Feeder fishing has exploded in popularity, and with it, the feeder fishing rods and tactics required to catch fish have changed too, with the "short line" when fishing for silvers or big carp becoming the go-to place for many anglers and a short feeder rod is ideal for this. Shorter chucks to islands around 20-30m away with method or hybrid feeders is a staple on commercials, accounting for numerous fish over the course of a season and to do it efficiently and maximise the potential of these methods you need a rod designed for the job.
Short feeder rods ranging between 7ft and 10ft have been developed to aid casting accuracy at these shorter distances, where a longer rod is just too cumbersome. The rods generally feature a softer action, so they can cushion the fight of strong carp or provide the finesse to see silverfish bites and retrieve the fish without suffering hookpulls.
The best short feeder rods at a glance:
The best short feeder rods by their nature are far easier to control and use. They are great for beginners and seasoned anglers alike, and they provide a dynamic for shorter range feeder work that other rods just can't match. A shorter rod, when casting up to around 30m, is unrivalled in terms of the casting accuracy and power it can generate, it is much easier to be precise at these distances with a rod of around 10ft than it is with a longer feeder rod. Short feeder rods are easier to compress, so they don't need a lot of force to generate a powerful, accurate cast. Here is a guide to some of the best available right now.
How we tested the best short feeder rods
These short feeder rods were tested by experienced members of the Angling times team. We have been using and abusing rods and have probably used most, if not all of them during our time on the bank, so we know the best from the rest!
Team members, Mark Sawyer and Dan Webb have been testing a variety of short rods on some of the UK's premier commercials fisheries, to ensure they perform and get a thorough testing from big carp and silverfish!
Our decision process of what makes the best short feeder takes into account various factors including price point, rod action, build quality and versatility to ensure we can give you the best advice on factors that will make an actual different to your angling, rather than confuse you with a load of specifications.
The following list includes a mixture of our favourites for commercial carp and silverfish feeder fishing to help find a reliable rod for you. Find out how we test our gear, HERE.
The Daiwa Matchman Mini Method is a gem of a rod. After carefully looking over the minimalistic ceramic-lined stainless steel guides, screw down cork reel seat with cork handle and EVA lower, all appeared to be what I’d expect for a sub-£100 rod, let alone a sub £50 one.
In fact, the mini Method Feeder rod was indiscernible from many high-end rods just from a mere inspection and a waggle. It was at this point that the names troubled me a little, as pigeonholing these rods into a ‘Method Feeder’ category is a shame, as the range would make ideal all-round feeder rod for any kind of venue, not just commercials.
Another observation was the unusual finish. The butt section of each rod has a smooth matt finish, while the upper sections are raw carbon. After a spot of investigation, I learned that the finish stiffens up the lower section, while weight is reduced higher up the blank by its exclusion. This two-part look is a little unusual, but if it delivers greater performance then I’m all for it.
In use, the rod felt light and forgiving in the hand, and while displaying a formidable bend, the rod still didn’t feel underpowered at any point, even with the fish I was hooking, which must have been averaging 8lb.
In short, the rod felt glorious, the only issue being that I still hadn’t been able to fault it in any way. Even as the day progressed and I made bigger casts, I was blown away by the smooth action and fast recovery.
As for my final thoughts on the range? Well, if you only have £50 to spend on a rod, then you’re hardly likely to find anything better when it comes to the longer rods. As for the 9ft Mini Method Feeder, though, I’m not fussed if your budget is £50 or £500, this rod is worth a look!
Read our full Daiwa Matchman 9ft Mini Method review.
Pros
- Lovely fish playing action.
- Perfect for commercials.
Cons
- Will struggle to cast a larger feeder any distance.
| Casting weight: | 30g |
| Tips supplied: | Carbon 1oz and 1.5oz |
The Preston Dura Carp Feeder is a range of affordable, yet high-quality feeder rods designed to meet the demands of modern commercial fishing. With a range of lengths and casting weights, these rods offer exceptional value and performance.
The blank was light, and soft enough to prevent the minimalist cast feeling too cumbersome and the little extra length wasn’t an issue either, and had very little effect on my accuracy.
On my second cast during testing, which clipped the overhanging grass, the rod whipped forward. Instinctively picking up and winding down, it bent right down to the reel seat as a very solid weight slowly thumped on the end, signalling a big carp! Although the fight got me excited and was great fun, in reality, I felt very much in control the whole time, and I netted near double figures of surprised carp on a slightly under-gunned 18 hook.T
he rest of the morning followed the script. Regular mini carp and baby F1s graced my net, giving the 10ft Carp Feeder an entirely different challenge. These scrappy little things are expert escapees, and regularly bounce off a barbless hook when faced with an unbalanced set-up.
