Feeder fishing is one of the most versatile and productive methods in UK freshwater fishing. A feeder – a small cage or container attached to the line above the hook – delivers groundbait, pellets, or maggots directly to the fishing spot, concentrating fish and keeping them feeding close to the hookbait. On the right water, feeder fishing outperforms float fishing for bream, tench, roach, and skimmers by a wide margin.
Understanding which feeder to use in which situation is the key to getting more from the method.
[Image placeholder: A selection of feeder fishing setups showing a cage feeder, a method feeder, and an open-end feeder, with a groundbait bowl beside them, illustrating the main types of feeder used in UK freshwater fishing]
Types of Feeder
Cage feeder
A wire cage feeder is the most versatile type. The cage body is filled with groundbait (dry or slightly dampened) mixed with samples of the hookbait – casters, maggots, corn, or pellets. When cast out, the groundbait disintegrates on the lake bed over several minutes, releasing a cloud of small particles and attractants around the hookbait.
Cage feeders are available in many sizes (weights from 15g to 120g+) for casting different distances and dealing with different current speeds on rivers. A heavier cage feeder is needed at range or in current; a light cage feeder is ideal for close-range still water fishing.
Open-end feeder
A cylindrical plastic tube, open at both ends, filled with groundbait. The groundbait is pushed in from each end and the hookbait is buried in the middle. When the feeder hits the lake bed, the groundbait can push out from both ends, eventually releasing the hookbait from the surrounding feed.
Open-end feeders are particularly associated with bream and skimmer fishing where a large, spreading groundbait bed is the primary draw. They are available in very large “big feeder” sizes for high-volume bream sessions.
Method feeder
The method feeder is a flat, radiused form with a moulded feed zone into which stiff damp pellets or groundbait are packed. The hooklink is very short (typically 4-6 inches) and the bait is presented very close to the feeder. When a carp or F1 picks up the ball of feed, the hookbait is found almost immediately.
Method feeders are the dominant commercial carp fishery technique and are covered in detail in the pellet fishing guide. They are less useful for roach and bream than open-end or cage feeders.
Frame feeder
A flat, open-frame feeder design popular in match fishing. Fills with groundbait quickly and empties quickly – suited to regular casting (every 2-3 minutes in a match) to build up a groundbait bed rapidly.
Hybrid feeder
Combines the cage (holding power) with a smooth plastic body (allowing reliable distance casting). Effective for long-range bream and tench fishing where a cage feeder would decelerate too quickly in flight.
Feeder Rigs
The basic feeder rig is simple:
- Thread the main line through the feeder (or attach to a swivel on the feeder)
- Tie a swivel to the end of the main line
- Attach a hooklink (30-50cm of lighter line) to the swivel
- Tie a hook to the end of the hooklink
The feeder sits a fixed distance from the swivel. When a fish picks up the hookbait and moves away, it feels the weight of the feeder and is self-hooked.
Inline vs paternoster: – Inline (running rig): The feeder slides freely on the main line above the swivel. Fish can pick up the bait and move before feeling the lead. Better in clear, pressured water. – Fixed paternoster: The feeder is fixed at the end of a short link above the swivel. The hooklink hangs below. More direct bite indication. Better in murky water where fish are feeding confidently.
Hooklink length: – Short hooklinks (15-30cm): for fish feeding on the bottom close to the feeder. More direct bite indication. – Long hooklinks (40-60cm): for cautious fish, or where the hookbait needs to be further from the feeder.
For bream: 30-40cm hooklink in most situations. For roach on still water: 40-50cm to allow more natural bait movement.
Groundbait for Feeder Fishing
Groundbait is the mixing of dry ingredients (breadcrumbs, biscuit meal, fishmeal, dried maggots, etc.) with water to produce a mixture that can be moulded into a feeder. The consistency varies:
- Wet (for cage and open-end feeders): Mixed to a consistency that holds in the feeder but breaks down within 3-5 minutes on the lake bed. Squeeze a ball and it holds shape momentarily before crumbling when dropped.
- Stiff (for method feeder): Mixed much wetter and allowed to absorb fully. Squeezed into the feeder, it holds until disturbed by fish.
