When you want to fish beyond pole range, feeders often have a positive effect on your results. These rigs can be tailored to your specific needs or the species you are targeting, also working wherever you take them, so be sure to give them a try on your next session...
Method Feeder
The Method feeder is the most popular commercial rod and line tactic. It places your hookbait amongst a small pile of loosefeed which means it will get slurped up when a fish attacks the pile. A short hooklength almost guarantees fish hook themselves so you don’t need to strike at the bite.
Feeder
A flatbed Method feeder will sit on top of pretty much any surface. A 30g version is a good starting point on small commercials, stepping up if you need to cast further.
Terminal tackle
A short hooklength of 4in enables you to tuck your hookbait inside the pile of loosefeed on the feeder. This needs to be made of strong line to prevent breakages as it will come under severe pressure during the fight. Use anything between 0.18mm to 0.22mm depending on the fish you are catching.
A fairly big hook will provide a solid hook-hold. A size 12 will score, straight hooking dead maggots and using a bait band for wafters and hard pellets.
Bait
Groundbait and dampened micro pellets can both be moulded around the frame of the feeder. Most versions come with a dedicated moulding tool that make this easy. Swap between baits until you work out which is best on the day.
THIS STYLE OF FEEDER FISHING IS BEST DONE WITH ONE OF THE BEST SHORT FEEDER RODS.
Pellet Feeder
The difference between a Method and pellet feedermay seem minimal, but those subtle changes can make all the difference. A pellet feeder only empties out of one end and forms an extremely tight pile of bait. This is ideal on days when a fish may only take one slurp to get its meal. Try it on pressurised venues for carp and F1s.
Feeder
Use the smallest version you can get away with in winter, stepping up to a bigger version when it gets mild. This makes sure you deliver the appropriate amount of food to get the balance between attracting fish without overfeeding them.
Terminal Tackle
Spool up with 6lb mainline to deal with the rigours of catching big fish and frequent casting. A 4in hooklength of 0.18mm-0.22mm line and a size 14 hook with a banded pellet completes the set-up.
Bait
The name of the feeder tells you what bait works best with it. Fill it with dampened 2mm pellets, cramming a few 4mms among them to add a little variety. A 6mm pellet will blend in well and any cagey fish won’t suspect a thing when sucking up the food.
YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEND A FORTUNE TO GET A GREAT REEL, CHECK OUT OUR BUYER'S GUIDE TO SOME OF THE BEST AVAILABLE.
Hybrid Feeder
The Hybrid Feeder is exactly what the name suggests, it combines the best of the pellet and method feeder into one style, which has exploded in popularity since its creation. The high sides mean bait is prevented from falling off on impact with the water, whilst allowing a quick breakdown with your hookbait being positioned perfectly in the centre, waiting for a fish to hoover it up.
Feeder
Use a feeder to match how you will be fishing. They are designed to be cast, so you will often find you can get away with a smaller feeder and still reach long distances, however if the fish are feeding well a bigger feeder can often attract more fish in with the extra bait it can carry.
Terminal tackle
As you'll often be casting a decent distance, quite frequently, a mainline of 6-8lb is the ideal choice. This will give you the strength and durability required, especially if you are using a bigger feeder. Hooklength is very much the same as the other options, 4in being the standard coupled with a size 12 hook and whatever bait you are confident in.
Bait
Bait couldn't be simpler with 95% of angler's opting for dampened 2mm pellets, these can be pressed into the feeder firmly, yet still breakdown quickly so you are fishing effectively in the shortest time possible. A good tip is to really compress the bait in before you add the hookbait so you always have some attraction in the feeder.
A LONGER ROD WILL HELP YOU CAST FURTHER AND THE BEST MEDIUM FEEDER RODS WILL DO JUST THAT.
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