Installation of the flat method, feeder equipment, baits used in fishing, groundbait, fishing with video

The flat method (flet-fider-method) is a popular method of fishing in still waters and rivers with little current, it is part of method feeder fishing, and is often used when fishing for carp.

Such equipment allows you to catch not only small crucian carp, but also trophy specimens of carp. Below you can familiarize yourself with the peculiarities of the method and fishing tactics.

Feeder used in the flat method when fishing for carp on a feeder - allows you to make long casts, which is important in summer and early spring in the heat and heat

Flat method: what is it, what is the peculiarity of this feeder branch

A flat is a method feeder with a flat bottom. Attached to the structure is a hook with a leash, the length of which reaches 7-10 cm. If desired, the bait is hidden in the feeder along with the bait mixture.

Due to the structural features of the open feeder, the flat feeder works great in stagnant reservoirs. The flat base of the structure does not fall into the mud.

Flat method feeder

The main advantages of flat trading include:

the ability to effectively fish areas of a reservoir with a silted/algae-covered bottom;
correct location of the feeder in the water column;
ensuring correct and accurate supply of bait mixture to a promising point;
placing the hook with the bait on a clean area even after the bait is washed (the risk of snagging is reduced);
self-hooking of fish;
no risk of leash tangling.

The rapid washout of complementary foods in reservoirs with strong currents complicates the fishing process. This is considered the only drawback of the flat method.

Note! The type of feeder must be selected depending on the fishing conditions.

Homemade flat method feeders

How to choose flat feeders for a feeder

Depending on the shape

Drop-shaped - they fly poorly and inaccurately, although at short distances they are quite functional;
Oval (classic) have maximum range and good accuracy, but the downside is the smallest feed capacity among other shapes;
The leaf shape flies far and accurately, while having good feeding capacity;

By material

Cast - made of metal or lead;
Combined - the base is made of metal, and the stiffeners are made of plastic;

By load

Front load - for long casts;
Uniform loading - less burrowing into silt;

By size and feed capacity

Large - large in size and can hold a lot of food;
Medium feed capacity - the most versatile and common feeders;
Small feed capacity - good in early spring;
Flat feeders for feeding animal components. This feeder has a box design, where the top lid opens and the animal component is poured into it. Then the box is closed. There are special holes in the body of the box through which the animal bait comes out and attracts fish to us. Just remember to put animal food on the hook in this case.

Feeder weight

With a feeder weighing 30 grams and a solid installation, there is already a chance of fish catching itself.
Feeders weighing 60 grams provide a very high probability of self-hooking and allow you to throw the tackle over a distance of 60-80 m.
Feeders weighing 80 grams allow you to throw tackle at a distance of 80-120 meters;
Feeders weighing 90-100 grams make it possible to throw at maximum distances. As practice has shown, such cases are very rare.

By nozzle size

There are feeders that have the same distance between the stiffening ribs; these feeders are designed for fishing with smaller baits; a large one (a boilie with a diameter of 20 mm) will not fit between these ribs, which is why the bait may fall out of them when casting.

But there are also feeders in which the distance between the first and second ribs is much greater than between the others. Such flat feeder feeders work with large nozzles, and if we press a hook with a small nozzle into them, then there is a possibility that it will fall out upon impact about the water.

If a situation arises when you only have a flat feeder with a small distance between the stiffening ribs, and you need to use a large nozzle, then you can simply break off one stiffening rib.

According to fishing depth

Conventional feeders have small sides and are used for fishing at a depth of up to 4 meters; this design allows you to quickly release food and at the same time not fall out during the splashdown process.

Feeders with high sides and high ribs hold food well and are used when it is necessary to fish at a depth of 5 meters or more. For example, they can easily catch bream at a depth of 9 meters.

By casting distance

Front-loaded feeders can be thrown much further, but due to the center of gravity shifted forward, they burrow more strongly into the silt, also if you are fishing in shallow water and there are stones there, then if you hit them, the feeder may be damaged.

Feeders with uniform loading have a shorter range, but due to the uniform distribution of mass, they do not sink so deeply into the silt.

