Fishing with a feeder on the river, how to fish in the current

Modern fishermen can pick up the necessary equipment for catching any type of fish in a specialized store.

A fairly popular type of fishing today is feeder fishing, which allows you to catch fish at different depths and distances from the coastline.

Fishing with a feeder is a fairly simple process that can be mastered not only by an experienced fisherman, but also by a beginner in the field of fishing.

What is a feeder

A feeder is a type of bottom gear that was invented in England in the 50s. The first fishermen who began to use this gear lived near the Severn River. When developing bottom gear, the main goal was to catch fish at great depths and distances from the shore line. The first fishing rod was made from bamboo by Richard Walker. Gradually the gear was improved. At the same time, lighter materials were used and equipment elements were supplemented.

The basis of the feeder tackle includes:

• coil;
• feeder;
• hooks and leashes;
• rod

In addition, the angler uses the main line, stand and bite alarm.

Feeder fishing spots

Fishing with a feeder is quite exciting and dynamic. When choosing a place for fishing on a feeder, you need to make sure that the area is not snagged. The current should not be strong. Once the casting location has been selected, you can begin mixing the bait.

In order for the purchased bait mixture to reach its proper condition, it must be diluted with water and kept for about 20 minutes. Water is poured into the container with bait in small portions. Homemade bait can be used immediately.

After attaching the sinker to the tackle, you should make the first cast. Taking into account the time of fall and observing the fishing line, you can determine the depth indicator. By pulling, you can determine the topography of the bottom surface, the presence of algae and various obstacles under water that complicate the fishing process.

Experienced fishermen recommend fishing with a feeder in areas with small holes and bumps on the bottom surface. It is in such places that there is a massive accumulation of fish.

Note!

During the fishing process, it is necessary to systematically adjust the equipment: adjust the length of the leashes and change the weight of the feeder, try other hooks.

How to fish with feeder tackle on a river

Today we have a wonderful opportunity to discuss an interesting issue. If we turn to the origins of this type of fishing, it received its recognition not so long ago, around the seventies of the last century. Now a huge number of fishermen decide to try this method and there are several important reasons for this.

First of all, you can be on the shore and still fish at a fairly decent distance. Not everyone has a boat. Even if the weather fails and is not the most favorable, the fisherman will not have any problems in terms of responding to small and fairly cautious bites. In addition to all this, I like this type of fishing because it is cheap.

Rod selection

At the moment, there are a huge number of different feeders in fishing tackle stores. The consumer can independently choose completely different models, which differ from each other not only in appearance and design, but also in cost, as well as technical characteristics.

Remember that if you want to fish on a fairly large river where long casts are required, it is best to choose an extra-heavy rod or just a heavy rod with a length of 4 to 4.5 meters. Interestingly, this classification is quite arbitrary and will vary depending on. When discussing the permissible weight, the most optimal would be ½ or ¾ of the maximum possible weight, which is indicated on the rod itself.

Equipment

Recommendations are given for fishing in the current, this is a very important point. Rigs in still water will differ from those shown. You need to choose a reel somewhere around 4000, it is better to use a well-adjusted drag and a braided cord on the reel, which will allow you to feel neat bites over long distances - these are the basic items of equipment.

The current feeder used must be closed and of square cross-section, and its weight must be strictly balanced. Avoid moments when the feeder falls like a stone to the very bottom and does not move in the water. The bait can be millet, pearl barley or any of the above mentioned porridges with chopped worms. Do not forget that large particles are needed, which may interest rare specimens. Choose a hook in area No. 14.

Wobblers that catch 100%:

Choose a place and make casts

We can say with confidence that fishing will be successful if you choose the right place. Professionals recommend carefully studying the fishing spot, or rather its bottom, using a picker weight. If the choice is made, then proceed to the first casts, trying to direct them to the same place.

It might be easier if you choose some kind of tree or something else as a guide. You can control the casting distance using a special clip, which is located on the spool of the reel you are using. The feeder is an extremely simple and obedient piece of equipment and you should not have any special problems with its use, even if the weather outside is not the most favorable.

Read How to catch pike, pike perch, burbot with a bottle

Fishing process

The process will be especially effective if you try to make your casts both smooth and at the same time maintain physical power. To do this, use your hand as much as possible, making a certain nod with it. As soon as the feeder falls to the bottom, you can remove the excess line and bring the tip into the desired position. If you plan to fish on a river where a strong current prevails, then choose a slightly stiffer tip in advance.

