Flat Feeder - installation, carp fishing methods, do-it-yourself bait

Best bait recipe

For flat fishing, you can use both natural bait and store-bought bait.
Lures can be attached to a hook, but the most effective option is to use a hair rig, since in this case the fish does not feel the extra weight of the hook, since it first sucks in our bait, and only then the hook.

Store-bought - there is a huge selection of attachments for the flat method on sale:

Boilies - floating (pop-up) and sinking;
Foam balls with different flavors;
Pellets;

Vegetable:

Sweet corn;
Peas;
Pearl barley;
Dough.

It is advisable to have a fairly wide range of different floating attachments in your suitcase, differing not only in size, but also in smell.

Homemade Boyles

To prepare boilies at home we will need:

Wheat or corn flour (fine) – 4 tablespoons
Starch – 2 tablespoons
Chicken egg - 1 piece
Flavors according to the preference of the fish you are going to hunt

When forming balls, it is worth considering that after cooking them in the microwave, they will double in size.

In method fishing, the length of the leash and the material from which it is made are of great importance. As a rule, very short leashes are used in such fishing, no longer than 10 cm, but in the sliding installation option their length can be increased if necessary

Most often this is needed in those moments when the fish “breaks records” for caution

For making leashes, leader material or fluorocarbon monofilament, invisible in water, is suitable. You can use a regular one, but there is a risk that this will negatively affect the quantity and quality of bites.

Classic flat-method fishing involves the use of carp hairline. Fans of carp fishing do this, and other fishermen put the bait directly on the hook and catch large fish with almost the same success.

• In the feeding version, on the contrary, the large fraction should predominate, because the flat method primarily involves catching large fish, and it is better to attract trophy specimens of crucian carp or crucian carp with large components. • Leashes are used from fishing line, cord or fluorocarbon, the main difference between leashes when fishing on flat from leads used in other feeder installations, their length. In this method, the leashes are very short (in classic feeder installations, the leash length can reach more than a meter) 8-12 cm.

You cannot skimp on hooks, and flat method rigging is no exception to the rule. Cheap hooks are often made of too soft, or, conversely, too hard metal, and in the process of fishing for trophy crucian carp or crucian carp they can break, bend, or fail to penetrate the lip of the fish at all when hooking. “Drennan”, “Gamakatsu”, “Owner” are proven brands, the products of which are used not only by amateurs, but also by sports fishermen in competitions.

The bait for the “Method” feeder is prepared quite simply with your own hands, but the fisherman will need to take into account one nuance - the binding components and rippers must be optimally combined with each other, only in this case will it be possible to achieve the desired consistency. What components will you need to stock up on?{q}

small white cracker;
a pinch of semolina;
0.2 g corn flour;
0.1 g wheat bran (can be replaced with others);
2 crushed sunflower seeds;
a handful of powdered milk.

All these components must be thoroughly mixed and moistened; in the end, the mass should be quite thick, so it will muddy the water and will not disintegrate after casting. It is better to use a corn stalk as a base for bait.

Baits based on fermented seeds have also proven themselves to be excellent. As practice shows, such smells attract a wide variety of fish, so crushed fermented wheat can also be added to complementary foods.

Feeder tackle for flat method

Flat feeder installation works both on light pickers for crucian carp and medium-sized carp, carp - the so-called F1 fish size among athletes, up to 2-3 kg in weight, and on heavy equipment in a more durable design for catching specimens of ten or more. The caliber of gear and the nuances of installation equipment depend on the size of the fish and the conditions of the reservoir. For an amateur angler using a flat feeder, there is no need to buy special gear - the same ones that are used on rivers in classic feeder rigs will do. There are no special rods for flat feeder – the choice depends on the angler himself. If the bulk of fishing takes place on rivers, then for flat fishing we use what is available. If we fish more often on ponds, then we select sticks for flat fishing, and they can also be used on the river. Article about feeder equipment:

In a feeder, the choice of tackle caliber depends primarily on the weight of the feeder used, and the feeder, in turn, is selected depending on the strength of the current and the required casting distance. In flat fishing there is no current, and the main criterion for selecting a fishing rod is the casting distance. The choice of fishing rod and its main equipment depends on the fishing distance:

Coastal fishing - pickers and medium feeders, up to 3.6 meters in length with tests up to 60 grams.
The average distance is up to 60 meters. Medium and heavy poles, 3.6-3.9 meters, up to 90 grams.
Long distances – Extra Heavy feeder, from 3.9 m with feeders from 80 grams.