Features of using flat feeders for feeders depending on feed capacity

Flat feeders with large feed capacity

They are most often used in reservoirs where fish require a large amount of food (for example, popular platoons, where people have accustomed the fish to abundant feeding), as well as in fishing competitions. In such feeders, in addition to a large amount of feed, we can add a large fraction, such as pellets and corn. As a rule, starting feeding with 10 such feeders creates a large feeding spot, visible to the fish from afar.

Large feeders are effective when frequent recasting cannot be done, for example, in a shallow body of water where fish do not like noise. Such a feeder delivers a lot of food in one throw, and we can wait until the fish calms down and approaches the feeder.

Also, such flat feeders stick well to the silt, due to the very wide base, so they don’t sink into it as much. Therefore, they are very effective when fishing in shallow, standing waters, which we also call toadfish.

The disadvantages of these feeders is that when fishing at a distance of over 80 meters, it becomes difficult to throw them at one point, so the feeding spot becomes less attractive. And casting itself over distances of over 80-100 meters becomes more problematic.

With medium feed capacity

It is this flat method feeder that is most often used by fishermen, since it is the most versatile and has a number of advantages.

Very long-range, using such front-loaded feeders, you can throw them at a distance of 100-130 m (although most often this need arises not in amateur fishing, but in competitions).

This feeder can hold a sufficient amount of food to interest the fish and not overfeed it.

It has a very large gradation of weights and we can easily find feeders ranging from 15 grams to 80 grams or more.

There is enough food in this feeder so that you don’t have to use starter feed and fish using the search method.

The width of this flat feeder is quite enough to fish on toad grasses with almost the same efficiency as on feeders with a large feed capacity.

Small feed container

Such flat feeders for feeders are good in early spring in cold water, when the fish do not need a lot of food. This feeder is also useful when you need to accurately and quietly feed the bait.

The weight gradation of these feeders is from 15 to 40 grams, so we can use them perfectly for pickerel fishing for roach and crucian carp.

What is needed for flatt

For flat fishing, fishermen use feeder rods. The length and test of the gear are selected depending on the fishing characteristics. When choosing a fishing rod, you should pay attention to the casting distance.

To fish the coastal zone, it is worth purchasing medium feeders/pickers, the length of which reaches 3.6 meters (test up to 60 g). When casting over distances of up to 60 meters, 3.9 meter blanks with dough up to 90 gr are suitable. For long-distance casting, it is advisable to buy an extra heavy feeder with a length of 3.9 - 5 meters (test more than 80 g).

If you plan to catch large fish, you should give preference to slow action feeders. In other cases, you can use medium/fast action rods.

Among the best feeders that are suitable for flat fishing are:

Stout Feeder – the length of the gear suitable for fishing small crucian carp/bream is 2.7 m;
Angler Heavy Feeder , designed for fishing large fish;
Jester Feeder – universal feeder;
Avenger is a rod for sport fishing.

After the tackle has been selected, it is worth thinking about the question - what type of feeder to choose. The designs of the flat version feeders are similar. They typically consist of a flat, heavy base and a framed plastic/solid metal top designed to be filled with bait. The type of feeder is selected depending on the fishing conditions:

to make long casts, it is worth using feeders whose weight is equal to 2/3 of the upper test of the tackle;
when fishing a reservoir with a silted bottom, it is necessary to give preference to flat structures whose center of gravity is not displaced;
For fishing in the coastal zone, light weight feeders will be required.

Advice! Before you start choosing a feeder, you should decide in advance on the type of attachment. The distance between the ribs of the structure differs, so it is important to choose a model that can accommodate a specific nozzle.

When fishing areas of a reservoir with a small current, and casting over long distances, it is better to use not a fishing line, but a braided line, the diameter of which is 0.12-0.14 mm. At the same time, a shock leader is added to the equipment.

To catch trophy fish, you should use a monofilament with a diameter of 0.22 - 0.30 mm.

Among the best models of monofilament fishing line for flat equipment, it is worth highlighting:

Colmic method feeder;
Browning Feeda Line Cenex;
Sensas Feeder Tech Competition.

The best braid models suitable for flat fishing: Daiwa Tournament, Powersink Braid X4 PE, Sunline Siglon PE X4, Daiwa J-Braid X4.

