldcarp.com/osc/baits-and-bait-making-pellets-and-particles-c-55_75.html
http://www.scorpiontackle.com/bait-carp-pellets-c-60_72.html
http://www.royalcarp.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=70
these should get you started! They are all North American shops. There could also be a couple I've missed...

I like the RoyalCarp pellets a lot, too!

Great Links Brian

1 Can of Old-Fashioned oats
1 Can creamed corn
Half bottle of chili powder
Couple of cap-fulls of favorite flavoring
Handful of hemp seed
Mix well

I've found that the biggest obstacle is getting something to both stick to the feeder and yet break down on bottom. After that, the fish will eat darn near anything!

I like to use goat pellets as a breaker, oats as a binder, cream corn as a wetter, and chili powder as a scent/flavor.

Add bread crums or more old fashioned oats for binding. Seems to have treated me well.