To catch large fish, you need to choose rods with a slow and progressive action, especially if the main line is braided. And at ultra-long distances, it is the small-diameter braid that provides a good release when casting. However, for catching heavy carp, it is still better to use monofilament fishing line with a diameter of up to 0.3 mm. A flat feeder with food has good aerodynamics and flies quite well even on a fishing line. There is no such factor as current, due to which it is better to use thin braid on river boats. But the monofilament dampens the jerks of large fish, making it easier for the rod to absorb shock. Powerful rods, even if they are short rods, are needed when fishing for flat carp or carp, even from short distances, if there are snags and thickets at the fishing point, since sometimes you have to force the landing.

If there is a braided cord on the base of the flat feeder, then for long casts we use a shock leader so as not to break the equipment. The installation itself with the feeder is mounted directly on the main fishing line or cord (shock leader), in carp versions - on leadcore, a special material with a heavy core. However, this is not necessary - most amateurs do not use leadcore in installation, placing feeders directly on a fishing line or a piece of fluorocarbon. This issue needs to be approached thoughtfully - for small crucian carp a light pickerel with a thin fishing line in the rig is suitable, but for carp it is better to take tackle with a margin of safety.

The requirements for the coils are the same as for a standard feeder. In flat fishing, you can use heavier and more massive reels on tackle, on picker 3000-4000 sizes, on heavyweights - 5000-6000, or even carp reels, with a gear ratio of no more than 5 to 1. Reeling speed and lightness are not as important as overall reliability and power (when catching large fish). The flat method of fishing is not so fast - you don’t need to recast every three to five minutes. On the contrary, some time must pass for the bait on the feeder to break down and properly release the bait placed in it. And even more so for large carp - the gear is installed for a long time in order to wait for the arrival of a large trophy, as in carp fishing.

To catch large fish, it is convenient to use reels with a baitrunner or a drag flag. In this case, when installing the fishing rod, you can leave the gear for a long time and do other things on the shore. In 90% of cases, blind equipment is used in flat fishing. The fish are hooked by the weight of the feeder. You may be a little late for a bite - the main thing is that a large fish does not drag the feeder into the water. Article about reels for feeder tackle.

Recipe for homemade flat bait from peas

After preparing the bait in these proportions, we will get approximately 1.5 kg of ready-made mixture for fishing on a flat feeder. There is no need to dilute it with water. This amount is quite enough for fishing during the day with one feeder.

Flat bait can be made stickier for the river and more crumbly for the lake. This property is regulated by the amount of semolina in it. More on this below.

For bait you need the following basic components:

Peas 0.5 kg. Store-bought shelled peas will do. It is better to buy yellow peas, not orange. It is younger and its aroma is stronger. Peas are one of the best baits for carp, carp and crucian carp. In this flat bait it forms the basis. Contains protein and microelements, which give high nutritional value to the bait.
50 g fish meal. An important element of bait. It is better to buy it not at the market, but at a veterinary pharmacy. For bait you need very little and it is better if it is of good quality. Fishmeal contains a high concentration of amino acids and acts as a powerful attractant for carp.
50 g corn grits. Serves as a source of carbohydrates. It has a binding and at the same time loosening effect for bait. Corn grits give flat bread a pleasant taste and aroma.
20 g semolina. Serves for gluing bait. Its quantity can influence the stickiness of the mixture.

The content of semolina in the bait can regulate its stickiness. For a weak current or its absence, 20 g of semolina is enough for 0.5 kg of peas. For a fast flow of semolina you need already 50 g.

Components for flavor enhancer for flat feeder bait:

30 g salt (2 tablespoons) – adds saltiness.
30 g sugar (2 tablespoons) – adds sweetness.
5 g of citric acid (1 level teaspoon) – adds acidity.
10 g ground red hot pepper – adds spiciness.
Vanillin 1 sachet 2 g – gives a spicy and bitter taste.
Red food coloring 7 g. Serves to enhance the attractiveness of bait. Carp perceive orange-red color shades better. This is why many carp baits and baits are colored red.

