Danube barbel 1

Browning Cup Österreich 2022

Wie jedes Jahr am ersten Oktober Wochenende findet unser traditioneller Browning Cup Österreich in Ybbs an der wunderschönen Donau statt. Unser Team ist mit reichlicher Erfahrung und guter Planung schon sehr gut eingespielt, denn es gilt neben der Organisation des Events auch noch für das leibliche Wohl der Angler zu Sorgen. Darüber freuen sich unsere Gäste auch immer sehr.

Heuer waren es 22 Mannschaften à 4 Personen, die am Hegefischen teilnahmen. Unser Team Österreich stellte auch 4 Teams. Das ist auch nur möglich, da wir reichlich freiwillige Helfer haben, die uns unterstützen. Danke an dieser Stelle dafür!

Die Aufteilung der Sektoren gestalteten wir etwas großzügiger. So kam es, dass die nicht so fischreiche Sektoren „A“ und “B“ mehr Platz bekamen. Was sich dann auch in den Fangergebnissen widerspiegelte. Die Sektoren „C“ und „D“ wanderten weiter Flussaufwärts. Auch hier waren die Resultate sehr ansehnlich.

Aber nun zu meinen 2 Bewerbstagen 

Samstag loste ich im Sektor „C“, genau mittig. Naja, dachte ich, wird schon schief gehen. Ich lotete den Gewässerboden vor mir sauber aus und tatsächlich fand ich in ca. 85m Entfernung einen strukturierten Untergrund, das ist nicht oft der Fall. Meistens hat man es mit glattem Untergrund zu tun. Die Ruten waren schnell auf 80m abgelängt und bereit für Ihren Einsatz. Warum 80m? Ich wollte mir etwas Reserve aufheben, um noch verlängern zu können, wenn es später im Match schwieriger wird. 140gr Blockkralle hielt gut am Boden und somit startete ich damit auch voller Zuversicht in die Partie. Gleich nach dem 3 Wurf konnte ich dann auch schon die erste Barbe fangen, gefolgt von 2 Skimmern. Das wars dann auch schon mit dem Ansturm und Ruhe kehrte ein. Immer wieder wechselte ich die Hakenköder und die Ködermenge im Korb, um für etwas Veränderung am Platz zu sorgen und Bisse zu provozieren. Es gelang auch und ich konnte regelmäßig Aktivität verzeichnen. Mit dem Fangen ist es das dann noch so eine Sache, den man muss erstmal die Barben über die Steinschlacht im Uferbereich hieven. Da gewinnen oft die Flossenträger, trotz 0,28er Vorfach. Am Ende hatte ich leider viele große Fische verloren und es reichte für die 3 im Sektor.

Mit der Mannschaft lagen wir mit drei guten Ergebnissen und einem nicht so Guten auf Platz 4. Aber es war noch alles drinnen für eine Verbesserung am 2. Tag.

danube fishing 2

Sonntag, das Losglück war auf meiner Seite und ich nahm auf Platz 2 im Sektor A Platz. Das ist ein Platz neben dem Eckplatz, wo am Vortag der Sektorensieg gekommen ist. Voller Motivation lotete ich den Gewässergrund, diesmal nur glatter Untergrund. Aufgrund der Regenfälle in der Nacht und ist die Strömung auch stärker geworden, somit war meine Wurfweite begrenzt. Auf 72m blieb dann doch die 160gr. Blockkralle liegen und hier startete ich dann auch. Ich wollte alles aus dem Platz herausholen und durch meinen hohen Futterrhythmus von 2 Minuten über die ersten 2 Stunden bescherten mir dann den ersehnten heftigen Biss. Kurz darauf konnte ich eine stattliche Barbe landen. 10 Minuten später dann die 2. Bartelträgerin. Wahnsinn dachte ich mir, jetzt geht’s los. Aber das war dann auch schon der ganze Zauber. Weiterarbeiten, war mein Gedanke, die kommen schon wieder! Zu den 2 Fischen gesellten sich dann doch noch einige schöne Rotaugen und eine Blaunase, bis ich nach einer Stunde ohne Aktivität um einige Meter die Distanz verlängerte. Wie im Lehrbuch, bekam ich kurz darauf einen Hammer Biss. Der Rollenclip war geöffnet und der Fisch nahm kräftig Schnur. Plötzlich wurde der Widerstand unterbrochen und ich musste einen Schnurbruch des 0,28mm Vorfachs akzeptieren. Warum nur dachte ich verzweifelt. Aber Kopf hoch, die Donau gibt und sie nimmt auch! Weiter werfen, da sind noch Fische am Platz. Wieder bekam ich kurz darauf den Biss und ich konnte eine weitere Barbe zum Landgang zwingen. Den Rhythmus hielt ich weiter konstant hoch, aber leider kam kein großer Fisch mehr. Einige Rotaugen später war das Match dann auch zu Ende.