After waiting 3-4 minutes for the feeder to rest, you can cast again. Thanks to this, the food from the feeder spills out to the bottom, and the approaching flock will stay in one place for a long time. As practice shows, the first casts are an opportunity to catch small things, after which large individuals begin to bite. As soon as a big fish arrives, the wait can be extended from 3-4 minutes to 10-15 minutes.

Fishing with a feeder is one of the most catchy methods. With it you can easily catch trefies that live in the depths of the reservoir.

Feeder tackle

Feeder tackle is characterized by the presence of small guide rings on low holders. In addition, there is a small number of replaceable tips that signal bites and allow you to fish with feeders of different weights.

Feeder tackle is divided into classes:

• easy;
• ultra-light;
• medium (average);
• heavy;
• super heavy.

Most often, anglers use middle-class rods, which impress with their versatility. Such tackle can be adapted for any fishing conditions.

Test

The test should be directly proportional to the class of gear. For example, for the middle class, a rod test in the range of 40-80 g is ideal. For a light class, a weight of 40 g will be enough, but for a heavy class, you will need equipment weighing more than 80 g.

Note!

The upper limit of the dough should not be exceeded.

Length

Feeder tackle consists of several parts. The length of the rod can be in the range of 2-4.5 m. The tip is painted in a bright palette, which allows it to be clearly seen when biting, even from a long distance.

Build

The length and class of gear affects the action. Massive rods with considerable length have an ultra-fast action. Light class gear is equipped with a soft parabolic action.

To perform hooking well, you need a rigid form. That is why most manufacturers produce gear with fast action. It is almost impossible to find a form with a slow action.

Note!

Avid fishermen recommend using feeders 3.6 m long for fishing. The action should be fast.

Preparing for feeder fishing in the spring and opening the season

It is imperative to prepare for spring feeder fishing; there are already plenty of people here. It’s more practical to do this on long winter evenings, but if you suddenly don’t have time, it doesn’t matter. Think carefully about what is missing and buy it.

Read: Catching perch with a float rod

Check the quality of the fishing line and cord if you did not change them after the season closed, if, of course, you closed it.

All spring processes begin in March, be it the beginning or the end of the month. Of course, there are frosts in March, but most likely they are the last. I believe that March is the best month to open the season for feeder fishing lovers. During this month, you can usually find open areas to enjoy fishing after a long break. You shouldn't count on a good catch, but there are always exceptions.

After ice drift on the rivers, the river lives with new colors. The first insects emerge after a long hibernation, the sun gets hot, and the fish returns to its normal lifestyle. Spawning is ahead, and some species of fish have already spawned, it’s time to eat up for future use. In April it is worth staying on the river bank more often; during this period it is possible to catch any fish of different sizes. It is worth focusing on: chub, silver bream, bream and roach.

Reels for feeder tackle

Reels for feeder tackle are used of the inertia-free type or ordinary ones, which are intended for spinning fishing. Such reels are distinguished by the presence of an increased gear ratio.

When choosing, it is important to pay attention to its quality indicator. It is better not to consider Chinese versions of products. The presence of a baitrunner on the product is a definite advantage. Thanks to the presence of a bayrunner, it is possible to achieve an accelerated transition from the operating mode to the minimum friction brake. In this case, the line is released freely.

On each reel you can find the numbers 1000, 2000, 3000, etc. This designation indicates the size of the spool. Various sizes are designed to spool different diameters and lengths of fishing line. For feeders, the universal spool size is considered to be in the range of 2500-3500.

Feeder Accessories

Equipment for feeders can be varied.

The equipment consists of:

• feeders;
• leash with hooks.

Experts identify a number of methods for tying equipment. The most popular ones are described below.

Paternoster

Paternoster is considered the simplest type of equipment. To perform it, the angler needs to tie a small loop at the tip of the main fishing line. A large loop is knitted 13 cm higher into which the feeder can fit. The fishing line must be passed through the rings of the tackle. Using a swivel, the feeder is attached to a large loop. A leash on which the hook is located is attached to a small loop using a swivel.

Asymmetrical loop

It is advisable to use an asymmetrical loop for catching bream and carp. It is necessary to put a swivel on a piece of fishing line, onto which the feeder is subsequently fixed. After this, you can proceed to tying a loop, the length of which will reach 50 cm. From this loop, the next loop is formed, the length of which reaches 11 cm. A leash with a hook is attached to the small loop. For this purpose, a loop-to-loop connection is used. The length of the loops is fixed. After tying the knot part, you can begin to connect the rig to the main fishing line. Avid fishermen recommend using a carbine and swivel.