Groundbait in the flat method

In feeder fishing, bait for a method feeder is more than adding food to the water to attract fish. A correctly filled feeder in the flat method is the main factor in attracting fish, more important than the bait. The bait on the hook may not attract fish. However, when sucking up the bait from the feeder, the fish often swallows the baited hook lying on it. This makes the flat method similar to a regular bottom nipple or crown nipple.

The bait should work actively in the water, releasing gas bubbles, attractive substances and releasing the bait stuck inside. Therefore, too viscous plasticine-like masses, often used by donators in springs, will not be suitable for the method. Flat is an open feeder. After casting, the lump collapses, forming a pile attractive to fish, from which the bait peeks out. In flat fishing, the starting feeding is not always performed. Sometimes reconnaissance tactics work better - one throw to a point. Therefore, this one single flat feeder must be made correctly in terms of the composition of the bait, its consistency and the bait on the hook. An article about proper feeder bait.

What bait and groundbait to use when catching carp on the flat

When fishing for carp using the flat method, the bait mixture must meet the following requirements:

Be viscous enough to stay in the feeder when casting and delivering it to the bottom of the reservoir.
Have a pronounced smell attractive to carp so that the fish can find it and the bait at the bottom of the reservoir.
Be small-fractionated so that the carp cannot get enough of the bait, and thereby highlight a larger fraction of the bait on the hook.
The consistency of the bait should be such that it does not wash out within 10-15 minutes after casting.
The bait mixture for the feeder should attract carp better than the starter mixture.

You can use ready-made industrial bait mixtures, which can also vary in viscosity, but it is quite possible to prepare complementary foods at home.

To do this you need to take the following ingredients :

10 parts corn flour;
10 parts millet;
2 parts baby formula;
1 part wheat bran;
1 part minted canned corn;

Cook corn flour, millet, bran and corn until completely softened, shortly before being ready, add baby formula. also add a little honey to the finished bait as a flavoring .

Attention! When preparing bait mixtures for carp fishing, you need to ensure that the bait does not burn, as this will significantly reduce the number of bites.

When fishing for carp using the flat method, both plant and animal baits can be used as hook baits - corn, peas, boilies, worms, maggots, bloodworms and others, depending on what exactly the carp prefers in any particular body of water at a given time .

Features of catching and registering bites using the feeder method

Since we are catching large fish, we do not need to register barely visible small bites - as, for example, when catching fish of different sizes in a classic feeder. Moreover, very often you will have to fight with quite large trophy specimens - and, accordingly, there is no need to use the cord as the main fishing line. On the contrary, the stretchability of monofilament line will give us an advantage by absorbing and smoothing out the jerks of large fish.

As for bites, when we fish with a classic feeder, we usually hook when the quivertip begins to twitch, signaling a fish bite. Unlike the classics, in the feeder method we ignore such bites. And we make the hook already when the rod registers stronger jerks of the fish - and not only the quivertip bends.

(Continued in the next issue)

Flat mounting options

The standard option for flat equipment for feeders is blind installation. However, in some fishing conditions other types of equipment are used.

Rigging methods:

Deaf;
Sliding;
On an elastic band.

Blind flat equipment

Standard flat feeder equipment in a blind version is used in most cases. The remaining options are an exception for specific fishing conditions. At distances over 30 meters, especially if there is a lot of algae and grass in the water, on which the fishing line rests and, accordingly, does not go straight from the quiver tip to the feeder, we always use blind installation. In the sliding version of installation in such conditions, neat fish bites may simply not be seen, and self-hooking does not occur, since the line in this case will be pulled through the feeder. The fish will often spit out the hook.

Initially, store-bought flat feeders were designed for blind equipment. The swivel or quick release for the leash fits firmly into the groove and is securely fixed in it. This is enough for the fish, when biting, to lift the feeder and be caught under its weight.

Video equipment flat method from Fadeev:

Sliding mounting equipment

It makes sense to use a sliding installation of a flat feeder for careful fishing with light feeders at a distance of no more than 30 meters. On such a short distance, especially if braid is used as a base, bites are transmitted well to the quivertip. Such installation requires constant monitoring of the tackle and hooking when bending the quiver tip after several pokes, or while pulling, if it occurs immediately. At close range, light feeders of 20-30 grams are often used. With such a small weight, when the flat feeder method is firmly mounted, self-hooking may not occur (if the fish does not make a sharp jerk, but simply swims away slowly). This is why tackle control and hooking are required.

