Donk from a spinning rod with a feeder, how to make it - installation options and equipment for donks

Pros and cons of using gear

The advantages of bottom spinning rods are:

Possibility to fish at great depths and at a distance from the shore (about 100m).
The ability to combine fishing with the process of feeding.
Possibility of fishing in reservoirs with strong currents.
The ability to control the fishing process using a signal system in the form of sound and visual devices that respond to the slightest touch of fish to the bait.

The disadvantages of using donks include attachment to a specific area of the reservoir and labor-intensive removal of prey and all gear at the end of fishing.

What kind of feeders are there?

What kind of bait is needed for bream in the fall?

There are several types of feeders in which fishermen deliver bait mixtures. Let's describe them.

"Spring". The most common type of donkey feeder. It is intended for standing water and is manufactured industrially or with your own hands exclusively in a sliding version. Assembling the tackle is very simple: just thread the line through the axial tube, then into the stopper, tie a swivel, to which attach a leash with a hook.

Most often, it was equipped with a spinning rod bottom with a feeder. Some modifications of the “spring” provide additional weight on its axis. If you need to load it yourself, it is better to use lead tape, making several turns on the axis.

The bait for such a feeder is prepared with a viscous consistency so that it does not crumble when it hits the water and falls apart for a long time when it falls to the bottom. Rarely used on rivers and canals due to its shape and tendency to roll downstream.

Classic “spring” with “rocker arm” and their location in the gear

There are very small feeders that can be equipped with both a half-bottom and a fishing rod with a float. Gear collected in this way sometimes gives unexpectedly good results.

“Cage” is a mesh feeder. The most common option. It appeared with the introduction of picker and feeder into fishing practice, and during its existence it has been modernized and improved more than once. It is manufactured with a built-in load and is attached at one point. It can be round or rectangular in cross section.

With this feeder you can go for any non-predatory fish, including carp and bream. With its help, the fisherman first baits the selected fishing point, throwing a filled container without a hook several times and sharply supporting the tackle when it reaches the bottom. The food comes out of the tunnel freely and remains in the water. Then the leash is put on, the tackle is thrown and the fishing process itself begins. Each time you hook, additional feeding occurs.

Mesh feeder is the main tool for feeder fishing

If you plan to fish in a strong current, choose a rectangular net with a large flat weight. In still water, both types can be used, but if the bottom of the reservoir is silted, you should prefer containers that do not sink into the viscous bottom.

Donk equipment

Thanks to the naturalness of the baits located on the bottom and the design features of the tackle, donks are characterized by enviable catchability.

Donka consists of the following components:

Spinning rod , about 2 m long (or fishing rod). Tip: the length of the spinning rod must meet the angler’s requirements, taking into account the distance of casting the feeder from the shoreline or boat. The optimal length is about 2.5 m.

Inertia-free reel (spool size 3000). Advice: You should choose a multifunctional reel in order to prevent unforeseen situations with the main fishing object - large predatory fish.

Monoline , 100m long and about 0.3mm in diameter.

Lead line , 20 m long and about 0.2 mm in diameter.

Feeder sinker , weighing 40–100 g (weight depends on the type of fish). Advice: for each reservoir, the optimal feeder is selected based on color, weight, type of bait, but it is recommended to stock up on a variety of types during fishing.

Hooks of appropriate sizes (No. 6, No. 7, No. 8). Advice: in any situation it is necessary to have a set of leashes with different sizes of hooks and thickness of fishing line, since it is impossible to predict the bite.

Bite alarm (electric device, bells, floats, etc.).

You can learn how to make a bite alarm with your own hands from our article.

A reliable stand for a spinning rod that can withstand jerking fish.

The number of leashes depends on the type of feeder and is standard 2–5 pieces.

Donkey device with feeder

All gear consists of the following elements:

Spinning rod (the bigger the test, the better). Ideally, from 40 g dough. Jig rods are best suited, because they are specifically aimed at fishing with heavy jig heads.
Inertialess reel. Any will do, since our gear is budget-friendly. If only she laid the line well. When purchasing, you can focus on standard parameters - the number of bearings (4 or more, preferably 6-8) and the quality of the housing (the more metal parts, the better, minimum metal spool).
Fishing line – don’t go cheap here and buy high-quality monofilament fishing line that has minimal stretch when stretched. Diameter 0.3 mm. The fact is that we will have to monitor the tip of the rod, and it, in turn, gives a signal about touching the bait, but if the fishing line is too susceptible to stretching, then you will not notice the touch of the fish. There is an option with braided fishing line - it does not stretch at all, but it is less preferable due to its high cost.
Feeder equipment is a combination of a feeder weight and a leash with a hook, which would allow all bite signals to be very sensitively transmitted to the tip of our rod. There are many different rigs. We will focus on the simplest one - paternoster. The manufacture of equipment is described in detail in our article.