The coil for a flat feeder must be powerful enough. Depending on the thickness of the cord and the characteristics of the tackle, the size of the spool is selected.

When going fishing for crucian carp, you can install a reel of size 2500. If you plan to catch more serious prey, you should give preference to reels marked 4000. The highest quality models are considered:

Feeder Concept Pilot;
Daiwa Regal 4000 XIA;
Kaida Dragon FA 3000;
Preston PC-R 6000;
Banax Helicon 500NF;
Teben AQR-400;
Kaida MJ 5000A;
Flagman Force Active Feeder.

To absorb strong jerks of the fish and prevent the risk of the leader breaking, it is worth using a feeder. It must be installed between the main equipment and the leash. Experienced fishermen recommend choosing Feeder gum or Power gum rubber thread. The length of the feeder is selected depending on the type of equipment.

For flat installation, small hooks of sizes No. 2, 4, 6 are used. Korda Mixa, Korda Krank, Gardner Mugga are best suited.

Hook numbering

Installation of flat equipment

The flat method equipment consists of:

ledcor 40-50cm long
flat feeders;
leash with hook.

Ledcore

Icecore is necessary not only to camouflage the equipment, it also prevents damage to the fish by the main line when fishing.

Unfortunately, there have been cases where fish were injured by equipment without icecore. Therefore, now at all serious flat competitions the use of this element of equipment is mandatory.

The length of the icecore is 40-50cm, but there are no special restrictions, the main thing is that it is not too long and does not interfere with casting the tackle.

Feeder

Manufacturers of fishing equipment have sensitively grasped the increased consumer interest in the subject of the flat method and now the market offers a large assortment of feeders for fishing with such equipment. Both foreign and domestic companies are represented, and the models are very different both in cost and configuration.

The most important thing is that any flat feeder has a flat, loaded bottom and a plastic or metal ribbed frame that helps hold the bait when casting. The vast majority of flats have a design suitable for inline mounting, which is considered safe for fish.

There are models with both blind mounts and feeders, in particular from Guru, and even from Preston, but they are not in great demand.

To install flat-method equipment you need:

attach the swivel with the ring to the ledcore using the loop-to-loop method;
insert the free end of the icecore into the feeder tube;
attach the leash to the swivel ring.

The finished equipment is attached to the main line using the loop-to-loop method and can be used for fishing.

Hooks for flat rigs

Fishing on a flat feeder involves the use of small feeders and miniature baits, and therefore hooks of numbers 8-12 according to the European classification are selected for installation of equipment. It is desirable that the hook is not thick and very sharp, reliably detecting the fish.

Most often, hooks of the “Wide Gape” shape with an eye, Teflon or black nickel are chosen. The Teflon coating camouflages the hook, but at the same time it dulls faster on rocks and bottom debris, so you need to check the condition of the hook tip before casting.

Specific successful models for the flat method are “Fox Curo S-2” and “Fox SSSP” in numbers 8-10, “Korda Mixa” hooks originally intended for float fishing, or the more budget “Hayabusa K-1”.

The sizes of these hooks are approximately the same and they are convenient for fishing with floating boilies (pop-ups) with a diameter of 8-10mm.

Good hooks from or "Gardner". Yes, in general, there are no particular problems with purchasing high-quality hooks for a flat feeder. Each fisherman chooses models depending on his own preferences and budget.

Important! The tip should be very sharp, because no one wants to lose a solid trophy due to a dull hook.

Leading material

Choosing a leader material for flat fishing is not very difficult; it should be:

soft;
durable;
unnoticeable;
drowning.

There are quite a lot of soft leash materials in fishing stores, but it is better to choose those that have a strength of 15-20Lb and the most inconspicuous coloring. The length of the leash is 8-12mm because the mechanics of flat work do not imply the use of long leashes.

When fishing at short distances in “English” conditions, some anglers tie leashes on fishing line or fluorocarbon. There is nothing reprehensible in this, but still there is a philosophy of a trophy flat feeder, built on the advantages of flat feeders rather than classic feeder feeders, and it involves the use of soft leash material.

