Learning new methods. The slow sinking feeder

The last Leamington AA members' match that I participated  was at Jubilee pools, Horseshoe Lake, which is a very deep lake with a varied stock of fish, including carp, bream, tench, crucian, roach, rudd, and chub. Due to the water being very deep and the hot weather, the fish tend to rise to the upper layers of warm water, making traditional feeder fishing very complicated.

During that match, I could not catch any big bream or anything substantial with the feeder. I only managed to catch just 5lb of crucians along with some small roach and skimmers on the pole, short. The overall match weights were not great except for one; someone had almost 40lb of fish, which was impressive for a match where carp didn't count. The angler that won was a legend. He showed me how he managed to catch so well using a slow-sinking feeder, a method I had never seen before.

Fishing the lakes again, I had the opportunity to talk to a few other anglers on the bank who are more experienced than I am. I was told that a bagging waggler works in a similar way and can be great on sunny summer days when the fish are cruising in the upper layers of water. A bagging waggler is a huge float similar to pike floats with a feeder attached underneath to constantly drip feed around the hook bait that is under the waggler. 

I went and did a few sessions trying these methods, mostly using the slow-sinking feeder, and the results were great. I caught plenty of bream with the occasional carp. I haven't experimented enough with the bagging waggler to form an opinion about it yet. 

I used different ground bait mixes; the best mix was ground expander and cereal ground bait in a proportion of 1:1 with a lot of caramel syrup.. There are many more options to try, but the mix should be on the dry side so it can be squeezed hard in the feeder and still be able to come off in the water column.

As for hook baits, I tried various options. Bread was good but took a bit of time, and the bites would come approximately 10 seconds after casting, so I lost a lot of fish while taking the time to punch the bread and put it on a quick stop. Bread would be a better option when fishing is a bit harder. Maggots were also a viable option but drew in a lot of smaller fish like roach, rudd, small crucians, and small skimmers. Magoots were  great to catch many fish, but the lake has a large stock of big bream, and those were my main target. The winning hook bait so far has been white 8mm garlic and almond white wafters. This bait is very visible and smelly, most fish caught were bream over 2lb with the occasional larger crucian a d f1 carp . I am still yet to try a few other hook baits such as luncheon meat, worms, and corn. 

Another thing to consider was the tackle. A softer rod with a softer tip  is ideal. Due to the nature of the feeder, which is semi-buoyant, you cannot really have a bend in the tip or any tension on the line. A softer tip is much better for bite indication. Another change I made after my first session was the line. My go-to line for feeder fishing is 0.23mm as I normally target larger species. However, it sinks very slowly due to its thicker diameter, even though it is advertised as a sinking feeder line. The line I opted for on my second try fishing with a slow slow-sinking feeder was a 0.18mm pre-stretched line, which still has a high breaking strain but sank much faster. This is very important as the bites come while the feeder is sinking, mostly within 5 to 10 seconds after casting, and very rarely after the feeder touches the lake bed. A thinner line that sinks faster provides quicker and more visible bite indication.

In conclusion, my recent experiences at Horseshoe Lake have been incredibly educational and rewarding. By observing and talking to seasoned anglers and experimenting with new techniques such as the slow-sinking feeder and the bagging waggler, I have broadened my fishing knowledge. The slow-sinking feeder, in particular, has proven to be highly effective, yielding impressive catches of bream and the occasional carp. Adjusting my tackle, including opting for a softer rod and a thinner, faster-sinking line, has significantly improved my bite indication and overall success.

Learning and adapting to new methods not only makes fishing more engaging but also provides a competitive edge, especially in challenging conditions or during matches. As I continue to refine my techniques and experiment with different hook baits, I look forward to further enhancing my skills and achieving even greater success in future fishing endeavors.