At this point the tackle is ready.

Donkey installation

To design a donkey, you must follow the structure assembly algorithm:

Assemble the rod and firmly secure the reel with guide rings, placing them in one row.
Wind the fishing line onto the spool and bring it through all the rings of the rod, after which a knotted loop is formed at the very end of the fishing line.
Drop the line guide bracket and attach the line to the spool.
Wind the line onto the reel.
A sinker-feeder is attached and fixed to the main fishing line, after which a second knot loop is formed at the end of the base.
Attach one leash with a hook and additional equipment if necessary to the last knot loop.
Install a fishing rod stand with a bite alarm.

Tip: to securely attach hooks to leashes, the most efficient way is to use knotless fasteners.

With the help of a donkey, it is possible to study a reservoir by moving along the coastal line.

Donkey fishing is carried out in several stages:

Assembly and installation of the fishing rod.
Casting a sinker with a feeder attachment.
Carrying out hooking after the first bait.
Catching fish by winding fishing line onto a reel.

Subtleties of fishing

Often, a donk of one type or another is attached to the main fiber according to the “loop to loop” principle. This approach significantly simplifies and speeds up the process of replacing installations. After filling the feeder and placing the bait, the tackle is sent to the fishing zone. Then the fishing line is reeled in, which should eventually be slightly loosened, and the rods are installed on the stand. Naturally, each stage has its own nuances that the fisherman should know.

Lure

Today there is a fairly large assortment of successfully used baits for bottom gear equipped with a feeder.

In this case, special attention is paid to such characteristics as the viscosity of the prepared mixture. The composition should be washed out within 5-15 minutes

Only in this case will a spot of food attractive to fish be formed in the fishing zone.

Taking into account the object of fishing, the components for bait and the fraction are selected. So, when hunting such large inhabitants of the depths as bream, carp, ide, carp and chub, fairly large particles must be present in the mixture. Otherwise, trophy specimens will not linger at the feeding point. In situations with roach, silver bream or crucian carp, small fractions will be preferable so that the fish does not become saturated too quickly.

Baits and baits

Modern fishermen now most often attach worms, bloodworms, maggots, as well as pearl barley and canned corn to their hooks. However, it is worth considering that not all baits are relevant when using a donkey. When choosing them, it is necessary to take into account the preferences of the fish in a particular place, as well as how well and long they stay on the hook. Taking into account numerous reviews, the following are the most common and effective baits and attachments:

worm, maggot and leeches;
pearl barley shells;
homemade mask;
corn porridge (mamalyga);
steamed wheat or pearl barley;
boilies.

Technique

In principle, the process of fishing using bottom gear is quite simple. This algorithm in its classical sense looks like this.

Preparation of bait.
Reconnaissance of the bottom topography in the area of upcoming fishing with depth measurements. You can use marker floats (specially equipped fishing rods) or bottom wires.
Preliminary feeding using a special feeder. The number of casts can range from 5 to 20 and will depend on the volume of the feeder, the characteristics of the reservoir and the fishing objects. The bait is not packed too tightly so that when the petals open, it spills out freely.
After the starting feeding, they move directly to the donk fishing itself. The feeder is filled, bait is placed, and the equipped tackle is directed to the desired point. After reeling in the fishing line or cord, the rod is placed on the stand. Then you need to install the bite alarm used in the form of bells, swingers or an electronic device.
When biting, self-hatching often occurs due to the sharpness of the hook and the weight of the feeder. Otherwise, the fisherman performs the hook himself and lands the fish.

In the next video you will get acquainted with the construction of a donkey with a feeder.

Feeder installation options

The options for installing feeders are very diverse, but there are several main ones:

Installing a tube with an anti-twist.
"Paternoster" (Gardner rig).
Loop systems (symmetrical, asymmetrical).
"Nipple spring."
"Makushatnik."

Installing a tube with an anti-twist is the least complicated option for installing feeders, in which the fishing line is passed through the curved cavity of the tube and secured with a bead or other convenient method. At the bend there is a swivel with a carabiner for quick replacement of the feeder.

“Paternoster” is a popular type of installation, characterized by the formation of a loop from the main fishing line, onto which a swivel with a carabiner is first threaded to secure the feeder, and a second loop at a distance of 20-30 cm for attaching a leash. This method of equipment is relevant for standing reservoirs with a muddy bottom.