Helicopter

The helicopter is characterized by reduced sensitivity. However, when biting, you can be sure that the fish has already been hooked. A swivel is attached to the fishing line, the length of which reaches 40 cm. To ensure free rotation, you should use silicone stoppers. One extreme part is fixed to the main fishing line using a swivel-carabiner connection. You can attach a leash to the connecting link of the two parts of the mechanism, and a feeder to the free outer part of the fishing line.

With sliding feeder

A rig with a sliding feeder is great for quiet hunting in a body of water with minimal current. A stopper, a carabiner and a second stopper are put on a piece of fishing line, the length of which reaches 70 cm. Loops are constructed on the extreme parts, with which you can fasten the leash and attach it to the fishing line. The feeder will be able to slide freely between the stops.

Current rigs

A feeder on a river with a current can be equipped in different ways. For strong fish, a fishing line with a thickness of at least 0.14 mm should be used. It is considered optimal and universal to use hook No. 14, which in sports is considered large but reliable.

Rods for feeder fishing in strong currents are equipped with numerous options for sinkers, feeders, and reels with fishing line.

An asymmetrical loop is considered a universal installation of feeder equipment for flow.

A flat feeder with a flat feeder is beginning to become very popular on Russian reservoirs. This fishing method is applicable to reservoirs with a muddy or overgrown bottom. allows the feeder to fall clearly with the sinker down, and the feed is located in a slide at the top. The fish finds food and bait, swallows it, moves it from the point and is hooked by the weight of the feeder.

Feeder equipment with anti-twist

This feeder equipment is used when fishing with a feeder in the river for peaceful fish, such as:

• crucian carp;
• bream;
• roach;
• Amur;
• carp;
• carp.

Symmetrical and asymmetrical loops for flow

Such installations are used when the bait needs to be pressed as much as possible to the bottom and at the same time get a self-hook. Symmetrical and asymmetrical loops are knitted only with monofilament lines. There have been many attempts to connect rigs on a braided line - nothing worked, they get tangled.

You can fish with the main line and the main mono line. It is possible to knit the installation on the main line, or knit it in advance and somehow attach it to the braided line. There are two ways to knit montages.

A symmetrical loop often saves on muddy mud. When knitting a symmetrical loop, you can use twisting. But often twisting is not used. For knitting, a triple straight knot is used. This is how a lead under the leash is formed. A loop is knitted at the tip of the bend so that it is all straight and does not puff up, and a bend is formed under the leash. A swivel is threaded through, the line is folded in half and a triple straight knot is tied.

All knots must be wetted to prevent burning of the fishing line. The protruding ends of the fishing line must be cut flush to prevent tangling of the equipment. All that remains is to secure the feeder and go. This equipment is similar in its properties to sliding sports equipment without a retraction, with the only difference being that the feeder’s stroke is limited by a loop.

An asymmetrical loop for mounting feeder equipment for fishing in currents is made right at the fishing spot. A small loop is knitted into which the swivel and leash will be attached. Then a twist is made, so to speak, an “anti-twist”, about 20 turns “pigtail”, so that the leash does not get tangled with the feeder and everything above. The loop is made 15, or maybe 12 centimeters long, then a loop is knitted and a “pigtail” is fixed.

You will need a bead as a buffer to prevent the loop from breaking, and a swivel to which the feeder will be attached. The main line is shifted 1 centimeter so that the feeder can move freely, and a loop is made. The loop should be more voluminous so as not to get tangled. At this point the installation is ready, all that remains is to install the feeder.

Equipment using anti-twist tubes for flow

• First of all, you will need the anti-twist itself. They are different - longer and shorter. The main line is taken and threaded into the tube. At the opposite end of the tube, the fishing line may rest against a rubber plug. It needs to be removed. After this, the plug is inserted through the hole onto the fishing line and returned back to the tube.
• The next step is to put a bead or stopper on the fishing line, after which a swivel is tied, preferably with a special hook for quickly replacing leashes. The swivel is tied behind the eye with a Clinch knot. The bead is necessary to prevent the swivel assembly from being interrupted when the device is loaded with a feeder.
• After this, a leash 15-20 cm long, less than the thickness of the main line, is attached to the swivel. This is necessary if, when fishing with a feeder in the current, the hook gets caught on an insurmountable obstacle. In this case, the leash will break, but the main line will remain unharmed.

Other

Another type of rig when fishing with a feeder in the current is a paternoster. Its advantage is simple installation and low probability of tangling the leash line.

Paternoster is knitted with fishing line from 0.2 to 0.35 mm. Many people practice paternoster tying on the main line. If the main fishing line is braided, then the paternoster is made from a separate monofilament. When making this installation, a swivel is put on the fishing line, 25-30 cm of fishing line is measured, and a paternoster loop is knitted on this section.

