Over the years I have gone through many different types of swim feeder for my barbel fishing, from making them myself from film canisters and women’s hair rollers to the one that I use now which are the large Drennan oval feeders.I have used the Drennan ovals for about the last 10 years and I find their shape and adaptability to be second to none. The shape means that they hold well in the current without the rolling affect of a lot of round feeders. They are also very adaptable in the ways that they can be modified.

I modify mine first by wrapping them in thick black insulating tape. The reasons for this are various :

1. These feeders at around £1.20 each are quite expensive and without the tape have a tendency to split and crack. The tape stops this and unless you lose them in snags etc will last for ages (I have some in my bag that I have had for 5 seasons !).

2. By blocking the holes in the feeder I will much reduce the rate of feed of the pellet, this can again be altered by poking the holes back through the tape until you get what you want.

3. I then cut the end out of the feeder to enable me to easily fill it with pellet etc, this end is then plugged with a 50/50 mixture of brown crumb / white fish meal.

4. I can then add any extra lead that I require. Again I use the tape to do this as it is dead easy and also covers up any sharp edges that may be on the feeder.

5. In a shallow clear river the feeder in its normal state can look very inconspicuous. But with the tape on it stops any reflection etc and certainly gives me more confidence.

Feeders v Pva bags.

Because there are more and more carp anglers coming into barbel fishing, a lot of them use carp tactics, ie big leads and p.v.a. bags / stockings. I much prefer a feeder to this method as you can achieve a steady trickle of bait much easier. Most p.v.a. bags / stockings really explode when they split, you do this on a fast flowing river and when the bag explodes the feed gets washed down stream really quickly, leaving you fishing basically a single bait. With the feeder I can control the rate of feed by blocking the holes etc and so guaranteeing some loose feed in close proximity to my hook bait which I think is much better.

Cheers,  Pat Gillett

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