The Feeder fishing is admittedly one of mos sensitive technique. We can catch all the careful fishes easily. But what happens, if our finny friends leaves the near-coast distance and get the direction to the deeper, further water. This event sometimes happen thanks to the weather. In these times, all our attempts are useless, we cant make any serious takes near the coast within 50 yards. This means we cant catch fish? Of course not!

I try to seduce the fishes with good quality groundbait and two type of pellets.

I think, all of us were in the situation countless times, that we watch the bite indicators for several hours, without any action. Our well tried, proven baits and groundbaits did not work. It looks like the fishes left the lake. However, at greater distances, the sharp-eyed observers may notice the fish just referring to the telltale signs. In this situation, the emphasis is on the distance. If we want to be successful, we have to act according to the changed situation. We must offer our baits, where the fishes are staying. In these times it is also useless to take extra flavouring into our groundbait, or use extra amount.

Bunch of pellets from close.

The mixed groundbait. Easy to notice the small grains adhering to the pellets surface. Delicious, isn’t it?

For the special challenges we must prepare with special equipment. For reaching greater distances, over 70-80 yards, needs unique tackle, which seems extremely hard, or too strong for feeder fishing. I confess, for the first time, it was very strange for me too, to see the thick lines and the modified anti tangle method feeder. Sometimes, our favorite practices needs to be changed. How can we be successful under these circumstances, while we want to preserve the advantages of feeder fishing? It can be solved with few clever tricks.

The first catch.

Fort scion

Először is lássuk a botokat. A nagy távolságra történő horgászat erősebb felszerelést, ezzel együtt erősebb pálcákat is megkövetel. Az erőteljes dobásokat bírnia kell a botnak, főként a spiccnek. A legjobb, ha a dobósúly ilyenkor az ideális 150-200 grammos tartományba esik. Nem mintha ekkora tömeget szeretnénk belendíteni az általunk jónak tartott helyre. A botok leghatékonyabban maximális dobósúlyuk 2/3-3/4 részénél dolgoznak a legdinamikusabban. Egy 150 grammos pálca esetében ez 100-120 grammos szereléket jelent.

The size 60 ET Long Cast reel did the work well.

Just the size 50 Power Feeder. I loaded the same size 0.25 mm fishing line on them.

The feeder type and size is also an important thing. We can use lighter feeders with more method mix loaded in them, or heavier ones with lesser loads. For the first case, the dropped method mix will be more, for the second, the casting distance will be greater thanks to the better aerodynamics. For the lighter ones, the ideal weight of the feeder is around 1 oz, we are able to load 2-2.5 oz attractive material in them, while the heavier 2 oz feeders can hold around 1.5-2 oz method mix. The more weighty feeders can be casted for further distances, than the lighter, but more packed ones. For the first case, the comfortable distance is around 60-70 yards, for the second, this is more than 80 yards can be is also available. The ideal offering from Energofish is the series of the Power Feeder in 13” and 14” size. Their action is in the super heavy category with 5 oz casting weight.

The 14” long rod with 5 oz casting weight seems designed for using long range fishing.

The 13” rod also a good choice.

What type of reel needs to be chosen? Of course a great one. The spool diameter, the loading capacity and of course the line order on the spool. The line order determines the distance, what we can reach. In case the reel coils the line to the spool perfectly, the line will roll down from the spool when we cast, if not, the roll down is braked. For feeder fishing, the ideal spool size is around 50-60. For this time, I choose the ET Power Feeder in size 50 for the 13” and the ET Long Cast ins size 60 for the 14” rod. Both reels were designed for feeder fishing, the has reliable front brakes. They has bigger size brake plates and are easy running due to the precise ball bearings.

Easy to see, the major users of the 6000 series ET Long Cast reel are the feeder anglers.

Bait collection in my twister box. Creativity is important in fishing!

I loaded the Carp Expert Feeder Sinking fishing line in 0.25 size. I also used a thicker line for casting leader in 0.35 mm diameter, it was the ET Specialist Carp. The leader was the double of the rod’s length. This holds a simple anti tangle feeder, I pushed one inch upper on the anti tangle tube. I joined a ledger bead before the knot of the swivel. I used 4 inch long 0.10 diameter braid hook length. The hook was 10 size, I put the bait on it with a silicon pellet ring. I like this solution, because it is easier to change than the hair rig.

The weather was bad this time, but luckily there was no wind.

Another finer from the horizon.

Now after the mass of numbers, let see, how the tackle did the job. The weather was ordinary bad. We were fishing with the other anglers in a continuous light rain, without any takes. I was unable do anything, it was clear that the fishes were far away from my bailing-in at 40 yards. I had to change. After one hour rain and silence, I decided to try something other. The old, experienced buddy next to me tried float near the coast, while I choosed to reach the further distances in the middle of the lake. After some time I had a small take. It seems the ice was broken, although I felt that there is a little fish fighting on the hook.

I took a quick photo before I put him back to the water.

To be honest I was surprised that I was right. After it I recognized that is was extremely logical, why could not I noticed it before? If the fishes are not near to me, they are far from me! The simpliest solultion are the greatest. I started to catch the fishes moderately at the second half of the morning, but the bugger fishes evaded me. I cant say nothing bad even for the bad weather.

Nice little roach, he got back his freedom fast.

My lovely fin friends went back to the invigorating water after coming of the hook and taking a picture. I hope we will meet again, now I know, where you are hiding! After the fishing only I can say that extreme situations requires extreme solutions, but with the appropriate adaptation and proper awareness, we can control such situations. In the past we may told in these times: “Nobody can catch anything!”. Let’s fishing on the horizon!

In good weather, the lake shows her beautiful face. Maybe the next time