Packed with expert advice from top anglers to catch you more
Natural water expert Cathal Hughes shows why this approach often outscores a cage feeder when silverfish are on the agenda
CAGE feeders have traditionally been the weapon of choice for anglers in search of reservoir silvers, but there’s a new kid on the block that is now well and truly giving them a run for their money.
Take a glance at any black and white action photos from yesteryear and you’ll see some of the greatest anglers to ever grace the banks using cage feeders. Of course, they’re still highly effective, but these days window feeders have become the weapon of choice for many leading natural water anglers, and for good reason. Differing in shape and design, they deliver bait in a new way and are now seen as a far more versatile tool.
In fact, many top rods pin their faith in using window feeders for an entire session, confident that they can make numerous tactical tweaks along the way to keep the bites coming. Highly skilled feeder expert Cathal Hughes is one such angler, and he has been using ‘windows’ to great effect on some of the biggest lakes in the British Isles.
Based close to the west coast of Ireland, Cathal has seen his catches rocket since he switched feeder patterns.
“There are a lot of distinct advantages that a window feeder has over a traditional cage when used on large loughs and reservoirs,” explained Cathal.
“Whether you are trying to draw fish in or hold them in your peg, it can be loaded in a way that will do the job you have in mind.”
Versatile tool
The biggest benefit of a window feeder is that it can be used in a few different ways.
“As the name suggests, these feeders have a window that you pack all your bait into, making sure it has maximum protection during the cast and as it sinks.
“Pack it with particles and they’ll all get to the bottom, leaving nothing trickling through the rest of the water column.
“You can fill it with a mixture of chopped worm, corn and casters before sealing the side opening with a layer of groundbait.
TOP TIP
SILVERFISH of all shapes and sizes are likely to be present in your favourite water, and hookbait choice will dictate which ones end up in the net. Two pieces of worm or a grain of corn are often the catalyst to help you pick out the bigger skimmers and hybrids in your swim.
“This ensures all the goodies get to the bottom before they are released, which is essential when trying to h
