Among anglers bottom fishing enjoys continued popularity. The bottom tackle with a feeder has won its position due to the following advantages:

• allows you to fish at different depths, in stagnant bodies of water and rivers with strong currents;
• can be done long throw bait and bait (80-120 m);
• supplements fishing with constant feeding;
• Fish bite can be detected by sound, visual or electronic alarms.

What the tackle consists of

Bottom fishing rod tackle with feeder assembly

Bottom fishing rod with a feeder is a fairly simple and inexpensive pleasure. Any angler can assemble it with his own hands.

1. First you need to purchase a rod. It can be a telescopic fiberglass spinning rod. Its test characteristic must be greater than the mass of the trough together with the bait mixture. For example, when fishing in a standing pond, a rod with a test of 40-60 g and a length of 2.1-2.4 m is suitable.For fishing on large rivers with a strong current, a rod with a test of over 100 g and a length of 2.7-3 m is required.
2. Next important element the tackle will be a reel. The choice should be made in favor of a spinning model with a spool size of 2500-4000. The spool should hold up to 100 m of line. The friction brake will become a mandatory option of the "meat grinder". It is advisable to have a baitrunner when fishing for carp and carp.
3. Main line should be selected depending on the fishing conditions and the intended fish. Catch crucian carp in clean pond it is possible on the line 0.14-0.18 mm, and for hunting carp or carp you will need a monofilament 0.28-0.35 mm thick. It should be borne in mind that the capacity of the reel spool depends on the thickness of the line. These data are indicated on the spool of the "meat grinder".
4. Trough is not only a container for the delivery of groundbait, but also serves as a sinker. She must keep the bait on the lured spot even on strong current... The shape of the trough depends on the place of fishing. On the lake, you can use "cells" of any geometry, springs, nipples, etc. To keep an empty feeder on the current, you need to use triangular or square structures.
5. Hook for the donkey, it must correspond not only to the bait, but also to the fish that is being hunted. To catch roach with maggots or barley, hook No. 10-14 with a short forend is enough, but to catch bream or chub with a bunch of worms, you need a larger model No. 6-8 with a long forend.
6. Bite alarm you can choose a bell, rod tip or electronic device. It all depends on the financial capabilities of the angler.
7. For a bottom fishing rod, it is imperative to install a comfortable stand. On stagnant bodies of water, you can do with flyers, and butt holders are suitable for attaching a rod on a river.

Rigging

More recently, for a donkey with a feeder, anglers used two main types of equipment:

• sliding feeder;
• a fixed feeder at the end of the main line.

With the advent of the feeder, anglers met and began to use such types of rigs on bottom fishing rods as:

• anti-twist tube;
• Gardner rig or paternoster;
• symmetrical and asymmetrical loop;
• helicopter;
• harvester;
• inline.

Donkey rig with two hooks

All kinds of feeder rigs - how to make a rig that's perfect for a bottom rod with a feeder.

Feeder Fishing - High Sensitivity Progressive Donk, Detailed Guide.

Lure

There are many options for bait for bottom fishing. The main requirements are for the viscosity of the finished mixture. Only when the food is washed out for 5-15 minutes will a stain appear on the bottom that attracts fish.

Depending on the type of fish, the composition of the bait and the size of the particles are selected. For example, when fishing large fish(carp, carp, chub, ide, bream) should be in the bait large food fractions, otherwise the trophy fish will not stay long on the lured point.

On the contrary, when fishing for roach, crucian carp, silver bream, it is better to use a fine mixture so that the fish is not saturated quickly.

Baits and baits

Maggot, worm, corn, pearl barley are the most commonly used baits

For fishing on a donk with a feeder, not all baits and baits are suitable.

The main criteria for choosing a bait are as follows:

• fish preferences and tastes;
• the ability to hold well on the hook.

It is best to have several bait options on your fishing trip to please the capricious fish.

