Light feeder/ledgering

[cooketurnover]

Afternoon, I've started back fishing this year, I started off float fishing as that's all I was taught when I was younger and I'm very confident with this method.

I've recently had the urge to have a go at ledgering/feeder fishing so purchased light rod, the drennan red 9ft mini carp feeder that comes with a 1oz and 2oz quiver tip and I was hoping for advice for a complete beginner on fishing this. I've had some success on fishing a brook and had perch and chubb however I find it trickier on stillwater and proper rivers, I'm aware it's just a margin rod really so any advice on how to use it efficiently would be much appreciated.

I currently cast out to the left or right of where I'm sat and reel in till there's a slight bend on the tip however I've heard of not tightening the line to leave more slack to reduce resistance. I have just been using a running rig.

Much appreciated,

Josh

 

[cooketurnover]

I should have added that anbissue I have while fishing in wind is the quiver tip blowing about despite it being low to the water so bite registration is an issue.

 

[David Rogers 3]

If you're fishing for carp with say, pellet or meat on the hook, bite indication is usually a good pull round of the tip, so wind-movement is not so much of an issue as when you're trying for roach or skimmers with maggot as bait. Frankly, in very windy conditions I'd prefer to fish without a quivertip, pointing the rod straight at the lead or feeder with the tip under the surface and using a light clip-on bobbin between the reel and butt ring as an indicator. You can protect the bobbin from the wind by setting it so that it's hanging below the rim of a deep bait tub (or similar).

 

[cooketurnover]

Never used a bobbin before, what brand/type do you recommend?

 

[cooketurnover]

Should have mentioned I'm not after carp so much more silverfish and skimmers as like you say bigger fish bites are easier to see

 

[David Rogers 3]

I use Fox Specialist Hangers which I've had for about 10 years, but they've been discontinued and I can't see anything currently available that's directly comparable. This is the sort of thing, though: Bite Indicators Bobbins Hangers Drop Off Swingers Carp Fishing Set Of 3 | eBay
I've never tried fishing maggot in conjunction with hangers, but bite indication with baits like worm, bread, or corn hasn't been an issue with the smaller species.

 

[David Rogers 3]

Just spotted a couple on eBay! 2 USED FISHING FOX SPECIALIST HANGER | eBay

 

[peter crabtree]

If it's windy use the 2oz tip and a slightly heavier feeder. Tighten up so there's a good bend in the tip.
Bites will generally be drop backs, ie the fish moves the feeder and the tip springs back to straight, the fish hooks itself...

 

[cooketurnover]

Thanks for the advice gents it's very helpful. So could I use the bobbin along with the quiver tip or is there no point?

 

[David Rogers 3]

No point if you're using the tip for bite indication, but if you want to use the same rod with a bobbin when pointing straight at the feeder/lead, you could do (I have) - it saves buying another rod! The only potential issue with doing that is that the extra rings on a quivertip might offer more resistance to a shy-biting fish...

 

[cooketurnover]

I could just use my float fishing rod. Got it free, Shakespeare strike, it's older than I am and weighs a ton bit it's never let me down

 

[john step]

If I my say without being taken as rude.....You are over worrying about it. Just use the quiver tip. You will see the bites. They can get mote finicky as it gets colder however.
I find bites more positive on a paternoster type set up for silvers rather than the line running through the lead.
Tie a swivel clip on the end of the line and attach a lead or feeder to this. The swivel link means the weight can be changed at will.

Tie a loop about 9 inches above the lead. You can then use a separate length of hooklink with a loop to loop which can be lighter if need be and can be changed easily.

Works for me.

 

[Jeff Woodhouse]

I wrote this article some years ago, some of it might help. Hardly use the indicator board these days and thought I'd lost it at one point, but it turned up a couple of weeks ago. They can be useful when bites are really shy, by I don't know where you'd get one from these days.

Woody's Angle – Success with the Feeder | FishingMagic

When fishing a lake have your rod at an angler to where you're fishing as well. A very slight bend and the lighter tip should do it for silvers. Practise on calm days will give you experience in detecting bites on windy days. Experiment with long and short leaders, very short on a method feeder, of course.

 

[cooketurnover]

Thanks for the advice. This is the only way I have of learning so it's appreciated

 

[cooketurnover]

I tried a helicopter rig this morning with i found the hooklength a problem. The hook length was connected on a swivel between 2 shock beads and float stops

 

[Another Dave]

You'll soon learn the difference between the wind and a fish moving the tip, just like you do when floatfishing.

 

[john step]

I tried a helicopter rig this morning with i found the hooklength a problem. The hook length was connected on a swivel between 2 shock beads and float stops

Have another read of my post above. Silver fish.....No beads. No swivels on hooklinks. No tangles. Make sure the hooklink is longer than the 9 inch link to the lead. Start at about 2 feet.

 

[cooketurnover]

Cheers John I'll give that a go

 

[markcw]

I wrote this article some years ago, some of it might help. Hardly use the indicator board these days and thought I'd lost it at one point, but it turned up a couple of weeks ago. They can be useful when bites are really shy, by I don't know where you'd get one from these days.

Woody's Angle – Success with the Feeder | FishingMagic

When fishing a lake have your rod at an angler to where you're fishing as well. A very slight bend and the lighter tip should do it for silvers. Practise on calm days will give you experience in detecting bites on windy days. Experiment with long and short leaders, very short on a method feeder, of course.

I have a few target boards , 1 is circular, the other 2 are square, 1 is on a pivotal thread, use them mainly if windy, A useful tip if calm day and don't need a board is to put a bankstick in the water if possible and use that for sight detection

 

[mikench]

Never seen a target board! It sounds gimmicky to me! I take too much Tackle already! I would have though a light quiver tip or swing tip would have rendered then redundant!