Tip: to determine the bottom topography, you should use marker floats.

The use of loop systems involves the use of loops of asymmetrical and symmetrical design, from which a knot loop is formed for mounting a leash with a swivel. Effectively used in standing reservoirs and in currents.

The installation of a “nipple spring” with its inherent placement of bait on a hook, which is swallowed by a fish, is as follows:

A spring feeder is attached to the main fishing line, and rubber stops in the form of pellets or beads are installed.
Fastening the leashes with hooks around the circumference of the entire spring at the same distance from each other.
A bait attachment, the type of which is dictated by the type of fish being caught.

Fishing tackle of the “makushatnik” type is manufactured according to the following sequence of actions:

A sinker is threaded onto a line with a diameter of 0.4–0.6 mm and secured with a knot.
A swivel is attached to the free end of the fishing line.
Behind the swivel, a piece of topcoat is placed, which is also secured with a knot.
At the very end of the fishing line, a fastener with leashes is installed.
Pressing the hooks into the above piece of topcoat.

In addition to typical variations, feeders vary in shape and weight, due to the heterogeneity of fishing conditions:

Thus, for standing reservoirs, feeder traps (such as “paternoster” and loop systems) with a short leash and light weight are used.
For rivers, feeders with a flat lid or in the form of a cylinder are used.
For reservoirs with fast currents - with a rectangular lid and a relatively large weight (maximum 60 grams), which allows you to evenly scatter the food along the bottom.
For slow-flowing reservoirs, it is optimal to use cylindrical feeders with a built-in control valve system for dosed feed supply.
A cone feeder is suitable for lakes and deep areas, the shape and design of which is indispensable when catching large species of fish.

Tip: the most productive for any pond are flat feeders with a lot of weight.

DIY production, necessary materials

The spinning rod is as long as possible and preferably stronger.
A spinning reel capable of holding at least 50 m of fishing line.
The fishing line itself, with a diameter of 0.2-0.3 mm. Both monofilament and braided are suitable.
A feeder, weighing up to 50 g, of the “cage” or “method” type, and possibly a spring.
A handle, quite sharp and preferably imported, about number 6.

The main stages of assembling a bottom fishing rod

A reel is attached to a spinning rod.
The fishing line should be wound on the reel.
A fishing line is threaded through all the rings.
The next stage is knitting the equipment. For beginners, you can choose a paternoster.
Attaching the leash to the equipment, which has a smaller diameter than the main line. Recently, fluorocarbon, which is not visible in the water, has been used as leashes for fish.

Technique for fishing with a spinning rod and a feeder

When fishing for a certain type of fish with a feeder, you should take into account the underwater current, which can significantly expand the radius of passage of fish from the place where the donkey is cast. Casting is carried out taking into account the habitat of the fish species of interest. So, when fishing for bream, which prefers places far from the coastline, casting as far as possible is effective. For carp, constant bait is required in a certain place to keep it in this zone for the required time.

The following stages of fishing are distinguished:

Preparation of bait (saturating it with moisture for 20-30 minutes).
Carrying out depth measurements in the planned area of the reservoir.
Starting casting of feed with a feeder.
Donk fishing with constant bait every 10-15 minutes.
Hatching fish immediately after starting feeding.
Fishing.

Advice: you need to change the fishing location if the fish are not biting within the first hour after the starting cast, or change the bait.

The groundbait used for donkeys must contain a base (of plant and (or) animal origin), flavorings and aromas. Dry cereals are suitable as a base: semolina, millet, pearl barley and other plant components, viscous mixtures of which can remain at the bottom for a long time, gradually being washed away by the internal current. The bait itself must be of animal origin (selected depending on the preferences of the fish and the ability to stay on the hook): worms, leeches, etc. While playing an attractive role, the bait should not be more nutritious than the bait.

Bottom depth measurements are carried out using a marker float and sinker, which are attached to the line of a spinning reel. This type of bottom depth measurement is effective for standing reservoirs. If there is a current, you should take care of a heavier sinker and a voluminous float that can resist the current and float above the sinker for the most accurate measurements in the planned area of the reservoir.

The main role of the starting cast with a feeder is to initiate the process of feeding the selected place (about 7-20 casts with an interval of 10-15 minutes each) with a loosely filled feeder to wash out the bait more quickly, which will ensure a productive process of bottom fishing. Advice: having determined the optimal consistency of the feeding, the contents of the feeder should be enough for 10 minutes, and even less when starting casting.