Attention! Defenders of line leashes should be told that you can catch a predator with corn, or a carp with live bait, and even catch something. But it’s better to choose the most catchy rigs and working materials in order to maximize your chances of winning decent trophies.

Installation of nozzle for flat

In most cases, when fishing with flat feeders, hair rigging is used! This installation is completely safe for fish and is used by all self-respecting flat feeders.

Still, caring for fish comes first for many fishermen. Athletes generally fish only on the “catch and release” principle, so others should try to use only safe rigs.

The following are used as attachments for flat feeder equipment:

pop-up floating boilies;
boilies of neutral buoyancy type wafters;
artificial floating baits;
plant attachments.

Why is flat pop-up convenient?

The main role of the nozzle in flat installation is to simplify as much as possible the process of getting the hook into the fish’s mouth at the moment when it is keen on eating bait from the feeder. Therefore, floating baits are the most effective, as are small hooks.

This does not mean that you cannot fish with sinking or dusty boilies. But, firstly, the nozzle must have a small diameter so as not to get stuck in the ribs of the feeder. And secondly, it must have buoyancy in order to make it easier to catch fish.

The length of the hair is kept very short, and the optimal loading of the hook is considered to be when it stands on the sting, as if raised by a floating attachment.

The best pop-ups for flat among “foreigners” are considered to be “Mainline”, “Solar”, “CCMoore”, “Carpballs”. Among domestic manufacturers, “ffem” pop-ups stand out, created primarily for flat equipment.

The range of pop-up diameters for flats varies from 8 to 14 mm, but the most commonly used nozzles are 8-10 mm.

Important! You should not think that the larger the size of the pop-up you choose to put on the hair, the bigger the fish you will catch. Quite the contrary, there are many cases where fish weighing 10+ kg were bitten by 8-10 pop-ups.

Artificial baits

An excellent bait for flat fish is artificial corn, in particular from , which offers its baits in jars with dips from the world's most famous manufacturers. But plastic corn, as well as dambels, also have high buoyancy and are very attractive to fish. These attachments are reusable, so they last a long time.

Domestic manufacturers also offer a large assortment of plastic baits in the budget price niche, so it is advisable for every flat feeder to have them in their arsenal. A good bait option is a pop-up with plastic corn placed on top. Or a snowman, where again there is a floating attachment in the upper part, and a small bottom boilie or pellets in the lower part.

Neutral nozzles for flat

Boilies and dumbbells of neutral buoyancy appeared not so long ago, but they also work well with flat equipment, because in this case the nozzle raises the hook and makes it easier to hook fish. Installation with such baits does not require loading, so they can be considered optimal for flat fishing.

When choosing a nozzle for flat, focus on its:

buoyancy;
color;
attractiveness;
moisture resistance.

As already mentioned, the bait does not play a primary role when fishing on the flat, but if it is chosen correctly, it increases the chances of catching fish, including trophy ones.

Important! It is advisable to have in your arsenal several varieties of floating baits, differing primarily in buoyancy and color, and then in smell. In spring and autumn, when the fish are inactive, it is advisable to use 8mm baits, or cut 10-14mm pop-ups to small sizes.

Flat mounting options

Below you can find step-by-step instructions for the most popular types of installation.

Blind installation of a flat method feeder on a feeder

To perform this type of installation, you will need to select a swivel to match the diameter of the feeder tube. The swivel should fit tightly into the structure. Additional use of the connector will ensure a strong connection. The connector is pulled from above onto the swivel and threaded into the feeder tube.

Blind equipment and fishing using the flat feeder method:

Step-by-step process of blind installation

First of all, anglers make a loop at one end of the leadcore, the length of which is 60-80 cm. The loop is formed from a piece 16-20 cm long.
The opposite tip of the leadcore is passed through the body of the feeder.
A connector is threaded through the leadcore and a loop with a swivel is knitted at its end.
The connector is placed on a swivel.
The feeder is brought to the swivel and pulled by the opposite edge of the leadcore. The connector with the swivel should fit tightly into the feeder throughput tube.
A leash is mounted to the swivel, the length of which reaches 10 cm.