Common groundbait base types: – Sweet fishmeal mix: For carp, F1, and tench in warmer water. Contains fishmeal with attractants. – Dark brown crumb: For bream and roach. Rich in breadcrumbs, attractors, and sometimes peat for colour. – Light feeder mix: For roach in clear water or in winter. Fine particles, pale colour, less dense.
Groundbait can be bought ready-mixed dry from tackle shops. Mix a session’s worth with water in a bucket 30 minutes before fishing to allow full absorption.
Fishing the Feeder at Range
On large reservoirs and gravel pits (for bream at range, for example), feeders need to reach 50-80 metres or more. For feeder fishing at range:
- Heavy feeder rod: A 12-13ft “power feeder” or “distance feeder” rod designed for casting heavy feeders at range
- Large fixed-spool reel (4000-5000 size) loaded with 6-8lb monofilament or braid
- Lead clip system: Some distance feeders use a safety clip system similar to carp rigs, allowing the feeder to break free if snagged
- Clipping up: Mark the casting distance by clipping the line on the spool at the right length. This ensures every cast lands the feeder in exactly the same spot.
Accuracy is critical for feeder fishing at range. All the groundbait goes to one spot, concentrating the fish – if the hookbait is 20 metres away from that spot, it misses the feeding fish entirely.
Bream Fishing with the Feeder
Open-end feeder fishing for bream follows a specific rhythm:
- Initial bombardment: Cast 6-8 full feeders to the spot in rapid succession to build up a substantial groundbait bed. This initial feed takes 10-15 minutes.
- Settle in: After the initial feed, fish normally (one cast every 10-15 minutes). The aim is to top up the groundbait bed without overdoing it.
- Wait for the shoal: Bream often take 30-60 minutes to arrive at a swim after groundbaiting. Patience is essential.
- When bream arrive: Bites come consistently. Reel in, recast immediately after each fish to replace the emptied feeder.
Bream bites on the feeder: the quivertip (a fine indicator rod tip on feeder rods) may pull slowly to one side, or lift (classic bream lift bite), or drop back. Strike at any definite movement of the tip.
Feeder Fishing for Roach
Roach feeder fishing uses a different approach from bream – smaller feeders, smaller groundbait quantities, more regular casting to maintain feed in the swim.
A cage feeder half-filled with groundbait (a 20-30g cage on a 12-foot feeder rod) recast every 2-3 minutes keeps a constant trickle of feed entering the swim. The frequent casting keeps the roach feeding confidently and produces bites on every cast in a productive swim.
Hookbait for feeder roach: single maggot or caster on a size 18 hook, 40-50cm hooklink.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a quivertip and a swingtip?
A quivertip is a fine, flexible tip that replaces the standard rod tip, bending under bite pressure and providing visual indication. It is fitted in the top ring of a feeder rod. A swingtip is a hinged extension that hangs down at 90 degrees under the weight of the line, rising on a bite. Swingtips are older and now less common; quivertips are the standard.
How much groundbait should I use in a session?
A general starting point: one pint of dry groundbait mixed with water per hour of fishing, used in the feeder. For the initial bombardment for bream, 6-8 feeder-fulls. Adjust based on how the fish are responding – if bites are frequent, the groundbait is working; if they die away, a smaller top-up might reactivate the swim.
Can I use a feeder on rivers?
Yes. A cage feeder on a river replaces the role of a maggot dropper used in float fishing – it delivers feed to a precise spot and holds it in current long enough for fish to find it. Use a cage feeder with damp (not soft) groundbait so it does not wash out immediately. Heavier feeders for faster current.
What hook size for feeder fishing bream?
Size 12-16 depending on the hookbait. Double maggot: size 14-16. Single maggot: size 16-18. Caster: size 16. Worm or lobworm tail: size 10-12. Small boilie: size 12. Match the hook size to the hookbait size so the bait covers the hook naturally.
Is feeder fishing allowed everywhere?
Almost universally yes for standard coarse fishing. Some fly-only trout fisheries restrict to fly fishing only, excluding all other methods. Some rivers have restrictions on powered boats that include certain bait delivery methods, but feeder fishing from the bank is permitted on virtually all UK coarse fishing waters.