Bottom baits:

• canned corn;
• worm;
• maggot;
• hominy;
• mastic;
• steamed barley and wheat;
• pearl barley shell;
• leeches;
• boilies.

Fishing technique

To catch fish on a donk with a feeder, the fisherman will have to work constantly. The main stages of fishing are as follows:

1. Mixing groundbait. Usually, after moistening the mixture, a pause is made for 20-30 minutes so that each particle of feed is saturated with water.
2. While the bait is infused, you can measure the depths in the selected fishing area. For this, some anglers use a marker float (specially equipped fishing rod). Other anglers determine the difference in depths, curbs, entrances and exits from the pits using stepped wiring, borrowed from spinning anglers.
3. The starting feed is carried out with a bottom fishing rod with a feeder. Depending on the volume of the feeder and the type of fish, from 5 to 20 casts are made. The feed is not packed tightly, as soon as the feeder touches the bottom (the tip of the rod straightens out), you need to make a sharp cut. The bait will be poured out of the trough, after which the line should be rolled up.
4. Fishing on a donk with a feeder begins after the starting feeding. The trough is filled with groundbait and compacted with your fingers so that it is washed out in 5-10 minutes. The rig is thrown, the fishing rod is installed on a stand, the line is pulled, the bite alarm is mounted. After 10-15 minutes, the tackle is reset.
5. After a bite, the fish is often spotted due to the weight of the feeder and the sharp hook.

If there is no bite within an hour, the reason should be looked for in the bait, or the place may be chosen incorrectly. Then you need to make the necessary adjustments and continue fishing.

In this article, we will look at the device for fishing, whose name is "Donka". What it is? All the points that a beginner fisherman needs to know and how to make a bottom tackle on your own.
Donka is one of the oldest methods of fishing and is still very popular today. The bulk of fish living in rivers, lakes and reservoirs is at the bottom. Bottom fishing rod means catching bottom fish. If you want to collect a donk, what is required for this?

How to assemble a donk? Common bottom tackle as follows:

• rod;
• coil;
• leash;
• a piece of fishing line, at the end of which there is a weight and 1-3 fishing leashes with hooks.

Photo 1. Modern donks- feeders.

How to make a bottom tackle with your own hands?

Fishing line

Considering that fishing with a bottom tackle implies fishing big fish- it is necessary to use a thick line, the diameter of which is more than 0.35 mm. This will protect against fish coming off, and you, in turn, will be sure of catching big trophy.

Sinker

For fishing on a donk, it is necessary to use drop-shaped sinkers, the weight of which is 30-100 grams. This shape of the lead will provide good casting and comfort throughout the entire catch. When fishing on a donk in reservoirs / rivers (on a stream) - a weight of 30 grams is enough. As the waves appear and become stronger, the mass of the sinker can be increased.

Leash

The choice of a leash is strictly individual. The main point to pay attention to: when casting, the leash for the donkey should not overlap with the main part of the line. For convenient fishing on a donk - most fishermen use a leash, the length of which is no more than 20 cm. For example, hunting for big fish - you can increase it, but five - everything is strictly individual. Leashes are sold in every fishing store, and you can easily buy them for a very low price.

Hooks

In most cases, bottom tackle is used for catching large fish, so it is recommended to use large hooks for bottom fishing. Some fishermen, who are especially worried about the gatherings, use several hooks or tees, which is a completely reasonable solution, because no one wants to miss a big fish. Also, do not forget that the hooks must have good quality(with a possible self-undercutting effect).

Fishing on the donk

Fishing on the donk does not imply fishing for 1 tackle. Most fishermen use a lot of tackle, there can be any number of them. If you are a beginner fisherman, then in any way you could notice such a picture on the reservoir, when a lot of tackle is installed along the coast. There may be 5 or even 10 of them, and the fisherman himself walks with special attention looks at the tips of the rods. Have you watched? - This is fishing on the donk. Typically, rods are placed every 5 meters. This is necessary to exclude possible problems with casting.