Sliding installation of flat feeder

If the fish is passive, you should use a sliding installation of a flat feeder. To do this, make a loop on one side of the fishing line through which the equipment will be connected to the main fishing line/cord. A feeder is passed through the fishing line and a bead is threaded through, which protects the knot from the feeder and prevents it from getting onto the swivel. Having tied the swivel, you should attach a leash, the length of which reaches 35 cm.

An example of flat method feeder equipment on a method feeder

Method flat feeder elasticated accessories

In addition to in-line equipment, there are also installations with a feeder, which is connected to the main line, for example, with a small fastener, and the leash is already installed on a special ring attached to the shock absorber (as a rule, this is a piece of plug rubber - photo 15A ). This shock absorber either passes through the leg of the feeder itself and is attached to its base, or is installed at the base of the feeder leg and is located in the middle of the feeder (photo 15B) . Such equipment is appropriate if a cord is used as the main fishing line - after all, it perfectly absorbs the jerks of strong fish, protecting the tackle from breakage.

How to fish flat, suitable bait and bait options

For flat fishing, you can use animal/vegetable baits. Experienced fishermen claim that a good bite is observed when baiting a hook:

boilies;
corn;
peas;
worm;
maggots;
bloodworm.

The use of the flat method involves separate mixing of bait intended for the feeder and for feeding a promising area of the reservoir.

Using a bait mixture for feeding allows you to attract the attention of the fish and keep it in the fishing spot. The fraction of feeding mixture ingredients must be large. Fishermen recommend adding boilies, corn and pellets to the feed.

The bait should be sticky. It is important that during casting it does not fly off the feeder, withstanding a forceful swing, hitting the surface of the water and, in the process, sinking to the bottom.

Starting feeding can be done manually or using a slingshot. The bait mixture can be purchased at fishing stores or prepared independently. The best brands of fish food today are Dunaev, Sensas, FFem.

Feeder bait in a method type feeder

Equipment with bait and bait

At first, flat method feeders were loaded by hand. Nowadays it is customary to do this using a special tool - a mold. The mold is supplied complete with feeders or separately, depending on the manufacturer. Types of flat feed compactors:

Silicone;
Made of hard plastic;
With a button.

The simplest and most reliable molds are silicone. They are practically indestructible and will last for many years if not lost. A common practice for flat fishing is to press the bait with the hook directly into the feed. To do this, the hook with the nozzle is placed in the mold. If you need to deepen it into the bait, then first pour a little mixture into the mold, and only then place the nozzle in it. Next, add a little bit of bait into the mold. We put the feeder in it and press it. After removal, a neat lump of food is attached to the feeder, and the nozzle is hidden in it.

Proper bait is the basis of the flat method. The composition is important here. The mass should be molded and held on the feeder during casting, but at the bottom in the water it should collapse and release the bait. Read more about the correct flat bait.

Which nozzle can be used:

Boilies 10-12 mm (larger ones are possible for large carp), sinking and floating;
Pellets;
Snowmen and mushrooms (sandwiches made of pelets and halves of a floating Pop Up boilie on top);
Corn;
Worms;
Peas;
Styrofoam balls;
Maggot.

Any attachment will do. You need to experiment with bait. At one time the fish reacts better to a lying bait, at another time to a floating one. A good practice is to ensure that the bait is neutrally buoyant so that it only rises slightly from the pile of food, but does not float. You can also lift animal baits with a piece of foam on a hook. This presentation enters the fish’s mouth easily, with the slightest suction. Feeder hair equipment is usually used on hooks. But you can attach bait directly to the hook, as well as through Maggot clips.

Fishing tactics

Flat fishing allows anglers to use multiple gears. One of the feeders can be thrown to a previously baited area of the reservoir, and the second tackle can be used to search for another point. You can try to fish shallow areas located near the reeds and cast over long distances. If there is not a single bite for 10-15 minutes, you should change the point.

To find a promising point, you should stick to the fan method. Each subsequent cast is performed to the left/right of the previous one. You can also change the casting distance.

After waiting for the first bite, you should throw the bait in the same place. The hook when fishing on a flat feeder should be short but sweeping. If the next bite follows, you can safely begin fishing this zone. A promising point has been found.

