Feeder fishing newbie - please help!

[Pedro el Diablo]

I'm new(ish) to fishing in general, and while I've been able to pick up float & spin fishing fairly well, feeder fishing remains a mystery! Hopefully people will be able to help me answer a few questions below:

What's the difference between feeder and bottom fishing?
Is the only difference the weight and type of target fish? Otherwise they seem pretty similar.

What's the purpose of the leader, and how long should you set it?

When / why should you use a feeder vs a sinker?

What kind of feeder should you use in which situation?

What do the different elements of groundbait do? The particles, aroma, etc.
Making groundbait seems expensive in comparison to the value of the target fish. What am I missing?

How often should you "replenish" the groundbait at your casting location?

If you're using multiple rods with a stand, can you economize by going after the same fish in the same spot, but only using one feeder?
Ex. One rod with feeder and one rod with sinker?

Any tips on quiver tips?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[DanoUK]

Doesn't really matter in this game, you'll catch fish whatever, but....
1) A feeder drops a pile of bait of the same type around the bait on your hook link and helps to keep fish in that area. A weight just holds your hook link in one place with no extra attraction.

2) A leader can be a thinner type of line than your main line for use when fish are wary about what they pick up/can see/can feel a thicker line. It can also be a metal leader for stopping fish with serious teeth biting through the line and escaping. (these are only useful on the latest South American maps in this game).

3) As stated above...a feeder drops groundbait to hold fish in a particular area around your hook....a sinker doesn't!

4) Doesn't matter which feeder is used in game. A cage feeder will dump bait out fast, whereas a closed feeder (plastic with the small holes) is for filling with maggots etc which releases bait over time as maggots find the holes and escape, or groundbait washes out more slowly.

5) Look at groundbait like your dinner - You can have a bowl of mashed potato (basic mix) or add peas/carrots/chunks of meat etc (particles) and nice beef gravy (aroma). The more things added, the better the attraction!

6) Most people will throw in 3-5 balls of groundbait in with a spod rod at the start, and then add another ball every now and then if things remain quiet. (It's only really needed if going for big 'specimen' fish for the leaderboard IMO).

7) Yes!

8) Quiver tips - keep them high and pointing at the sky in fast water rivers, low and to one side of you on still waters. Tap...tap...tap = strike! Rod bends around hard and fast = strike!

And there you have it. Like I said, none of this is mandatory for playing this game, just throw a hookbait in and fish will arrive sooner or later. However, hopefully it's answered your queries and might help if you go RL fishing too, lol.

[sirkipalot]

If you want a serious answer and for IRL situ what Dano said is pretty much spot on. In game however it doesn't matter if you use a weight on its own or a cage feeder or any other feeder that is "supposed to attract fish" because its just part of the cosmetics of the game. Groundbait is a myth is doesn't work and cannot work. Groundbait is to attract fish to an area. Impossible in this game as fish spawn on a given spot for a certain amount of time a few seconds or enough time to locate your hook bait then they despawn and disappear. They don't become part of a living ecology in the lake as nothing lives in there. The only way groundbait would work to a fashion is it would have to be directly linked to the spawn spots . So when you throw out your feeder or spod it would spawn a fish. So if your fishing an area without spawn spots you could bomb the place with groundbait and you still wouldn't catch. Kind of goes to the extreme opposite of what you're trying to achieve. I guess they needed a money sink in the game and that you have now in spades :)

[Julian]

Originally posted by DanoUK:

2) A leader can be a thinner type of line than your main line for use when fish are wary about what they pick up/can see/can feel a thicker line. It can also be a metal leader for stopping fish with serious teeth biting through the line and escaping. (these are only useful on the latest South American maps in this game).

Note for the new: Titanium leaders are also recommended when targeting the large Gars, Muskie and Pike in the North American waterways (Louisiana, Michigan etc), some of the Monster fish missions and the toothy event fish (Halloween, Independence day).

[lynzzfarm]

I agree with Julian as for the titanium leaders. I use them anytime I'm after big fish especially any with teeth lol.. I am not so sure about Carp though, technically they don't have teeth, but sometimes can be huge. I don't find that fish bite less with the titanium leader.

[dozclarke]

I agree with a lot of what's said, however I do use the feeders in some places and they do improve catch rates. Experiment with mixes. I don't use feeders for the big fish as they don't seem to improve catches. I don't use them for toothed fishes either because they don't need it. Leader length matters. As a rule of thumb the stronger the current the longer the length. I tend to use 18-30 inch on lakes and 40-50 on rivers. Go to lone star lake and give it a go. I can't use more than three feeder rods at once there because the catch rate is so high. Russia I use one as a fifth rod to hold when bottom fishing cats. Last tip is to always cast in the same spot and then clip the line. Pick a direction and either note whats on opposite bank or use marker. Cast out however far you want then clip the line. That does two things. Gets you in the same spot every time and helps with bites. Sometimes with feeder rods the nibbles can make you think you have a fish on. Once the line is clipped the indicator shows clipped length till you really have a bite and then changes to reel length. That's when you know to strike.

[Pedro el Diablo]

Thanks everyone for their help, these answers are great!