| Rig style | inline style |
|---|---|
| Feeder change | quick-release system |
| Body material | plastic body |
| Target venues | lake / river venues |
Definition
A cage feeder wraps the groundbait in a mesh that sheds feed progressively as it sinks and on the bottom, building a trail the fish follow toward the baited hook.
Cage feeders earn their keep where feed must trickle out to be worth anything; the quick-release clip turns the whole weight ladder into one hand’s turn on the bank.
Mesh pitch controls the release
A wide mesh empties fast and feeds a short, violent bite; a fine one trickles and keeps fish coming for longer. Plastic bodies hold their mesh shape season after season, and a clip system keeps the choice of weight a seconds-long decision at the bank instead of a re-tie.
Inline running in the current
In moving water the feeder holds bottom while the line runs through it, so a take gives the fish a moment before resistance tells; that beat is what turns a mouth of the bait into a hooked fish instead of a dropped one.
When should I pick a cage over a method feeder?
Method holds one tight pile for still commercial water; a cage sheds through the mesh, which is the behaviour you want when the tow is carrying the feed and you need a trail rather than a pile.
Why not just use a heavier feeder in the flow?
Weight holds the rig, but it also damps the bite signal and buries the feeder in soft ground; ask for the lightest body that still stays put, so the release and the take both read clean.