Feeders

For feeders, it is recommended to use feeders that are made from various materials. Metal and plastic products are available for sale. The latter are able to rise well from the bottom surface. The likelihood of snags in this case is minimal. It is advisable to use plastic feeders when fishing snagged areas of a reservoir.

The feeders available for sale are:

• spring;
• frame;
• in the form of a grid.

The spring type of feeder is a hollow tube around which a wire is twisted like a spiral. The line passing through the tube allows the feeder to slide easily in the area located between the stopper and the swivel. The spring type of the product has excellent flight characteristics. For fishing in an area with a current, a spring feeder is not suitable.

The frame type has similar features to the spring type. Instead of a spiral, there are plastic blades along the entire length of the tube. The bait mixture for such products should be viscous.

Mesh feeders are often called cages. They can be of various shapes, weights and sizes.

The manufacturer produces different types of sections:

• round;
• square;
• in the form of a semicircle;
• rectangular;
• triangular.

When fishing standing areas of the river, it is advisable to use round feeders. The remaining types of sections are intended for quiet hunting in places with strong currents.

Bite alarms

Bite alarms for feeders are made on the basis of fiberglass and carbon fiber. Soft quivertypes made of glass composite (translated as a fluttering tip) with a test value of 0.5-2.5 are advisable to use when fishing stagnant areas of a reservoir.

For feeder fishing in the current, it is necessary to use alarms made on the basis of carbon fiber with a test of 3-5 oz.

Feeder fishing on the river in spring

Fishing with a feeder in the spring is very popular because rivers overflowing their banks prevent fishermen from reaching a promising fishing spot with a float rod. And strong currents on rivers play a significant role, so the advantages of using feeder equipment are obvious.

A big advantage of feeder fishing is the ability to leave the rod on the stand and go to the tent to warm up or just sit down and drink tea, since it is very cold in early spring. While the fisherman is warming up, the feeder lies on the bottom and waits for a bite.

Experienced fishermen like to joke that in the spring it is not the fish who are looking for bait, but the fisherman who is looking for fish. And there is some truth in this, here the feeder gets another advantage - mobility, you can quickly change the place of fishing.

During the first feeding, it is best to use crumbly bait, and give it a little, 5-8 feeders will be more than enough. Well, while fishing you need to make one of the five casts, filling the feeder with dense bait.

If you are fishing in a fast current, pay special attention to the angle between the rod and the line, because the smaller it is, the more pressure the line will experience. If you plan to fish with a feeder in the spring on a river without a current, then the choice of angle does not matter at all

The diameter and length of the leash of the feeder equipment greatly influences the number of bites. It is often recommended to use leashes made of fishing line with a diameter of 0.12 to 0.18 mm. and a length of about 30 -90 cm. But you can choose the optimal length and thickness only based on the experience of previous fishing trips in the chosen fishing location. But no one forbids experimenting, for example, if there are bites but you can’t realize them, then you should increase the length of the leash.

The main difference between feeder fishing and classic donkey fishing is the frequency of casting; when fishing with a feeder, this is done much more often. You can re-throw the tackle if you don’t see any bites within 10 minutes

But there are exceptions; this does not apply to catching cautious fish, such as tench, carp or bream

It’s quite easy to notice a bite – the tip of the rod begins to change its angle. By the way, almost every type of fish bites in its own way. In my practice, it happened that the rod flew out of the stand, but instead of a large bream, I had to fish for a medium-sized bream.

In order to hook a fish, you just need to slowly remove the rod from the stand and move it behind your back or to the side with a smooth movement, about a meter. There is no need to jerk sharply and wave the rod like crazy, otherwise you risk losing the fish. Fishing also needs to be done carefully and quietly.

Feeder baits

To catch peaceful and predatory fish on a feeder, you will need to select a suitable bait.

Among the universal baits for the feeder are:

• maggot;
• earthworms;
• barley;
• caddis larva;
• corn and boilies.

Experts recommend choosing bulky bait for catching large fish. Boilies, which are available in a wide range in a specialized store, are perfect for this purpose.

What kind of fish can you catch on a feeder?

You can catch a variety of fish on the feeder, namely:

• roach;
• carp;
• crucian carp;
• carp;
• tench;
• roach;
• catfish, etc.

Bream is a cautious fish that can even be spooked by gear. Fishing for bream on a feeder occurs on heavy feeders with a lead bottom, which do not move from their place with water flow.

To catch roach, you need to cast away from the feeding area. Gradually the bait is pulled to the desired point. The roach is quite shy, so when casting into the feeding area, it will most likely leave the unsafe place.