To implement such an installation, a buffer bead is installed between the feeder and the swivel (quick release), which does not allow the leash attachment unit to be fixed in the groove. You can also place a stopper above the feeder. This is convenient - we pull the stopper higher, we get an inline with a limiter for self-cutting. We place it close to the feeder - it turns out to be a blind installation. In sliding installations, it is convenient to use a pear - a special plastic quick-release chipper, which is larger in size than the groove of the feeder, and therefore is not fixed in it. In this case, no additional swivel is required, and the leashes are changed simply and quickly.

Inline equipment

Carp rig on icecore

For targeted fishing of large carp, carp or carp, flat feeder equipment can be placed not on the main line or shock leader, but on a piece of special braided material with a heavy core - icecore - tied to them. Icecore, due to its large diameter, does not penetrate under the scales or gill covers of the fish during fishing and does not injure it. For mounting the leadcore, or more precisely, forming loops on it for attaching the leash to the main line. You need the ability to work with this material and a special needle for installation. Read more about installation based on ledcore.

Elastic mounting

To catch cautious fish in clear water, it is sometimes necessary to use thin leashes. However, a short thin leash does not absorb shock, and a sufficiently large fish, when jerking, can tear off its feeder frame

In such conditions, special Elasticated flat feeders are used with a blind attachment to the main line and a rubber insert in the channel or directly along the body. One end of such a feeder is attached to the feeder, and a leash is attached to the other in a ring. This system absorbs the jerks of the fish on the leash and prevents it from breaking the equipment. During the fishing process, you need to monitor the condition of the elastic, and replace it if damaged or worn out.

Hook size for flat (method) feeder

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nNg6CZ2I6uY

For large nozzles you need a large distance between the ribs. One rib can be removed if necessary.

How to choose a feeder for flats. Video.

For flat rigs, more elegant (small) hooks are used than in carp fishing.

Sergey Popov advises using sizes No. 8 and No. 10 as the main ones on the flat (method). Numbers 6 and 12 are used less frequently.

When catching large active fish, as we already said in the article about catching carp on the flat, use hooks No. 8. If the fish is inactive, for example, in cold water, it is better to use a small nozzle and size No. 10.

On the flat (method) feeder, as a rule, they use small, more elegant baits compared to carp fishing, respectively, and a smaller hook.

9′ 30" It is very important to choose the right bait successfully. The POP-UP nozzle has positive buoyancy and “hangs” above the bait

A fish feeding on bait, even if it doesn’t quite like the bait, will suck it in along with the food. In this case, it will not make much difference what is on the hair and what the smell and color of the floating attachment is.

Bait for the method is more important than bait. It must be of excellent quality. The bait is food, and the floating equipment is absorbed by the fish along with it.

Flat fishing tactics

Feeder fishing using flat rigs is notable for the fact that you can use several rods. We throw one of the feeders to the feeding point, and for the second one we can use search tactics. The essence of it is that you try to catch in different places. For example, you first cast to a shallow area located near the reeds. If there are no bites within 5-10 minutes, change the point. Next time you can cast to a deeper area. For example, in the area of a coastal dump or behind the first edge. It is advisable to make short-range throws. This way it turns out more accurately and you don’t have to spend a lot of time unwinding the equipment. To punch promising points, you can use the fan method, when each subsequent cast is made a little to the left or right of the previous one. When using this method, you should carefully ensure that the feeder is flying in the right direction. The casting distance should also be controlled by changing them. Yes, this tactic differs from classic feeder fishing. But it brings good results. The undoubted advantage of method equipment is the fact that it can be used both on hard and soft ground and among underwater grass, one might even say in the thick of algae. If you hide the bait with a short leash, you will protect yourself from snags, which cause a lot of trouble.

What is the advantage of such active fishing with frequent changes of places? You can quickly locate the fish and start fishing. When you get the first bite at one of the points, then make the next cast again to the same place. If there is a bite again and you manage to spot the fish, clip on and fish at this point. Casts are made at intervals of 10-15 minutes. Naturally, the second fishing rod needs to be recast periodically. We set a good table at the point and the probability that the fish will come is quite high. Another important point that is typical for fishing with method feeders. It concerns bites. When we see slight fluctuations in the tip, we should not immediately make a hook. Most often, at such moments, the fish tries the bait or eats bait from the feeder. Usually, hooks are made at the moment when the nod bends well or jerks sharply. At this moment, the same self-notching of the fish occurs. This is important to always remember.

