WATERCRAFT

How to crack summer rivers with a feeder – we reveal the rigs you need

MANY anglers look upon lobbing out a feeder as a bit of a fall-back option when all else fails, but there’s far more to it than that.

There are days when you simply can’t beat a swimfeeder approach, but to maximise returns you need to assess the speed of the flow and the colour of the water and then tailor your tactics to suit.

There are crossovers on the rigs used for certain species, but the speed of the flow is the biggest consideration to make when it comes to selecting the tackle to use.

This week we’re showing you two simple set-ups that you can rely on for the vast majority of your feeder fishing – one is geared to quick-flowing rivers, the other to slow-moving water. These rigs have been thoroughly tried and tested, and details of how to tie them are shown here.

But first of all, let’s talk about the basic requirements of the tackle needed.

DON’T GO UNDERGUNNED

The first thing to consider is what you need the rod to do. For tackling fast water, it needs to be able to comfortably cast a 4oz-5oz payload, when the feeder contents and any add-on weights needed to hold bottom are added to the equation. Go undergunned, and it’ll only end in costly breakages. A power feeder rod with a 4oz carbon tip or an Avon-style rod are both good bets, paired with reels to handle lines of 10lb-12lb.

You can scale this down on slower rivers, but again it’s better to be overgunned than under. A beefy feeder rod with 2oz-3oz tips, plus a reel loaded with 6lb-8lb line, is still needed.

TOUGH TERMINAL TACKLE

There’s no place here for fine wire hooks, because when they’re attached to powerful fish in fast flows they’ll soon open out. If you’re fishing over gravel, opt for a beaked point hook, as straight-pointed ones will blunt far more easily.

When it comes to feeders, in fast flows go for block-end types, which slow the release of the contents.

Conversely, in slow-running rivers, open-ended feeders are best as the contents can more easily exit the frame.