Die Waage brachte dann noch die Gewissheit, mit 9400gr. konnte ich souverän den Sektor für mich entscheiden, was mich irrsinnig freute. Es kann auch anders gehen. Am Ende hatte ich mit 4 Gesamtpunkten leider mit dem niedrigeren Gewicht das Nachsehen und belegte Platz 6 in der Einzelwertung. Mit der Mannschaft konnten wir uns leider nicht mehr verbessern, aber ein vierter Platz bei dem Teilnehmerfeld, stimmte uns zufrieden.

danube barbel 2

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http://www.browning-team-austria.com/

 

Jürgen Fröschl

Team Browning Austria

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f1's on the method feeder 1

The 'Method' for F1's

The ‘Method’ feeder or otherwise known as the Flatbed Feeder has revolutionised feeder fishing on commercials over the past few years. Hook lengths seem to be getting shorter and shorter with some anglers dropping this down to just an inch or so in order to get a quick bite and capitalize on the aggressive feeding nature of the fish found in many of these heavily stocked venues.

Orchard Place Farm Fishery in Kent has twelve lakes in total, three of which are classified as general/match lakes and today I’ve come to the biggest, Lake 6 which is heavily stocked with a mix of species, yet my target today are F1’s. F1’s are great fun, feeding all year round and can be very obliging on far from ideal conditions like today when other species simply refuse to feed. 

Activate the swim

My preferred method here is the feeder and I’ve picked a swim which features an island, as I’m sure the fish will be doing their best to avoid this bright sunshine and heading for some cover. Regular casting to activate the swim, especially at the start of a session, is essential, as is accuracy so after a few practice cast so that the feeder lands just inches from the bank, it’s time to clip up and get fishing. 

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Sucking up the entire contents

Bait today is simple, a single red maggot on the hook and a 50/50 mix of Champion’s Method Mussel Green and Formula Fish groundbait. This was mixed on arrival with lake water and allowed to draw in the moisture for a few minutes, before dampening down again, waiting a few more minutes before mixing using a groundbait whisk. An addition to this is a good scattering of dampened down micros and when the mix can be compressed in the palm of my hand and on releasing expand without breaking up, I know I have the right consistency that will cling to the feeder. I have also bought along some 6mm hard pellets, just in case I need a switch but I’m guessing these won’t come into play as F1’s love maggots. It might sound strange using a groundbait mix with pellets in and then maggot on the hook but I think that the feeder delivers just enough bait for a fish to suck up the whole contents including the maggot. Speed is of the essence here and maggots offer just that without being detrimental to the time it takes to get a bite. No bait bands or fiddling around re-baiting and quite often the maggot is good for more than one fish.    

Creating a safe bolt rig

The tackle I’m using today consists of a rod that I just cannot fault, the Sphere Bomb +10% and I’ve teamed this up with a Sphere MgTi 930 loaded with Black Magic Gold 0.21mm (8lb) mono. This style of fishing punishes a mainline repeatedly but this multi-purpose reliable line is really abrasion resistant and simply deals with everything thrown at it. On the business end I’m using a 20g Black Magic Method feeder but instead of tying the mainline direct to the swivel I’ve threaded the feeder onto my mainline, through the swivel and then back through the feeder before tying a figure of eight overhand knot to secure. This doubling over of line simply gives me the security that the line won’t weaken near to the feeder and although the feeder can pass easily over the knot above, it does produce some resistance and in turn, a safe bolt rig. My hooklink which attaches to the feeder swivel is short, around two-inches, contains a barbless size 16 Sphere CPF LS Hook and is made from 0.16mm (6.6lb) Cenex Hybrid Power Mono. All in all a robust set up that’s easily capable of withstanding and dealing with the big weights of fish we get from here.  

method feeder hooks
f1 catch picture

Struggling to hit bottom

Having no other anglers targeting the island I wasn’t surprised that on the first cast, and moments after the feeder landing, a few liners revealed that a fish, or a few fish are active. After waiting a further sixty seconds it’s time to wind in and repeat. Four casts in and after a couple of indications, probably caused by a fish sucking in the contents of the feeder, the tip pulls round and the first F1’s comes to the net. More follow and after just thirty minutes the feeder is struggling to hit bottom before the tip pulls round and another F1’s gets hooked. This continues in the same manor for the next four hours before its time to call it a day and with upwards of 150lb of fish netted, it proves the point that the ‘Method’ is a tactic you simply can’t ignore.