It is clear that when fishing with a classic feeder rig, we react even to slight movements of the quivertip and strive to make a timely hook. This is all correct, but only for a feeder feeder with a long leash. Here is another significant difference between these fishing methods. When fishing flat, the bites are more colorful and obvious. Moreover, they often occur immediately, without preliminary tests. The top may be absolutely motionless, but after a second it “nods” furiously. After such bites, a sweeping hook is simply not needed. The fish is already well on the hook and your task is to simply remove the rod from the rack and perform the landing. At the same time, make sure that the line is in a taut position at all times, otherwise the fish will either go into the reeds or simply fall off the hook. Remember that sharp hooks will lead to the fish’s lips breaking and you will not be able to pull it to the shore. When flat fishing, some fishermen reel in the line immediately after casting so that the tip is slightly bent and the line is in a taut position. But when fishing flat, you shouldn’t do this right away. You should wait a little and then tighten the line. But it doesn’t have to be taut like a string. If you do this, there is a high probability that the feeder with the nozzle will submerge in the mud. In this case, you will have to wait a very long time for bites. The fish will not always rummage at the bottom in search of food. It’s better to cast to the clip and wait for a bite. When a good bite follows, you will see it anyway.

Features of carp fishing on flat

Flat equipment has some features, among which the following should be noted:

– flat rigs provide quite successful processes for catching carp fish in reservoirs that have a muddy surface at the bottom or are overgrown with dense vegetation, all this is possible thanks to the flat shape of the feeders and the large surface, which prevents them from falling into the silt or algae itself;
– this equipment provides a method for the correct supply of feed, since these feeders are lowered to the bottom with a load, therefore there is no dependence on the surface of the bottom base itself, and the feed is maintained for a longer time
– often, when using this method of flat carp fishing, they try to hide the baits inside the feeder, although there are exceptions; if the hooks for carp are located inside the bait, then this is a good camouflage for the hooks;
– in addition, with the help of these equipment, more accurate casting processes can be carried out better.

Fishing with a feeder on a pond

A feeder on a pond is an effective tackle for catching crucian carp, carp, carp, grass carp and any fish living in this reservoir. Feeder pond fishing is somewhat similar to shallow lake fishing in terms of search and tactics. However, more reliable equipment and powerful gear will come in handy here. Carp, carp or grass carp are much stronger and larger than the worst bream, and the tackle must be adjusted accordingly.

On a hard clay bottom, conventional feeder equipment can be used. However, most ponds have a silted bottom, and shallow waters are overgrown with mud and algae. In such conditions, it is better to catch the flat method.

Fishing with a feeder on a pond is mainly aimed at carp and carp, as well as large crucian carp or bream. Large bream is often included in the by-catch of carp fishermen, unless of course it is found in that particular place. In an unfamiliar body of water, it is tactically better to fish with two tackles. One is at a feeding point, the second is in reconnaissance mode. You can also try different equipment, for example, some classic installation or flat method.

The bait for the flat method is made more sticky. It must withstand force casting, landing in water and diving to the bottom without falling over with the feeder open. At the same time, after hitting the point, the mass should collapse at the bottom and release the bait hidden in it - boilie, pellets, worm. Read more about flat-method bait.

On the feeder you can also use purely carp equipment from carp fishing - if the goal of catching is trophy specimens. However, ordinary flat feeders catch just as well, and there are fewer problems with them. As practice shows, the largest specimens were caught using small baits. Carp rigs are designed for long-term fishing. The feeder is a tempo tackle, so flat equipment is more suitable for such fishing. More details - flat feeder equipment for a carp pond.

The flat feeder works great for crucian carp of any size. Large crucian carp willingly take carp baits - pellets, Pop-Up floating boilies, Corn Puffs. However, it is for crucian carp that an ordinary worm or maggot is more often used. To impart positive buoyancy, you can place a foam ball on a hook with a maggot or worm.

Catching crucian carp is a constant experiment with bait. Vegetable baits are also used - pearl barley, corn, peas. In each specific case, you need to select aromatics for crucian carp. Sometimes silver takes on very exotic smells - kerosene or WD-40 lubricant. Read more about catching crucian carp in still water.

