Good answer Elmo.
If I have a couple of fish in the margins to go at in the middle of summer I'll pop a few pellets in by hand.
If I see most of the stock going crazy out in the middle in January (rare but I have seen it) I'll fill it in.
All depends on the fishing situation.
Well I guess it depends on where you are fishing, stock levels, the result you want to achieve , what bait you are using and what methods and tactics you and others using round the lake , you just have to try and do your own thing and learn as you go,