Fishing for crucian carp with a feeder occurs at shallow depths near the shore. It is first necessary to examine the bottom surface. It is better to avoid heavily corroded areas of the reservoir. After all, it is in such areas that accidents occur during fishing.

As bait you should use maggots, worms or pearl barley, this is how carp are caught on a feeder, but you can offer them as bait:

• insects;
• boilies;
• earthworm;
• shellfish

Best time for fishing

There is no doubt that experienced fishermen attach great importance to the weather when fishing. Moreover, many are convinced that the best bite occurs at certain times of the day and days of the month. First of all, it should be borne in mind that underwater inhabitants do not like stable weather that has been established for a long time; this makes them lethargic and sleepy.

Fish become most active immediately before the movement of a cool atmospheric front, which is also associated with a decrease in temperature and pressure while simultaneously increasing humidity. A good bite occurs during rain and immediately after it stops. Weather is only one of the factors affecting the catch of bream.

Read How to fish with a spinning rod for a beginner and catch fish

Find out what the difference is between bream and white bream.

These also include certain atmospheric phenomena, for example, the daily change of daylight into night darkness. In practice, it has been observed that fishing during the new moon will be unsuccessful. Many experienced fishermen are convinced that the best bite occurs at dawn or towards dusk. Others add to these favorable periods midday, when the sun is high above the earth.

Fishing with a feeder from a boat

To fish on a feeder from a boat, you need to select a point and successfully anchor. Only after this can you proceed to the starting feeding of the area.

Note!

The bait mixture is prepared in advance on the shore so as not to create additional noise on the boat that scares away the fish.

The tackle is equipped with a volumetric feeder. The measured length of the fishing line is fixed with a clip, which helps the bait ball to accurately hit one point.

For starter feeding, it is enough to add a third of the finished mixture. The rest of the feed is thrown in every 10-15 minutes during the process of catching fish on the feeder. After installing a small feeder on the feeder, you need to begin installing the leash with a hook. Having planted the bait, the fisherman proceeds to filling the feeder with the bait mixture. Having completed an accurate cast, the tackle is installed on board.

The process of fishing from a floating craft is difficult, because the fisherman cannot find a reliable foothold on the boat. Large carp or carp often take advantage of the resulting slack in the fishing line and get off the hook. When fishing for a large trophy, it is better to let it get tired at a great distance from the boat and only after weakening its resistance, speed up the process of bringing it into the landing net.

Fishing with a feeder is an exciting process that not only brings pleasure to the fisherman, but also provides him with a decent catch. If there are no bites for an hour, you should move to another place or use other baits. Using various devices and going fishing in different bodies of water, you can quickly learn the tricks of feeder fishing.

Heavy artillery

Paying tribute to light rods and thin equipment, I would like to note that their capabilities on many sections of rivers are quite limited. On a large and medium-sized river, even with a medium-power feeder, you can often be left with an empty cage, unable to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the river. In certain sections of the river, the most suitable feeders are 90-120 g, and in some places 150-170 g are required in order to gain a good foothold on the bottom soil in strong currents without significant drift. On a large river, you often need to cast over a decent distance, 60 meters or more, and you can’t do it without power casting, which further increases the demands on the form, because the feeder on the river experiences significant loads. For a long time I couldn’t find a decent feeder with a test weight of about 200 g, and decided to simply buy a regular 3.9 m carp rod. And strangely enough, it perfectly suited my requirements and river conditions, since it was originally created for casting heavy loads over long distances, which are favorable that's why the large rings. Of course, the whip is not soft, but even on powerful river streams, bites are clearly recorded, and when I miss, then with massive feeders the fish themselves are reliably detected. I could use the help of a small bell, but I can manage just fine without it.

Some may ask: why fish such difficult river places, and even those remote from the shore? And all because often on the river, promising quiet waters are often occupied by bottom fish, float lovers, and spinning anglers are not far behind them. A good free place on the river is rarely empty. But the fact is that significant fish are not only found in such places! Schools of bream also like to stay in the very rapids, close to the fairway; ide, large silver bream, and roach are also found there. But few feeders want to fish with massive feeders at a decent distance from the shore, and even on powerful fairway jets. And this circumstance greatly facilitates the task associated with finding a good fishing spot in such areas. And such river sections become very promising from the end of summer until the very pre-winter. At this time, large white fish prefer to feed on the far edges of the riverbed, and the bites at such points are pleasing - bold and sharp. The fish behaves similarly when playing, and here the current is not my ally, but rather its ally. Therefore, the feeder equipment is serious: the main one is braided with a breaking load of 10-12 kg, a leash made of fishing line 0.20-0.22 mm.