Despite the bargain pricing of my weapon of choice, surprisingly few of them managed to get away.Although it’s possible to buy an adequate 10ft feeder rod for less, is it really worth it when £10 to £15 more delivers so much extra in terms of performance? A £55 rod is never going to give you what a £200 rod will, but an extra few quid spent at the budget end makes a huge difference.
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Read our full Preston Innovations Dura Carp Feeder review._
Pros
- Affordable yet high quality
- Durable and capable, with the ability to cast distance if required
Cons
- Lacks a lighter quiver tip
| Casting weight: | 20-60g |
| ps supplied: | 1oz and 2oz |
Well, with the help of five-time World Champion Alan Scotthorne, the company has tweaked the actions, increased the size of the guides, and increased the taper on the Acolyte Commercial feeder rods.
It might not be quite as good at showing tentative roach bites or sweeping skimmer takes, but the reduced recoil will stop it breaking when committing to fishing for bigger fish with repeated casting and reeling.
All this sounds great, but I was still a little shocked when I took one of the rods out of the bag.
Acolyte rods boast possibly the thinnest blanks on the market, and the Commercials are no exception. In fact, the thickest part of the longest 12ft model is near half the diameter of a five-pence piece!
Combine this with the oversized guides that we are more used to seeing on distance rods, and you get a very unusual look. It almost tricks your eyes with its unexpected proportions. This illusion only becomes more dramatic the shorter the rod you look at.
However, I needn't have worried about its capabilities, as this sensationally thin blank absorbed every movement of really big fish with ease, while still allowing me to feel exactly what was going on.
Despite being short and soft, with a progressive action, the 10ft model has a stunning casting potential, even more unexpected considering the super-thin blank.
Casts nearing 50m were easily achievable, the sort of range I would normally pick an 11ft rod up for. This now nicely categorised the rods for me – 9ft for small commercials, 10ft for big commercials.
Although tweaked to favour flatbed feeders and bombs, all these rods can, of course, be used with conventional feeders for silvers, F1s and on natural venues – they just won’t do it quite as well as the correct dedicated Drennan Acolyte.
So, will my beloved 11ft Medium Feeder finally be retired? Yes, it will, but unexpectedly its replacement will be the shorter 10ft-long Acolyte Commercial. It really is that good!
Pros
- Fantastic rod for commercial feeder fishing
- Versatile rod, built for use on variety of venues
- Great casting rod
Cons
- Not the best rod if you are primarily targeting silverfish
| Casting weight: | 30g |
| Tips supplied: | Carbon 1oz, 1.5oz and 2oz |
The new Daiwa Spectron Ultra Feeder Rods are something special, especially for the price bracket it situates itself in, whilst its by no means a budget rod, the performance and materials used makes you feel it should command a far more premium price than it does. Still owning and using the original Spectron rods, it may well be time for an upgrade as these rods are superb, when casting the whole rod performs flawlessly helping propel a feeder with the minimal of effort and when we reviewed the casting footage from the day, you couldn't see where the joint in the rod was, truly remarkable.
The fish playing action as you would expect is stunning, there are no flat spots and the 'notably progressive' action Daiwa have labelled the rod with is accurate, but rather than the usual scenario of the rod powering up along the top section of the rod, the Spectron Feeder Rod allows the pressure to flow through the V-Joint and further down the blank, this not only allows more pressure to be put on the fish, it will reduce hook pulls and give you a sense that the rod can just keep on giving should you need it too, sublime.
The rod is an out and out commercial fishery tool and no matter the fishery you take it to or what size fish you subject it to, the rod will handle them whilst asking "is that all you've got?" The handle of the rod is fairly unique, with full length EVA being the choice as opposed to any cork, whilst this may not be for everyone, I personally thought it was a lovely edition to the rods, it helps with the balance and if I do say so, made them look fantastic too.
Read our fullDaiwa Spectron CommercialUltra review
Pros
- Latest in design and technology giving, excellent all-round performance
- Premium components and technologies including Nanoplus Carbon, SeaGuide TDG guides and Megatops
Cons
- The progressive action may be too through and soft for some as this is very subjective
Preston’s new flagship range of rods promises high performance aimed at commercial anglers; this rod will handle the rigours of modern commercial angling from straight lead to method feeders but will equally be at home on a canal or small river.
The rod boasts a soft progressive action absorbing all lunges and supressing hook pulls, incorporating a new X wrap carbon weave to provide casting accuracy, power and sensitivity.
Particular attention has been paid to aesthetics with a unique finish that makes it a sight to behold.
Supplied with 3 tips gives this rod a versatility to tackle most fishing conditions.