 

Dean Tennant

Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.

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black magic reel line 2

Black Magic Uni Reel Line

Black Magic Uni Reel Line

If you are looking for a tough, no nonsense reel line, specially for feeder and heavier float fishing, then the new Black Magic Uni Reel Line will be perfect. A supple, yet abrasion resistant line with a consistently high knot strength, this is a great all-rounder, and better still, it is supplied on great value bulk spools too. 

The dark brown colour blends in really well with most lake beds and the line sinks naturally, cutting through the surface film easily. Like all Browning lines, it has an accurate diameter and breaking strain, taking the guess-work out of choosing the right line for the job. 

Available in diameters between 0.17mm (4.5lb) and 0.27mm (12.6lb) with between 680m and 490m per spool. 

black magic reel line 1

Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.

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feeder fishing for skimmers 1

Autumn Feeder Fishing For Silvers

Autumn Feeder Fishing For Silvers

Fishing for skimmer bream might not be everyone’s first choice but I love them and they can be life savers when the water temperature drops.

Open mind

Today I’ve come to a local club venue, one that regularly holds matches and where in the depth of winter bags of silvers can exceed 40lb, however anyone that has fished for skimmers will already know that they can be somewhat frustrating. One day they will be crawling up the rod, the next creating no pattern and registering the tiniest of bites. Knowing this is very important and you have to approach each session with an open mind as well as bringing along an array of baits if you want to get the best out of your peg.

Natural baits

The standard selection of hook bait I take when I know skimmers are the target consists of dead and live maggots, preferably reds, casters and worms. Pellets do pay a part in hookbait during the warmer months but once the water temperature drops I prefer natural baits, however I do add a few small pellets into the feeder along with chopped worms and a few dead maggots. The groundbait I tend to use early winter is Sonubaits Super Crush Green that I mix before leaving home with bottled water, before passing through a sieve a couple of times to make it light, fluffy and very fine.   

Timing casts 

At the start of each session I like to clip up and make half a dozen accurate casts simply to activate the swim. I then get into a routine of casting every three minutes and hope that the skimmers will turn up fairly quickly. When they do bites can come quicker than three minutes, however when the water is really clear and cold I may push each cast to a slightly longer period, yet with skimmers it’s more of when will they turn up than will they turn up so it pays to be positive. 

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Long and traditional

Bites can vary from steady pull rounds to the shyest of taps so I prefer to use a braided mainline and have loaded my Black Viper Compact reel with Cenex 0.08mm Sinking braid and have teamed this up with a 12’ Sphere Medium Feeder, the perfect rod for feeder fishing for skimmers. As for the rig it’s a simple running feeder set up with a few tweaks. Firstly I still feel that when skimmer fishing its best to have quite a long hook length and mine is a couple of feet of 0.16mm Cenex Hybrid Power down to a size 16 Classic hook which is the perfect size to allow me to alternate between worm, caster a double red dead maggot. Further up the line is a short twizzel boom and the free running feeder link comes to rest against a small Stotz shot that protects the knot to the twizzel boom. The feeder bead that runs on the braided mainline has a short length of stiff line from it down to a link swivel and both knots are protected with a short length of clear tubing. This acts as a boom and reduces tangles considerably and the swivel link allows me to swap from different sized feeders throughout the session. 

Peas in a pod

As expected today’s session has seen double red dead maggot produce most bites and as on many occasions the bites have been really shy but the braided mainline has exaggerated these allowing me to read the conditions and keep in touch with the fish. Unfortunately the stamp of skimmers has been quite small today and have been like peas in a pod, all around 6-8oz but once they got their heads down its been one a chuck letting me build a decent bag of fish.  

Tim Bruce

Tim’s Tackle

Sphere 12’ Medium Feeder Rod

Black Viper Compact Reel

0.08mm Cenex Sinking Braid

0.16mm Cenex Hybrid Power Mono

Size 16 Sphere Classic Hook

Xenos Jet Feeders

 

Tim’s Bait

Dead/Live Red Maggots

Casters

Worms

Micro Pellets 

Sonubaits Super Crush Green Groundbait

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Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.

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Feeder fishing for silvers copy

New Video - Feeder Fishing for Skimmers

Look out for this new video over on the Browning Official YouTube channel (find it here).

 

This week Tim Bruce looks at how to catch skimmers on the feeder as we head into winter. These small bream can be relied upon to feed in even the coldest winter conditions, making them great weight builders in winter matches.

Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.

Find out more about our team of anglers here.

 

Visit the Browning interactive product catalogue here.


uni reel line 1

Black Magic Uni Reel Line

Black Magic Uni Reel Line

This great value new line from Browning is ideal for tough feeder and float fishing.

