on 16 top feeder venues
The swimfeeder is the tactic of the moment. Here are some ace river and stillwaters fisheries that respond
THERE is no hiding from the fact that feeder fishing is more popular now than ever before. The growing number of big match events designed for anglers who like to fish them is a reflection of the popularity in this style of angling.
But knowing which venues are suited to the feeder is not always easy.
As part of our feeder fishing special, Angling Times has put together some of the nation’s top venues, from rivers to reservoirs, which are just ideal for this rewarding tactic… RIVERS
RIVER AVON, STRATFORD-ON-AVON, WARKS
Head to the ‘Rec’ and fish the pegs opposite the boat moorings alongside the Shakespeare Theatre. Cast tight across with a groundbait feeder to catch bream to over 7lb. Contact: Bailey’s of Warwick, 01926 491984 Prices: £3 on the bank, Leamington AA
RIVER DON, BRAMWITH, S YORKS
A great deal of the tidal Don is ideal for feeder fishing. Recent reports from this stretch are of anglers catching some big bream to 8lb-plus using groundbait feeder tactics with red maggots on the hook. Contact: Paul’s Fishing Tackle, 01709 862558 Prices: Free fishing
RIVER SEVERN, BRIDGNORTH, SHROPSHIRE
The day-ticket Golf Course stretch fishes well for chub and barbel all year round. Take a few pints of maggots and keep filling a blockend feeder, casting it towards the middle of the river. The bigger fish will eventually find your feed. Contact: Middle Severn Angling, 01746 769070 Prices: £4 from Middle Severn Angling, Bridgnorth AS
RIVER THAMES, OXFORD, OXFORDSHIRE
Folly Bridge is a great feeder fishing venue due to its width and depth. Moving down to the Cherwell mouth you can bag up on bream and chub by fishing groundbait feeder tactics. Contact: Top Tackle, 01865 201020 Prices: £8 on the bank or £5 from local tackle shops, Oxford DAA
RIVER TRENT, HOLME, NEWARK, NOTTS
The renowned Holme Marsh swims are perfect for feeder fishing where barbel and bream are the main quarry. Head to the pegs in the 70s opposite the willows and cast two-thirds of the way across. Contact: Worksop DAA, 01909 486350 Prices: £4 a day on the bank, Worksop DAA
RIVER WEAVER, NORTHWICH, CHESHIRE
The stretch in the town centre by the River Dane mouth has always been great for feeder fishing. A simple groundbait feeder rig with worms or maggots will see you catch plenty of skimmers and roach. Contact: Northwich AA, 01270 662487 Prices: £5 a day from Vale Royal Angling, Northwich AA
RIVER YARE, BRAMERTON, NORFOLK
The Common is a great bream venue, even in winter. Fish into low light using a groundbait feeder and expect slabs weighing as much as 10lb. Contact: Angling Direct Norwich, 01603 400870, Prices: Free fishing STILLWATERS
BODDINGTON RESERVOIR, BYFIELD, NORTHANTS
Cast around 50 yards out with a Method feeder for carp to double figures. Even in the depths of winter anglers can catch up to 10 carp in a session using this tactic. Long casts sometimes required. Contact: 01908 302556 Postcode: NN11 6UD
CHARD RESERVOIR, CHARD, SOMERSET
Most matches are won here with triple-figure nets of bream but you can easily record 30lb of roach. Cast a groundbait feeder off the dam wall to get plenty of bites from both species. Contact: 07704 632077 Postcode: TA20 1RR
DECOY FISHERIES, WHITTLESEY, CAMBS
Pegs in the 20s on Beastie are the flyers in winter for carp and F1s. Fish a small Method or pellet feeder tight to the island or the aerator around 30 yards out. Contact: 01733 202230 Postcode: PE7 2AD
HERONBROOK FISHERIES, ECCLESHALL, STAFFS
The Staffordshire venue has been The Warwickshire Avon at Stratford is a cracking Winter bream stretch. in scintillating form of late with some huge nets to 200lb in both match and pleasure sessions. Head to either the Island or Match Pool for top feeder sport. The pellet feeder works well at this time of year for carp, silvers and F1s. Contact: 07879 441282 Postcode: ST21 6LX
MANOR FARM LEISURE, HARVINGTON, WORCS
Windmill Pool is ideal for pellet feeder fishing as there is plenty of space and an island to chuck to. This lake is heavily stocked with carp to 20lb, tench, roach, perch and bream. Best baits are maggot and corn. Contact: 01386 870039 Postcode: WR11 8PA
MEADOWLANDS FISHERY, RYTON-UPON-DUNSMORE, W MIDS
Both the groundbait and Method feeder can be used to good effect
on Lambsdown Lake. Fishing the groundbait version short works well for the shoals of skimmers that are present here, whereas fishing a bit further out with the Method feeder will see you catch carp to 10lb. Contact: 01216 030127 Postcode: CV8 3EG
PACKINGTON FISHERIES, MERIDEN, WARWICKSHIRE
Molands Lake is ideal for pellet feeder fishing for F1s and carp. Target the island off what they call Scarecrow Point and you won’t go far wrong. Keep the feeders small to prevent spooking the fish. Contact: 01676 522020 Postcode: CV7 7HF
SOUTHFIELD RESERVOIR, DONCASTER, SOUTH YORKS
A haunt of England Feeder Team manager Tommy Pickering, Southfield is fishing really well at the moment with bags of bream topping 50lb. Open-end feeder fishing is the way to go here. Kickstart your session by introducing around five large feederfuls of groundbait and take it from there, with red maggot on the hook. Contact: 07946 382882 Postcode: DN14 9AD
SWINSTY RESERVOIR, HARROGATE, NORTH YORKS
Recently opened to coarse anglers, Swinsty is full of trout, bream and roach. Set up on the Pinfold Lane bank and fish the groundbait feeder if you want to catch the bigger slabs. The reservoir is also full of big perch which can be targeted using blockend feeders with maggots. Contact: 07754 505434 Postcode: HG3 1SU