Pros
- The X Wrap carbon weave gives precision for those short-range casts
- Soft progressive action absorbs all lunges and reduces hook pulls
Cons
- The soft progressive action may feel a little too soft for some anglers targeting larger fish
| Casting weight: | 30g |
| Supplied tips: | Carbon 0.5, 0.75 and 1oz |
Best in class short feeder rod
www.ebay.co.uk
Light and sensitive enough to detect the slightest movement, Free Spirit’s HI-S 9ft F1 Special Feeder boasts a distinctly tippy yet progressive action to absorb the darting runs and fast lunges from F1s of any size. Weighing only 100g, the Hi-S rod comes with hollow carbon quivertips and a choice of full cork or abbreviated handles.
The pick for those who want the very best short and light feeder rod. You can be confident that a missed bite or lost fish can’t be blamed on this rod!
Pros
- Very premium rod build.
- Lightweight, balanced and a joy to use.
Cons
- Would be nice to include a heavier quiver tip.
| Casting weight: | 10-42g |
| ips supplied: | Hollow carbon 0.75g and 1oz |
Best short feeder rod for really short range
www.total-fishing-tackle.com
This 7ft, one-piece tip rod from Preston is perfect for ultra-short-range work such as underarming a Method feeder or casting overhead to far banks or islands 10m-20m away. The soft parabolic blank bends right through to the butt.
No better rod for fishing where others would use a short pole – it’s like playing fish on a drop shot rod, and great fun!
Pros
- Awesome rod for fishing short on the feeder.
- Lovely action to tame all fish and prevent line breakages.
Cons
- Will struggle to cast anything over 25m with any accuracy.
| Casting weight: | 30g |
| Tips supplied: | Carbon 0.75oz, 1oz and 1.5oz |
What to look for in a short feeder rod
When looking to buy a short feeder rod, it's worth considering what type of angling that you enjoy or do the most throughout the year. If you mostly fish snake lakes or small commercials that are carp and F1 dominated, then a rod of around 7-9ft with a bit of power in the blank would be the most suitable choice, as you won't be casting far and the fish will be pulling back.
If your fishing is more tailored towards silverfish on wilder waters or commercials then a rod between 9 and 10ft would be an ideal choice. If the water requires a cast over 30m then we suggest a rod of 10ft, as the slightly longer length will aid you in reaching the extra distances, whilst maintaining accuracy, especially if it is windy.
In terms of the power in the rod, most shorter rods will be slightly softer to cushion the fish on the way in, its more about striking a balance between a rod that can cast the size of feeder you want, the distance you want, whilst giving you the confidence you can land the fish you are fishing for.
Glossary
Casting weight: Depending on the manufacturer, it is either the best suited or maximum total weight in grams that you should cast with your rod. You will normally find your rod will perform best at around half its total casting weight. For example, a 120g feeder rod best suits a 60g feeder.
Quiver tip: The very top (often brightly coloured) section of a feeder rod, used to identify bites, which bends and 'quivers' when a fish moves off with the bait. Like the test curve of a rod, quiver tips are often rated in test curves measured in ounces.
Blank: The hollow carbon fibre tube that the rod is made from, attached to which are the guides and handle.
Reel seat: The part of the handle that your reel attaches to. Almost all UK coarse rods have screw-down reel seats, where the fore-grip on the handle rotates and closes the seat to hold the reel in place.
Guides: The rings that line the length of the rod that the line passes through.
Fish playing action: A way of describing how good a rod performs when reeling in a fish. A rod with a good fish-playing action will provide plenty of cushion to a thrashing fish, preventing hookpulls (lost fish) and line breakages.
Frequently asked questions on short feeder rods
Why are rods different lengths?
Typically, the further you want to cast, the longer the rod you should go for, whilst also taking into account casting weight and fish-playing action.
Should I choose a rod that will cast the furthest distance that I will want to fish?
No, you should choose a rod that best suits the distance that you want to fish at. A rod that is too long and powerful will make casting short distances with any kind of accuracy difficult and will have a poor fish-playing action. This is why all rod ranges feature models of varying lengths and powers.
What quiver tip should I use?
The tip should not only match the species and type of bite you are expecting but, more importantly, the tow and movement on the water. Selecting too light a tip will see it bend round too much due to the flow of water pulling on the line, making seeing bites difficult. Too stiff a tip will see fish dropping the bait due to the extra resistance, and make shy bites hard to see. This is why most feeder rods come with several different rated quiver tips.
Why would anyone need a 7ft Feeder rod?
They are perfect for use in 'parrot cage' pegs and on venues that don't require long casts but demand pinpoint casting accuracy.
What is the best feeder rod for carp?
Generally you would want a rod between 10-12ft for carp fishing, with a progressive action to help absorb the powerful lunges when carp are hooked.
What feeder rod is best for the Method Feeder?
It depends on how far you want to cast, but for most commercials, a 9-10ft Method or carp feeder rod with 1-3oz tips will be the best option, enabling accurate casting to islands around 20-40m away.
Author Dan Webb first became involved in angling journalism in 2015 and has worked as Tackle Tester at Angling Times since April 2021. He is a fanatical all-round match angler and former England Youth International.