Leash connectors

The leader plays an important role in the correct operation of the flat rig method; it is knitted from soft leader material, which simplifies the process of hooking fish.

The universal connector is a swivel with a soldered ring, which allows the leash to move freely in the water column in any direction. Such connectors are an element of installation of flats from Preston or Browning. The Preston company introduced a special swivel with a ring of non-standard diameter, matching the size of its feeders.

The disadvantage of ring swivels is that they are not very convenient for quickly changing the leader, which is necessary for an angler, especially in flat feeder competitions.

Some fans of the flat method prefer to prepare leashes in advance and mount a floating boilie – pop-up, or other attachment – on them. For them, the method of attaching a leash using a swivel with a ring is inconvenient and they have to look for another solution.

Preston introduced plastic quick-release connectors to their feeders last season, but these are convenient for sliding mounts.

In ESP flats, a quick release acts as a connector, allowing you to quickly change the leash, even with an attachment on the hair. But the feeder itself is large, which is not always convenient, especially if there is a need for long casts.

An interesting solution for tying a leash in Drennan feeders, equipped with a plastic connector that is rigidly fixed in the tube. The leadcore is attached on one side of the connector, and the leash on the other side, and its design allows you not to waste extra time changing any type of leash, even with an attachment.

But Drennan flats also have a drawback: they are available in weights up to 45 grams and their use at long distances is impossible due to insufficient weight.

It also happens: Fishing on the Volkhov from the shore

Korum supplies its feeders with special plastic connectors, but these are also intended for use with sliding mounting only.

When does Flagman Flat Feeder Large provide benefits?

By their design, Flagman feeders are intended for knitting blind rigs that ensure self-hatching of fish. But if you wish, there is no problem in making a sliding installation with such a flat, and to do this it is enough to remove the rubber retainer of the swivel or quick release and use fishing line or fluorocarbon instead of icecore.

We have discussed the disadvantages and advantages of sliding and blind installation for the flat method in other materials on this topic, so there is no point in returning to this. The main thing is that each angler independently and consciously selects the type of fishing rig, and the main argument in this is the conditions in which the fishing takes place.

Flagman Flat Feeder Large are presented in seemingly convenient weights of 70–80 grams, and larger versions (XL) reach a weight of 110 grams. But at the same time, you should not count on the fact that you will be able to comfortably fish with such feeders at distances of 120+ meters, and this is due precisely to their large size.

Even when fishing with powerful feeder rods or light carp baits, it is difficult to cast the Flagman Flat Feeder Large over a super-long distance, because the wide sole impairs the flight qualities of the feeder. But flat is also filled with a method mix, which increases its physical size and this also has to be taken into account.

As for fishing on a muddy bottom, the flat bottom of the flagship feeder gives an advantage, because it should sink into the mud much less and even stay on its surface. But it is unlikely that a flat weighing 100–110 grams will not sink in a soft substance, so the large weight is rather considered a disadvantage. It turns out that the Flagman Flat Feeder X-Large is difficult to cast far and is of little use on a muddy or grassy bottom.

In such situations, you are once again convinced of the advantages of fishing at distances of 100+ with small Preston or Orange Carp feeders, which have an optimal weight-to-size ratio, as well as ideal aerodynamic characteristics. It is worth repeating that the use of large-sized feeders does not provide a decisive advantage when fishing using the flat method, especially long-range fishing.

But you still need to have Flagman Flat Feeder Large with you when fishing, because in evening and night fishing with infrequent recasts, they prove their catchability. In the dark, the fish fearlessly swarms in a pile of method-mix or pellets offered to it and, in the end, gets to the hook.

Also at night, the activity of small fish decreases, which usually takes away most of the bait in the feeder and the trophies simply do not have time to pick up an appetizing treat. There are also benefits to using larger attachments, and they fit just right into the feeder.

Impressions from the Flagman Flat Feeder Large are rather positive and, taking into account the physical characteristics, as well as the cost of this flat, we give it a high score.

Characteristics of flat method feeders

Thanks to the use of equipment with a flat method feeder, there is a chance to catch large fish, even in short sessions taking place during one daylight hours.
Among the advantages of a flat feeder we highlight