 

The brown colour is almost invisible in water, especially when silhouette against the lake bed. Designed with excellent abrasion resistance and knot strength, this is a tough line that can stand the rigours of feeder fishing for big fish.

 

Available in a range of breaking strains from 4.5lb (0.17mm) to 12.6lb (0.27mm) on great value bulk spools.

 

Find out more here – https://tackle-box.eu/en/p/2388017/

uni reel line 2

Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.

Find out more about our team of anglers here.

 

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cenex method mono 1

CENEX Method Mono

CENEX Method Mono

The hurly-burly of Method Feeder fishing demands a really tough line that can stand up to landing big fish, time after time. Recently, I swapped to Browning’s excellent Cenex Method Mono, which not only has brilliant abrasion resistance, but several other key features too. 

Even the best tied knots can let you down in some lines when subjected to Method fishing, but this line really can take the strain and a well tied knot will take the strain. The breaking strain is also very high for its diameter, to I opt for the heaviest 0.26mm diameter in the summer months which has a breaking strain of 15lb. Why risk losing fish when you can use a string line to have that extra margin for error? 

Many modern nylon lines have a tendency to be neutral buoyancy and difficult to get to cut-through the surface film, especially when fishing at range. Method Mono certainly sinks quickly, and cuts through easily, making it a lot easier to gently tighten up to the feeder. 

Method Mono has a pleasing camouflage appearance made up of three different colours that certainly helps it blend in with the lake bed. All in all, it is great to see a company making a line specifically for this style of fishing. 

Jon Whincup

Diameters Available:

0.20mm – 8.10lb

0.22mm – 10.40lb

0.24mm – 12.80lb

0.26mm – 15.00lb

cenex method mono 2
cenex method mono 3

Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.

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NEW VIDEO WATCH NOW - Tidefest Festival Live 2022

We join Colin Sheppard on the banks of the tidal Thames in London for the annual Tidefest match.

 

Click the play button below to watch now, or find this and hundreds more videos on the Browning YouTube channel.


window feeder 1

Window Feeder Classic

Product Spotlight - Window Feeder Classic

The unique streamlined shape of the Window Feeder not only casts further than traditional feeders, it can be used in two different ways, allowing you to precisely control the release of bait. Use it with the window open and plugged with a small amount of groundbait will give a faster release of the feed. Rotate the internal window and the release of bait is slowed without using groundbait. 

These feeders are brilliant when fishing at long range, when accuracy is of utmost importance. On tough days the, when every bite counts, the window feeder with its precise, controllable release of bait, is the way to go. 

Available in three lengths – 4.4cm, 5.3cm, & 5.8cm and weights from 20 grams to 50 grams. 

window feeder 2
window feeder 1
window feeder 3
window feeder 4

Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.

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Xenos feeder rest 1

Xenos Feeder Rest System

I’ve been really impressed with the Xenox Feeder But and Rest system as they can be altered to suit every occasion, whether I’m fishing a commercial for shy biting silvers right through to those rod wrenching commercial carp bites. 

The Feeder Rod Butt can be used either as a butt rest or as a general front rod rest. Personally I use it predominantly as a butt rest as it holds the rod stead-fast and in the same position every time. The lateral rod saver ears are especially good as the rod just can go anywhere, giving me the peace of mind that if, on those rare occasions, I’m not looking at the tip when a violent bites comes, the rod just can’t go move, yet it still allows me to pick the rod up easily. 

The Feeder Rest System has been thought through toughly as it now means that I only need to take this system with me whether I’m heading to a river or commercial as it can be set up in so many ways. In the winter when I’m fishing clipped up for shy biting silvers I go for the 15cm smooth EVA supports as they allow me to simply drop the rod onto the rest and tighten down to the tip without having to move the rod. The 15cm ribbed and profiled EVA supports come into play when carp fishing on commercials or on really windy days, as the rod sits firmly into position without fear of moving. This system allows the angler to have the rest set up with two supports or just one and I can see it being a real asset to the river angler that has to fish with the rod high in the air. As with the Butt Rest this system comes complete with lateral rod ears that can be adjusted into different position for additional peace of mind or for extra stability on windy days. 

Both Feeder Rests come in the expected black and Browning colour with high quality brass screws compatible with all feeder arms and bank sticks.  

No more carting around numerous feeder rests as this system covers everything you will ever need.

John Pantrey

Xenos feeder rest 2
xenos butt rest 3
xenos butt rest 3

Keep up to date with all our latest match news here.

Find out more about our team of anglers here.

 

Visit the Browning interactive product catalogue here.