Advice! Casting must be done at intervals of 15 minutes.

Method reel and bait reel

Flat fishing rods

As for equipment, for fishing using the flat method you will need:

feeder rod;
spinning reel with fishing line;
equipment with a flat feeder, tied on icecore;
rod stand;
bait and bait.

There are many heated debates about whether carp rods can be used for flat fishing, or whether only a feeder is needed. In this case, one should proceed from the convenience of the fisherman while fishing, as well as his financial capabilities.

A feeder rod is much better because:

It’s more convenient for them to cast, especially light feeders;
the feeder will give you a lot of emotions when fishing for a trophy;
it is more convenient to make frequent recasts;
They can catch fish with a feeder even without bite alarms.

Of course, you can fish with flat feeders and light carp baits, but this is more of a necessary measure than a truly optimal solution.

The choice of feeder rod depends on:

the weight of the feeders that you plan to use;
fishing distances;
height of the fisherman;
fishing conditions.

The optimal length is considered to be 3.60-3.90m, but when fishing at super long distances it is advisable to have a rod 4.2m long. At a distance of 40-60 meters, a feeder with a length of 3.3 m is suitable, especially since its weight is less, which provides additional convenience. The feeder rod is equipped with two or three quivertips (tips) of different rigidity, which guarantees the sensitivity of the tackle.

How to catch crucian carp on flat

To catch crucian carp using the flat method, you should use animal baits (worms, maggots, bloodworms), as well as corn, peas and pearl barley. It is worth adding flavorings to the bait. In the warm season, sweet additives are perfect, and in early spring and autumn it is better to give preference to garlic flavor.

In summer, it is worth fishing areas of the reservoir near reeds, holes and depth changes. At the end of autumn, you need to look for silver in the depths and under the edges. It is best to use 2 tackles. With the second rod, you can fish the pond in search of promising places, re-casting the tackle in different directions every 10 minutes until the first bite.

Gear assembly

Since flat fishing involves catching trophy specimens, you should take all elements of your gear seriously. A properly selected rod, reel and line will ensure reliable landing of fish and will allow you to easily cast feeders of any weight.

Rod selection

For fishing on a flat feeder, it is not recommended to choose rods with a fast and especially super-fast action. Rigid fishing rods are well suited for high-speed fishing for small fish, when you need to cast the equipment as accurately as possible and quickly pull out the trophy that is hooked.

A feeder rod for catching large specimens must have:

short in length, which will allow you to fish in cramped conditions when the shore of the reservoir is overgrown with trees or bushes;
medium or slow action, which makes it possible to effectively dampen the jerks of large fish and allows the use of thinner leader materials in the equipment;
a large margin of safety, which will be useful during forced fishing.

For comfortable fishing, the angler will need comfortable rod stands.

Since most of the fishing day the tackle is on stands, it makes no sense to purchase the most expensive and lightest rods made of high-modulus graphite for the flat feeder method. By increasing the lightness of a fishing rod, manufacturers inevitably reduce its strength characteristics and reduce the rod’s resistance to abrasive loads. It would be good if the upper part of the rod handle was made of EVA material, which is much easier to clean off dried bait than cork.

For fishing on small ponds, a rod 2.7 m long with a test weight of up to 40–50 g is quite suitable. If you plan to fish on a large pond or lake, then it is better to arm yourself with more powerful gear, which includes a fishing rod 3–3.40 m long with a weight of up to 80 grams, which will allow you to throw a heavy feeder to a promising hole or snag.

Optimal coil

The rod will need to be equipped with a commensurate reel from a trusted manufacturer. For flat fishing, spinning reels of the 2500–3500 series are used. Many fishermen make the mistake of installing models with a large additional number of bearings, intended for match fishing, on method gear. Due to the large number of bearings, such reels have poor power traction, which is unacceptable when fishing for trophy fish.

In addition, when it comes to catching large specimens, for which you have to wait several tens of minutes for a bite, the speed of reeling out the fishing line is completely unimportant. Reliability and power characteristics, which distinguish reels with a small additional number of bearings, come to the fore.