After biting the bait, the fish often hook themselves onto sharp hooks with bait. Fish should be brought to the shore in a clean area of the reservoir: without vegetation and snags, where you can miss the prey and not complete the process of tiring it out. Advice: most species of fish caught on a hook are very active when they rise to the surface and can tear off the tackle, so it is recommended to pull the fish to the water’s edge and, tiring, smoothly bring it to the shore.

Bottom fishing, which does not require special attention, is very popular among amateur fishermen; moreover, fishing can be done around the clock, in any weather, both from the shore and from boats. Another advantage of using donks is that the bait can be cast over long distances and at different depths. Being located on the bottom, this type of bait looks the most natural and does not scare away the fish, which is often typical for fishing with the help of floats.

We assemble the donka with our own hands

Taking into account that fishing with bottom tackle involves catching huge fish, you should use a thick fishing line, the diameter of which is over 0.35 millimeters. This will protect you from fish disappearing, and you, in your turn, will be assured of catching a big trophy

Sinker

For bottom fishing, drop-shaped sinkers should be used, the mass of which is 30-100 g. This sinker model guarantees correct casting and practicality throughout the entire fishing. When fishing with a donk in reservoirs/rivers (on the current), a weight weighing 30 grams is enough. As waves arise and increase, the mass of the weight for the donkey can be increased.

Leash

The choice of leash is strictly individual. The main point to focus your curiosity on: when casting, the leash for the donkey does not have to overlap the main part of the fishing line. For comfortable bottom fishing, most anglers use a leash, the length of which is no more than 20 cm. When fishing with live bait and fishing for large fish, the length of the leash can be increased, but five is definitely individual. Leashes are sold in any fishing shopping center; in the absence of difficulties, they can be purchased for an extremely low price.

Hooks

In most cases, bottom tackle is used for catching large fish; for this reason, it is recommended to use large hooks for bottom fishing. Many fishermen, especially those who are worried about catches, use a series of hooks or tees, which is considered an absolutely advisable solution, since no one wants to lose a large fish. In addition, one should not lose sight of the fact that the hooks must be of excellent quality (with an acceptable self-hooking effect).

Blitztips

Advice: when fishing using feeders, the bait must be higher in taste than groundbait, which underlies the catchability of the gear.
Tip: in order for the line to withstand the load when casting the feeder, you need the correct ratio of the radius of the line and the weight of the feeder sinker. To maintain balance, it is enough to insert a thicker thread of fishing line, about 5-10 cm long. This auxiliary part is also called a shock leader.
Tip: when fishing with a spinning rod with a feeder, it is very important to stock up on sharp hooks to quickly hook fish while feeding.
Advice: for fishing, it would be useful to have backup sets of hooks, feeders, sinkers, and spools of fishing line of different sizes, weights and diameters, respectively, which will prevent disruption of the fish hunt.
Tip: experienced fishermen make successful hookings by carefully monitoring the nature of the oscillatory movements of the built-in signaling system: the slightest change in rhythm is a signal for immediate action.

More information about the components of feeder equipment

A small plastic feeder with wings - floats up very quickly when reeling in, which allows you to catch fish even from deep holes, without the line rubbing against a steep edge at the bottom

Feeder. It has the following parameters:

Shape (we choose square for flow, round for standing water). Also pay attention to the nature of the soil. On a muddy bottom, it is better to use more flattened feeders, and in no case bullet feeders. Otherwise, the feeder will bury itself in the mud from time to time.
Size and weight. The larger the size, the better. But it affects weight. In strong currents you will really need weight. On the Volga, for example, if there is a current, be sure to use sinkers from 120 g. Otherwise, when casting, the feeder will be carried away by the current and you will not catch in the place you expected. After starting feeding in stagnant, quiet water, it is better to replace the feeder with a lighter one, so as not to frighten the fish when it comes into contact with the water and falls to the ground.

Fluorocarbon line. It is used for a leash, since it is practically invisible in the water, the fish does not see it and more actively feasts on the bait on the hook. Use a fluorocarbon leader that is the same diameter as your main line. Fluorocarbon is less durable than monofilament. Nevertheless, it is important for us that when hooked, for example, it is the leash that breaks, and not the main line, so as not to lose all the gear.

Hook. As we wrote above, there is no need to invent anything here.
The hook should be easily sucked into the fish’s mouth, which means it shouldn’t be too big, but don’t make it small either. For carp, strong carp hooks with a short shank (the long part of the hook) are often used, and for bream, for example, on the contrary, hooks with a long shank are used.