There are several fishing techniques, and all of the techniques has their own specialized equipment, tackle, the number of the variations are countless. Feeder fishing is the same. We can choose from many rods, there are shorter and longer ones with great power or soft action also. What is better? Is there any universal solution, which can be used with great success in almost every situation? I decided to find out the truth on a cloudy Saturday morning.

For the two techniques, I choose two different type of rods. For the light rod, I choose the Energofish Competition Feeder. The weight of the rod is around 6.5 ounces totally, always, when I pick it up, I feel almost nothing. It is absolutely well-balanced with the chosen, 3000 Power Match reel. We can cast and cast trough the day without any problem. The slim blank makes the whole rod fast and flexible. For the heavy category rod I choose the 13 feet long Energofish Power Feeder with a (of course) 5000 Power Feeder reel. The maximum casting weight is 5 ounces, this takes the rod in the super heavy category, it is a true big game tackle. It is easy to imagine to catch a great carp with it. If the success depends on the rod, we cannot fail.

For the heavy rod I made a much more heavier, long distance casting method feeder tackle. Its casting weight was around 1.5 ounces without the method mix. I put a shock bead before the barrel swivel to make the knot safer. I use braided 4 inch long hook link with a 10 sized Drennan Carbon Specimen hook. On the competition Feeder, I used a single ⅓ ounce cage feeder with a small swivel bead and a size 16 barrel swivel. First time, the hooklenght was 18 inch long, than I changed this to 12 inch. The Hook was a Drennan Carbon Feeder in size 14. For hook bait, I used strawberry pellets on the Power feeder and strawberry corn on the Competition Feeder. I tried other taste variations also, but this two was the most preferred ones. It looks like this is the favorite on the lake in 2011!

Well, the weather, what can I say? It was changing continuously. The cold front was coming in the middle of the week, and was getting stronger and stronger till Sunday. As you see on the pictures, we have some wind in the week.

With the lighter tackle, I was fishing around at 30 yards, while with the heavier at 70 yards. The first catch was coming on the last one, it was a healthy little carp. I was surprised on the effect on the rod, how was this little carp able to do a really big take on the hardest tip.

At this point, I became relaxed, I was sure that the fishes will come! After some time the bigger ones were coming, I was hoping the most greater carps will also find my ground bait. I think there is no better luring tan the eating fish after all.

I was surprised by the intensity of the takes. On the heavier rod, I was waiting smudged, tiny takes only, particularly from 70 yards. I was setting the tips right above the water. Although it is not the best angle to notice the takes, but I can decide easily that it is a fish or only the wind.

Between two takes, i have some time to check out my rods. I think, easy to notice the differences. While the light feeder is dedicated to the most sensitive fishing, the hard one can deal with the biggest carps for sure. I can cast and reach greater distances with bigger leads / method feeders, also in normal day-to-day use this rod cannot be damaged. Despite of I am not the strongest guy, I can cast easily over 70 yards in side wind at my first try. Therefore I am sure that I can reach 100 yards, if I practice the casting technique and give a try in good weather conditions.

The lifetime of the rods are also important to me, we pay good money for them after all. It is not a wonder that we want to make sure our rods will be ready for fishing over the years. I think I can trust in stronger rods, but is it the same for the light ones? They seems so breakable. I can reassure everyone, now days, all these rods were made from special woven carbon threads. But for sure, we can check some things on the rods. One of these is the wear layer at the section extension, another is the metal ring. These are making the section extensions more stronger and wobble exempt. So don’t be afraid, if you cannot join the two sections perfectly and dome graphite wear layer can be seen, it is for you.

The next main part is the stripper. This is the first part of the rod which affects the line, and also this is important in fishing distance, what we can reach with the rod. Easy to notice that the casting distance has absolutely not the first priority for the light feeder, but the weight has. The heavy rod is the contrary, here the casting distance and the strong blank are far more important than the rod weight.

While I was sitting next to the two rods, I have a tough that there is no universal solution. The characteristics of the two rods are very different, therefore comparing them became more and more difficult. In some point of view, they are quite similar, but from others, they are not.

The competition Feeder and in general the light feeders are very versatile. They give you the opportunity of the most sensitive bait setup on the bottom of the water column. You can catch easily very sensitive, fastidious fishes when the weather conditions are not ideal and the fishes takes the baits very carefully. In these times we can successful with the ‘lights’.

The advantages of the power feeder are the possible casting weight and the casting distance. But this is all? I don’t think so. Please remember the situations, when we want to catch the fish near a cane wall or a snag. In these times we must be straight and drive the fish away from the snag to the safe water. We have lesser time and space for playing, but need more pure power. The heavy rods gives it to us.

The light rods stands closer to the ‘light tackle’, gives us more playground and an intensive experience.

The heavy rods means the heavy techniques of coarse fishing, we can use pellets as bait or heavy carp fishing tricks while we enjoy the advantages coming from fine fishing feeder technique.

I was fishing trough the morning, after all, what I can say there is no universal solution. Looking it from the view of the everyday angler, both two techniques can be effective. If somebody willing to buy both of them, than he will cover all the fine fishing feeder techniques.

The last decision must be made regarding the knowledge of the water. Where do we need to use our rods? It is essential! If we use them on a wild water, fully of snaps, sometimes fishing for great distance, than the right one will be the Power Feeder. But if we visit commercial more often, want to catch fishes with light tackle on a limited (20-30 yards) distance, and we want an active and fast fishing experience, we should choose the ‘lights’.

We did not talk about the mid rods between the light and the heavy ones. This type mostly alloys the advantages (sensitivity, wind tolerance). True all-in-one rods gives us the opportunity to catch bigger carps and careful breams. The distance also can be around 50-60 yards. For summarizing I think everyone can choose his/her best if the water and the fishes are known. And trust me, you can choose any of them, but you cant be disappointed!