Prefer the catty at close quarters, the stick for area-baiting at longer range, and the spod for baiting tight at longer range.
All depends on what the fish are doing innit. If they're shoaled up in the middle then I'm not going to be using the catty close is.
My preferred method is the one that gets the bait to to the fish I'm fishing for.
If we spin the question round and ask what type of fishing situation I prefer, it's definitely close quarters with the catty. Up close and personal stuff, if I can see the spot from up a tree, and can see them feeding, I'm happy as Larry.