A reel with a baitrunner is the best option for carp fishing.

Particular attention should be paid to the operation of the friction brake. The friction must be finely tuned and ensure a smooth release of the monofilament from the spool during strong tugs of the fish. Proper operation of the friction brake will allow the angler to fish out weighty specimens on a thin line.

For carp fishing, it is better to use models with a baitrunner system. The carp bite is very sharp and, if the clutch is tightened tightly, the tackle may end up in the water. The baitrunner system ensures free movement of the monofilament from the spool and prevents possible loss of gear.

Selection of monofilament

When assembling gear, the angler needs to decide what type of monofilament he will fish with. The flat method allows the use of both braided cords and monofilament line. Braided lines have a higher breaking strength than monofilament line.

When fishing using the flat method, it is better to use monofilament designed for fishing on a feeder.

In addition, the braided line has almost zero elongation, which is important when fishing for fish such as crucian carp and bream, whose bites can be very careful. The disadvantages of braided wire include:

lack of shock-absorbing properties, which does not allow the use of small hooks and thin leashes;
low resistance to abrasive loads, leading to frequent breakages of equipment;
high price, which can be an order of magnitude higher than for monofilament monofilament;
short service life, limited to 1–2 seasons.

How to tie a feeder feeder

In feeder fishing, braided cords with a diameter of 0.08–0.16 mm with a breaking load of 2 to 10 kg are used. Preference should be given to four-core cords, which are less susceptible to damage from stones and sharp edges of shells.

For carp fishing, only monofilament fishing line is used, which is associated with the energetic bite and active resistance of this fish. Monofilament filament has a number of advantages:

good shock-absorbing qualities, helping when landing fish and allowing the use of thinner equipment;
good resistance to abrasive loads, which ensures the reliability of the gear;
low price, which allows you to replace the fishing line without significant material costs on the part of the fisherman.

For flat fishing, monofilament fishing lines with a thickness of 0.20 to 0.30 mm are used. If a braided line is used for carp fishing, then in this case it becomes mandatory to have a reel with a baitrunner system.

Installation of equipment

Installation of flat equipment can be either sliding or stationary. In the sliding version, the feeder moves freely along the leadcore (a cord with a lead core inside), which significantly increases the sensitivity of the gear. In the stationary version, the feeder is rigidly fixed to the leadcore. Sergey Popov, who is actively promoting the flat method in Russia and is a repeated winner of competitions in this type of fishing, recommends a stationary option. His fishing practice has shown that installation with a fixed feeder almost completely eliminates idle bites. One of Sergei Popov’s rigs, intended for carp fishing, is knitted as follows:

At one end of a piece of leadcore 60–80 long, a swivel is tied.
At the other end, a feeder is put on the leadcore and moved close to the swivel.
While holding the feeder, the fisherman forcefully pulls the free end of the cord, thereby driving the swivel halfway into the body of the bait structure.
A plastic cone is placed on the cord to secure the feeder at the top.
The free end of the leadcore is tied to the main monofilament thread with a counter knot.
A leash 5–12 cm long is attached to the swivel.

When installing flat feeder equipment, high-quality medium-sized swivels are used.

The use of sinking leadcore with a metal core is quite justified. The sinking line immediately falls to the bottom and makes the equipment invisible to the fish. The material used for the leash is leash material with a breaking load of 8–10 kg. If you plan to catch carp with boilies or large pellets, then attach the bait to the hook using a hair rig.

The sliding version has increased sensitivity and is more often used when fishing for crucian carp and bream. The knitting pattern for such equipment is as follows:

A swivel is attached to the end of a monofilament line with a diameter of 0.35 mm.
A buffer bead is placed on the fishing line.
The feeder is attached to the monofilament.
The free end of the fishing line is tied to the main monofilament with a counter knot.
A short leash made of “braid” or leash material is attached to the swivel.

The monofilament on which the installation is knitted must have negative buoyancy and a dark color, less noticeable on the bottom soil. With this design of the flat method equipment, the most careful bites are transmitted to the tip of the rod.

How to catch carp using the flat method

A correctly selected bait provokes fish to bite. When fishing for carp, you should hook:

floating boilies;
pellets;
worm;
corn;
sinking boilies;
foam balls.

