TOMMY PICKERING | HOW TO MAKE MY SIMPLE GROUNDBAIT FEEDER RIG!

This is my favourite set-up for all my open end feeder fishing. It’s a very simple rig for wire cage and plastic frames, and the stiff boom which is tied in the end of the mainline means tangles are kept to a minimum.

As it’s free running it’s completely safe, too. Use it for bream, tench, roach, perch and even carp. All you need is your reel line, your feeder with a swivel eye or snap link attached, a packet of No8 Preston Stotz weights and your chosen hooklength.

STEP 1.

Take the mainline or shockleader between thumb and first finger of both hands and twist in opposite directions to twizzle it together.

STEP 2.

Ensure that the length of the twizzled line is longer than that of the feeder and link, to stop the two tangling when you cast the finished rig.

STEP 3.

Bring the twisted line back over itself to form an overhand loop knot. Pass the end through itself twice and pull to tighten the knot properly.

STEP 4.

You’re now left with a twisted section of line of around 6ins long, called a boom. Trim the tag end to reduce line spin when reeling in.

STEP 5.

Now slide the swivel eye of the snap link attached to your feeder on to the twisted line and over the knot of the stiff boom.

STEP 6.

Attach two No8 Stotz to the mainline just above the twisted section, with the feeder above. These butt against the knot and stop the feeder too.

STEP 7.

Time to add your hooklength, which you will probably have already tied. Push the hooklength loop over the end of the twisted boom.

STEP 8.

Put the hook itself through the end loop in the twisted boom. Then pull the whole hooklength through with it as it goes through.

STEP 9.

The loop-to-loop forms like this - you may need to flick the hooklength over its own loop knot to achieve this perfect connection. Pull tight.