A fish

The main fish that fishermen with bottom tackle hunt for is the catfish. , sometimes its volume can reach half a meter, and its weight is more than 30-50 kilograms. Therefore, you need to take care of the reliable fixation of the donkey, so that after a while, when you come to check "Is there anything on the hook?" - you did not see an empty space and the absence of a fishing rod.

In addition to the river host, they catch such underwater inhabitants with donks:

• carp;
• perch;
• and many others.

Water

For more comfortable fishing- it is preferred to fish in places where there are all kinds of algae and driftwood. If we talk about the day, then it can be absolutely anything. Probably the most unsuitable bottom when fishing on a donk can be safely called a stone one. Locations with trees, driftwood, and bushes sticking out of the water are considered the most suitable places for fishing on the bottom. Every fisherman knows that it is in such places that especially large fish live.

Example

As an example: you can probably remember how you fished. In a location where there are no all kinds of driftwood and bushes, there is no biting. As soon as you throw it into a place where there is a driftwood or a bush, good biting begins. No wonder. The fish feeds on larvae and algae, of which there are a huge number in such places, so the first rule of successful fishing is, of course, the selection of the right place.

We have reviewed the basic principles of donk fishing. Now let's take a look at two of the most the best views bottom tackle, namely a spinning rod.

Bottom fishing rod - zakidushka

The best place to use this type of donkey is large lakes and rivers. The main advantage of a donkey-zakidushka is an accurate casting and a long stay of the bait in one place, at the right point in the reservoir. This type of fishing may require an investment of money. The zakidushka is very compact, mobile and can be used in the search for schooling fish. How to properly mount the donkey?

Photo 2. Zakidushka assembly.

Equipment

Successful fishing depends not only on the fisherman, but also on well-assembled tackle. In order to carry out the installation of the donkey as efficiently as possible and prepare it for good trophy fishing, you must purchase:

• Spinning reel.
• 100 meters of line with a minimum thickness of 0.30 mm.
• Sinker (sliding) 30-100 grams.
• A set of hooks (tees are recommended for catching a predator).

(special fishing bell, or any other electronic device intended for signaling).

Elastic

Popular and. Such a donk allows you not to exhaust the tackle completely with every bite.

Photo 4. Donka rubber band.

Spinning donka

Despite all sorts of advantages and disadvantages, the most the best way fishing - is fishing on the bottom with a spinning rod. For many years this method of fishing was called "Donk fishing", but soon this method became known as "Feeder". The main advantage of the feeder is its design. If you do not like fishing using a float and spinning rod, but crave big trophies, then the feeder is what you really need. In the arsenal of each fisherman there are different rods, reels, lines and types of hooks. If you have all of the above, then you can carry out the installation of the bottom gear yourself.

Attention! It is worth noting that in the case of creating a feeder from a spinning rod, no money is required from you. Unless you need to purchase a tackle with a feeder, but everything else should be in your fishing arsenal.

How to make a donk from a spinning rod

Donkey equipment is simple, to collect it you will need:

1. Rod. You can use absolutely any donkey rod, even a cheap Chinese one.
2. Coil. It is desirable to have a donk with a coil (with two or more bearings).
3. Good fishing line, with a volume of at least 0.30 mm.
4. Hooks - tees. As mentioned earlier, tees are used to accurately catch the fish and keep it from getting off the hook.

Bottom fishing rod is very simple, any fisherman can assemble it.

Trough

The main point that pushed fishermen to create a feeder is the ability to fish using a feeder. The feeder made it possible to make more accurate casts and to feed any place chosen for fishing.

Types of feeders

1. Spring. The original type of the feeder was an ordinary spring. Hence, this type of feeder got its name - "Spring". The device has not lost its usefulness, and to this day fishermen successfully use the spring.
2. Cell. The cage repeats the principle of operation of a spring feeder. Its only difference from the spring is probably only the shape. The advantages include more accurate casting and use in any type of reservoir.