In the warm season, pop-up baits work most effectively.

It is better to use Dynamite baits Browning, Sensas and Marcel VDE for carp fishing.

When a promising fishing point has been found, it is worth starting feeding with 4 feeding troughs. The first pair of feeders should be free of food at the bottom, and the second pair in the water column. In this way, it will be possible to create a feeding spot in which the feeders will be hidden.

How to catch bream

To attract the attention of bream, it is worth adding a small amount of flavoring (chocolate, strawberry, hemp) to the bait. It is better to use blind equipment, thanks to which the fish catches itself. Having cast to a promising point, all you have to do is wait for a bite. The frequency of re-casting the tackle is every 20 minutes. If there is not a single bite for 40-60 minutes, it is worth changing the area of the reservoir being fished.

Classic flat method feeder - video from an expert, fishing tips:

What is a “Flat Feeder”?

The most important difference between flat is its unique shape, which resembles half an egg. The base is necessarily made of lead; for this reason, the feeder always falls with the open part up. Because of these features, such equipment is quite convenient to use for catching fish of the carp family, preferably in reservoirs where there is practically no current. Under this condition, the food slowly dissolves, attracting fish. The food should be placed in the equipment using a special method; for this, as a rule, special silicone molds are used.

In many reservoirs with a large number of peaceful fish, it is quite difficult to use classic feeders; in places where there is a huge amount of silt or other obstacles at the bottom, it is better to use a flat feeder. It is not advisable to use other equipment due to the fact that old-type feeders simply sink in silt and often cling to branches and algae. The flat method differs in this type of fishing in some features:

The special shape of the feeder and the increased area do not allow the equipment to drown in the silt.
The main nozzle is located in the bait, so the hook will never catch on natural obstacles.

In the classic version of the feeder, the hook is located nearby, for this reason the fish may simply not notice it. Flat completely solves this problem, since the fish will definitely swallow the bait, given the way the fish eats food. The process is very similar to the operation of a vacuum cleaner.

Tips and secrets

Avid fishermen are happy to share the secrets of fishing using the flat method with beginners.

The consistency of bait for the flat method should not be like plasticine.
If you plan to catch large fish, you should purchase a reel with a baitrunner.
It is recommended to use boilies with a diameter of 10-12 mm as bait.
The hook should only be performed at the moment of a strong blow, which will bend the rod blank.

Flat fishing is becoming increasingly popular among anglers who don’t like to spend hours feeding a certain area of the reservoir and waiting all day for a bite.

The flat method allows you to quickly find a promising place and start fishing it. In order for a trip to a reservoir to bring the desired result, and for the fish tank to quickly fill with fish, it is worth properly equipping the feeder and listening to the advice of experienced fishermen regarding flat fishing tactics.

Flat method

Flat feeders are a natural development of method equipment, successfully borrowed by feeders from carp fishing. The ancestors were method feeders with a weight shifted to one edge, which made it possible to control which side the feeder would fall to the bottom. Thanks to this point, the bait can be hidden in a lump of bait, it will not fall to the bottom with the bait facing down. The flat sole of the flat method design does not sink into the silt, and the bait with the nozzle is located on top. Therefore, flat feeders are indispensable in silted ponds, quarries and lakes. The method in the classic petal form is now successfully used in the feeder. Read more about feeder fishing method.

However, it is the flat method that has become more common among anglers. Flat method feeders are available and work both for trophy-sized carp and other available fish - carp, roach, carp, tench, silver carp, and, of course, crucian carp. Flat takes less feed at a time, and for the feeder this is better than huge lumps in the classical method. You can fish at a high pace without fear of overfeeding the fish. Tactics can be implemented according to the classic process, with marking the bottom and starting feeding, or in reconnaissance mode. This is especially important on reservoirs with a homogeneous topography, where even careful measurements do not always succeed in identifying promising points. A small amount of food allows you to create a compact feeding point, and the fish quickly finds the bait on a pile of bait. Carp can suck up the bait along with the entire portion of bait at one time. Read more about fishing using the flat feeder method.