line clips with feeders...help!

[Tombat]

hey guys,
i have a problem and i could use a bit of help. im going fishing on wednesday and i am going to be feeder fishing for the first time. i understand what to do, how to set up and the general concept of feeder fishing. the only problem i have is casting. i know that accurate casting is important and i have heard alot of people talking about line clips. i dont really understand what line clips are or how to use them. could anybody please tell me how to use one properly and maybe demonstrate with a picture please? it will really help me a lot and put my mind to reast lol!

also im using a basic rig, open end feeder freerunning with a bout 2 foot hooklengh, size 14 hook. im not sure about the line yet. was think about 4lb main with 2lb hooklengh.
for bait im thinking about marine halibut ground bait with hemp, maggots and sweetcorn. maybe luncheon meat too. i aim to catch anything but would be really chuffed with carp and tench.

so what do you guys think? do you think its a decent choice of bait and also rig?

and please could some body explain line clips too me aswell.

much appreciated.

Tom.

[paddy2k7_red4life]

a line clip is very effective while feeder fishing all u do is cast out at good range and then clip it but make sure u mark it up with something like a tree or something like that so u keeg p on hiiting it all day long

hope it helps

paddy

[ben lee]

Dont clip the line if there is big fish in the lake. Line wise go by the bigist fish in there. No point useing 10lb line if the fish are only around 2lb.

[shootlow]

A tip I was given aswell if clipping to the little hooky thing on your spool (techie talk there) is when your line is spooling off and getting towards the distance you've clipped at is to feather the line with your index finger. This slows the pace of the cast a little towards the end of the feeders flight. This will reduce the amount of strain put on your line from the weight of the feeder reducing the risk of snapping or trying to play a fish on damaged weakened line.

As Ben Lee says don't clip if there are big fish around. It will result in a snap off, your rod going for a swim or worse the fish having the hook torn out of it's mouth when it takes off.

[Tombat]

cheers for the help guys. much appreciated.

tom.

[barbelblanker]

You CAN clip if the are big fish around and you have a relatively clear bank.

First cast to the spot you are wanting to fish but without bait. You might want to use a lead. Clip the line and reel in.
Put a rest next to you pointing down a clear bit of back that if you were to cast down would be as far as you would cast out.
Take a marker to stick in the ground, point your rod tip down the back and undo the bale arm (better than using the baitrunner as this twists the hell out of your line). You can always put an elastic over the spool to stop the line just falling off. Walk the line (Johnny Cash eat your heart out) and keep going till you hit the line clip. Put the marker in the ground. Carefully rewind your line by returing to your rod and reeling in. At this point leave it clipped. Once the line is all the way in , bait, fill feeder, pick far side marked (not a shadow or sheep) and cast. Now remove the line from the clip. If you DON'T get a run but need to reel in then just clip the line first. If you do or if you forget then you still have the marker on the bank. Walk the line to the marker, clip it and recast. Of course if you don't have enough bank you could wind the line round two bank sticks about ten yards apart till you get the required effect.

This was you are bang on the nail but don't have a line clip to worry about when the fish take.

Tight Lines.

[barbelblanker]

Also acts as insurance in case you break off.

[NICK R]

you could also use a power gum stop knot on your line to mark your distance , Just slip the knot under your clip before you wind in ,(or use a bit of tape)

[dave fish]

just a bit of advice if theres big tench and carp in the lake upgrade your line and hook length to a bigger size and use castors instead of maggot as the wriggling action breaks up the ground bait mid cast also try a shorter hooklenth as this will register better when you get a bite on tight lines

[Smart Carper]

Rather than using a line clip is to use a very wide rubber band or a sliver of bycicle inner tube. The princible is as follofws.
1) Set up your feeder rod as you would do normally and cast the feeder/lead to the required position in the lake making use of horizonal markers to assist alingment when re casting.
2) When the feeder has landed on the borttom of the lake slightly tighten the line to the feeder. Now open the bail arm on th ereel and remove the sppool and slip on from the bootm of the spool your bycicle innertube about 1" of inner tube is OK. The inner tube need to be a firm but not over tight fit.
3) With the bail arm still open plavce the spool back onto the reel and close the bail arm again. Now reel in the feeder and reload ready to cast out again.
4) With the line trapper by the inner tube your next cast should land smack on target.
5) Be prepared to cushion the cast to stop the line from slammining into the line clip. Cushioning is achived by after the cast rather than pointing the rod at the cast pull the rod sideways and allow the weight of the feeder to pull the rod around to the starit in front position as the feeser hits the line stop.
6) Now if you hit a lump the inner tube will slowly allow the line to be taken if you cant stop the fihes runs. A line clip on a reel will not allow any line to be taken to you are really in trouble if you hit a lump.
Regards

Ian G