Conclusion

For a long time, fishermen have used a variety of fishing methods, constantly improving their tackle and eventually created such a type of fishing as a feeder. Feeder - can be safely called the pinnacle of development of donk fishing, it is impossible to argue with that. What do you need for comfortable fishing and big trophies? - Nice body of water, feeder, chair. More and more fishing enthusiasts are switching to a feeder, which is understandable, there is no need to sit with a successful float and wait for a bite, then hook up and get the fish ashore in time. It is enough just to spread out your feeder, install a bite alarm and calmly drink tea on the sidelines, relax and do other things.

Fishing with the help of a donkey is very diverse, novice fishermen mistakenly believe that it is possible to fish with bottom tackle only from the bottom habitat.

The donka-fishing rod has undergone a variety of modifications, the number of designs is very large, by the way, the bottom tackle without a rod is also called a bottom fishing rod. And the use of the notorious gum is also considered a bottom tackle.

With rod

The undisputed leadership is held by the most traditional bottom tackle - this and all its modifications. Not many people know that "zakidushka" is the progenitor of the feeder and all spinning fishing.

Initially, the "zakidushka" consisted of any rod, at the end of which was attached up to 100 meters of fishing line in a reel, several leads and a heavy lead. If we add a sensitive tip to this simplest design, then we get one that reacts to the bites of the most careful and inconspicuous fish.

In addition, the feeder can be adjusted for fishing according to the required weight, by swapping places - quivertips with different stiffness. Such devices are very useful when moving from a fishing spot in a small current to a quiet backwater.

The modernization of the bottom tackle with a rod does not stand still. Take, for example, anti-twisting devices, feeders, stoppers, hinges and other well-known types of equipment. The modern angler, using all these techniques, can adapt his bottom tackle for successful fishing.

At the same time, the rod can be adjusted not only by the presence of a current in the reservoir, the soil and even weather conditions fall under the modern setting. In general, bottom tackle with a rod is the most versatile tool and best weapon fisherman.

Without rod

For fishing without a rod, in my opinion, the most popular method is the "rubber band". Is a very simple and therefore very convenient mechanism for fishing.

The tackle consists of a long fishing line and a rubber string, at the end of which a very heavy load or just a brick. The fishing line is supplied with hook leads on which the bait is hooked.

The elastic is very interesting and easy to use, and in terms of the amount of catch it will not yield to any position or any other tackle.

In the second place, you can put the bottom tackle "ring".

With this tackle, you can only fish from a boat.

The principle of operation is as follows: first of all, it is necessary to lower a large feeder on a thick fishing line, equipped with a large sinker, to the bottom, the feeder will remain there throughout the entire fishing period.

Then, we lower the second thinner line with leashes through a special ring on the first line, deliver the hooks with bait to the location of the feeder and wait for the bite.

This method is attractive in that you can constantly check the hooks and not waste time on bait.

But, the minus is that we will not be able to move from one place to another in search of a more "fishy" one.

To use this method of fishing, you need to thoroughly know the reservoir in order to place a feeder in the pit.

Equipment "zakidushki"

For the manufacture of "zakidushki" we need;

• Strong line;
• Sinker (lead);
• Leashes with hooks at the end;
• Bell or bite alarm.

In the role of a rod, large wooden stakes can act, which are firmly driven into the shore. The fishing line for the "zakidushka" is chosen according to the principle of strength, the stronger the better. The recommended thickness for the line is 0.4 - 0.5, the length mainly depends on the fishing conditions, but not less than 50 meters for long casting.

The sinker for the "zakidushki" can have a deaf and sliding mount, everything is calculated on the spot, depending on the magnitude of the current. Fishermen often use various metal parts weighing 200 grams or more as sinkers.

Leashes are made of the same strong line, but not single, but braided, it is more pliable at depth and behaves naturally.

The number of leads, of course, depends on your desire, but it is recommended to attach no more than 4 pieces to make the line less tangled. Hooks are also chosen in large sizes, it depends on what kind of fish you are going.

