Attaching A Feeder

[Elton]

Posted on behalf of Ian. Please add all replies to this thread:

 

I am quite new to feeder fishing and have only had a few short sessions with a cage feeder and caught a few fish. My question is I am slightly confused whether i should fix the cage feeder to a safety clip therefore safe and bolt effect. Or let it free run (the old fashioned way) above the hook link swivel, also safe but no bolt effect. Or tie it on below the hook link which is fixed helicopter style above the feeder, also safe and some bolt effect. I tried all and they all worked but not long enough to see whats best, can you help? thanks. I am OK with method style however.

[lutra]

Without knowing a lot more about the kind of water (still/flowing, snaggy/clear....), species, size of fish, baits, ....... , its not really possible to give you a clear answer on which rigs are best for you to use. Even if we did know it would probably start an argument on here as a lot is down to personal preference and there always seems to be an exception to any rule you try to put to it.

 

Just avoid bolt rigs for small fish as you will have problems getting bites to register. But if its any help from reading your post i would say your well on your way to making a good feeder fisherman just by keeping a open mind and trying different rigs.

[Dales]

If you are targeting small silver fish or say Perch which do not like resistance I would tend to go for the standard running rig.

 

If I was trying for Tench or Carp I prefer a semi fixed bolt rig and like to use a helicopter style presentaion with the feeder at the end of the line and a short hook length spinning around above it.

 

But as lutra pointed out we will all have slightly different ideas about feeder fishing, but the standard running set up can cover all species and does offer very good bite indication.

[lutra]

If you are targeting small silver fish or say Perch which do not like resistance I would tend to go for the standard running rig.

 

If I was trying for Tench or Carp I prefer a semi fixed bolt rig and like to use a helicopter style presentaion with the feeder at the end of the line and a short hook length spinning around above it.

 

But as lutra pointed out we will all have slightly different ideas about feeder fishing, but the standard running set up can cover all species and does offer very good bite indication.

Yep i agree with all that.

 

I was sat in the van at work this morning waiting for it to stop raining with no internet connection so i wrote the following.

 

BASIC FEEDER RIGS

 

Running feeder rig

 

The main advantage is that a taking fish will register a bite without having to move the feeder . Works well in still or running water and is a safe rig.

 

A good general purpose rig for a wide range of feeder fishing.

 

Paternoster rig

 

Probably the most sensitive of all feeder rigs as it requires no movement of the feeder or line to slide through a swivel for a fish to register a bite. However on its down side it’s not very good in running water unless fished directly downstream from the rod tip and is not a very safe rig as it offers the potential to tether fish if your main line snaps.

 

A big favourite with bream anglers, but good for any shy biting fish on snag free pegs that don’t fight too hard and great when teamed up with a swing tip on still waters.

 

Semi fixed rig

 

The main advantage is the bolt rig effect, caused when a fish takes the bait, turns away, and hooks itself against the weight of the feeder. Safe (semi fixed) and good in running and stillwater but not good for small fish as they may not register a bite if they can’t or don’t move the feeder.

 

I think it first became popular for carp fishing, but also works well for other larger fish like barbel, tench, bream.....

 

Helicopter rig

 

Again like the semi fixed rig it offers the bolt rig effect, but this time probably with slightly better anti-tangle properties, making it better for long range fishing. Safe, good for still and running water and a better bolt rig for the bite detection of smaller fish than the semi fixed rig.

 

Again a rig that I think first became popular for carp fishing, but has other uses like long range roach fishing.

 

Inline feeder rigs

 

Very much from the same camp as the semi fixed rig in the way that they offer the bolt rig effect and the ability to be rigged semi fixed therefore a safe rig. The only real difference to my eye from the semi fixed rig apart from the way they are mounted is if you fish them with a very short hook length they can offer better anti-tangle properties.

 

For the same reasons as the semi fixed rig it’s a good rig for large fish like carp barbel, tench, bream....., but not for small fish.

 

Method feeder rigs

 

Method feeders come in a number of forms, inline ones which you fish rigged inline or some with a swivel at one end ( sometimes elasticated for shock absorption ) which you rig like a helicopter or semi fixed rig.

 

The hook bait can be made to be taken when fish dine on the sticky method feed on the feeder if the hook bait is press or partly buried in the feed on the feeder , not loose on the bottom like with other feeders . Having the hook bait pressed or partly buried in the feed can also gives the rig better anti-tangle properties making it better for long range casting.

 

A safe rig if rig semi fixed, but not good for small fish.

 

Edited November 17, 2009 by lutra

[Jeffwill]

if fishing snaggy swims, besides using a lighter hook length... you can also tie the feeder with weaker line (than your main line) to a swivel and then if your snagged you can pull for a break and not loss the whole rig, especially if using a running leger.

Edited November 10, 2009 by Jeffwill