Lee Kerry’s feeder rigs
Lee Kerry’s secrets to consistent match wins
It may sound obvious, but having the right rig will definitely catch you more fish.
We think nothing of spending hours getting it right for float or pole fishing. Carp anglers too look at all aspects of their end tackle to catch more fish, so it should come as no surprise that feeder anglers need to be doing exactly the same.
Long gone are the days of going down the ‘just chuck it in’ route with the same set-up every day. We now find ourselves thinking about many aspects of our rigs to try and get the best from them. This can be the feeder we use, how it looks under the water, the length of hooklink and the pattern of hook.
This week I’m going to look at the rigs I have been using in recent months and which have won me a good few quid into the bargain, focusing on what makes them so successful…
Free-runnIng rIg
Many venues have rules regarding free-running feeder rigs, and as a key criterion in international matches it is something that I have spent a long time working on.
Indeed, there are occasions when this type of rig offers an advantage regardless of rules, so it is often my first choice. A bonus is that it is still one of the simplest rigs to make:
1 Thread a link swivel on to the mainline and then make a small loop, leaving around a 10ins tail.
2 Twist the tail and the main line in opposite directions so that they start to form a twisted section.
3 Secure the twisted lines to create a 6ins section with a double overhand.
4 Fix two No8 Stotz are above the knot, stopping the swivel and kicking out the twisted lines away from the feeder.
5 Finally, attach the feeder to the link swivel.
The benefit of the free-running rig is without a doubt bite indication. Bites develop more readily into big pulls on the tip as the line runs freely through the swivel, and this rig is great for small and big fish alike.
A downside to this rig is that it can be prone to tangles if there is a strong head wind – although a smooth casting technique can help to almost eliminate this.
HelIcopter rIg
This is my go-to feeder rig for traditional-style feeder fishing when a fixed rig is allowed. The beauty of the helicopter is that it is virtually tangle-free, the ultimate goal when casting a feeder rig a long way. Again, a helicopter rig is also very easy to tie.
1 Secure a small swivel on the mainline by rubber stops, leaving a very small gap between them to ensure that the swivel can spin freely.
2 Tie a link swivel on to the end of the mainline, hanging 2ins below the stops.
3 Attach the feeder to the link swivel and the hooklength to the swivel between the stops.
When a cast is made, the hooklength is free to spin with the swivel around the mainline, which is what makes it almost impossible to tangle.
The helicopter rig is best used for skimmers and hybrids, and is my go-to rig for Ireland, Tamar Lakes and Southfield Reservoirs.
The only minor downside is that bites can be difficult to read at times but, on the whole, any rapid, multiple movements on the tip need to be struck at.
The final part of any feeder cast should always be stopping the feeder in the air just before it hits the water. This helps the hooklength ‘kick’ past the feeder on entry and not run the risk of tangling. The reel’s line clip, of course, makes this easy.
INLINE RIG
Inline feeders play a huge part in my feeder fishing, but only if I am using a short hooklength.
Any hooklength longer than around 6ins is prone to tangles on this sort of set-up, so for that reason alone I tend to use around a 4ins hooklink and tuck it into the feeder.
The most popular and most effective inline feeder is without doubt a Method, and when you think about how many fish this type of feeder has caught, it must be a crazy number. An inline set-up couldn’t be simpler to prepare.
All you have to do is thread your line through the feeder, then tie a quick-change bead on the end. Nowadays I incorporate an ICS Tube on my line, which allows me to interchange to any type of inline feeder as the day goes on.
I have seen various types of set-ups for this style but, in my experience, a nice reliable mainline, such as 8lb Sinking Feeder Mono, means that even after a day’s bagging there won’t be any excessive damage or reliability issues.
ELASTICATED RIG
My final feeder rig incorporates an elasticated-stem feeder, which is only allowed on fisheries that allow fixed feeders – if the venue you are on stipulates free-running feeders, you can’t use this rig.
If fixed is allowed, though, an elasticated feeder can offer a real advantage. I find this comes into play when fishing with stronger rods for distance fishing, and this reason for this is because when you are casting a Method feeder a long way, you will be likely to need a 12ft rod or longer.
These usually have nice strong butt sections, but when a hooked fish comes under your feet at close range, the power can lead to hook-pulls at the net.
If you use an elasticated feeder, however, this does all the work for you at this point, cushioning any late lunges from big fish and making sure the carp finds its way into the landing net.