Donkey-rubber equipment

The tackle consists of the following components;

• Monofilament fishing line with a thickness of 0.30 mm and a length of at least 100 meters;
• Round elastic band (Hungarian) 10 meters;
• Braided line 0.20 mm thick and 20 meters long;
• Bell or other suitable signaling device.

The fishing attachment will be attached directly to the reel, which is handcrafted from a wooden board.

In order to save money, an ordinary brick can serve as a sinker for an elastic band.

On the manufactured Motvil, we rewind the large diameter fishing line, when 2 meters remain until the end, we make loops along the entire distance.

They are necessary for attaching the leashes; 6 loops will be enough for this distance.

We make the leashes from a thinner fishing line and immediately tie the hook.

There can be up to three leashes on one loop; they can be attached either with a simple knot or with a carabiner.

A metal washer is tied to the end of the fishing line, it is to it that we will attach our elastic band. The length of the gum is taken in reserve and the size is selected directly on the spot, the excess is wound on a sinker.

The elastic band freely increases in size by 3 - 5 times. Hence it follows that a piece of elastic of 5 meters can ensure the movement of the fishing line 20 - 25 meters towards the shore.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that restrictions are imposed on fishing with a zakidushka - you can use only one rubber shock absorber equipped with 5 hooks per angler

How to make a donkey with a feeder?

Truly the most popular and versatile bottom tackle.

Now we will consider the device of the classic version of the donkey with a rod:

1. The key when casting a feeder can be given not to the fisherman, but to the rod. It all depends on the right spinning rod. When choosing a spinning rod, it is necessary to take into account not only its weight, but also the weight of the load at the end of the line. Namely, add together the mass of the equipped feeder, the hook with the bait and the approximate weight of the fish caught. Usually the weight is 800-1200 grams, the load on the end of the rod.
2. The used line has a thickness of 0.3 - 0.4 mm. The line is wound on a large reel, at least 150 meters long.
3. The coil, in turn, is not taken any, it is advisable not to be stingy when buying a coil, but to take the development from the latest innovations. It is on the reel that the convenience of playing and holding the fish depends.
4. Any feeder on the donk can be used as you wish... Below will be more detailed about the feeders.

Popular types of feeders

The spring is the most popular feeder when catching non-predatory fish.

This feeder has a double function, it serves as a bait container and a sinker at the same time.

Holds the bait well even in strong currents.

The main advantages of the spring - feeder:

• Inexpensive for the price;
• High efficiency;
• Possibility to make it yourself;
• Suitable for almost any river and lake fish;
• Suitable for any body of water.

"Makushatnik"

- one of the oldest traditional rigs of pre-feeder times. It was used mainly for catching large Carp, Carp and Carp. This tackle got its name because of its filling.

The biggest advantage of the "makushatnik" is considered to be Carp fishing, many still consider this tackle to be the best for catching this fish.

"Makushatnik" is not for sale in the store. This tackle is made exclusively by hand. Most likely, this explains the fishermen's love for this product. What could be more enjoyable than fishing with tackle self-made, from such a catch and laurels will be sweeter.

For such a rig, we need a sinker of a flattened shape in the form of any geometric object. The sinker must be attached to the main line thoroughly.

At the end of the line, a loop is attached to which our leashes with hooks for Karp will cling. A piece of top is attached directly to the sinker, with a nylon rope on the sides, you can also drill a hole in the sinker for attachment.

The leashes are hidden under a piece of top, and the hooks are stuck right into it. And in this form, the tackle is sent to the bottom.

"Pacifier"

This rig got its name from the manner in which the Carp eats the bait. The teat is a feeder weighing no more than 50 grams, into which the bait is tightly rammed.

Nipples come in many different shapes and types. Nipples are also made independently from corks and wire, various plates.

The principle of its operation is simple, we fill the groundbait tightly into the mold. We hide the hooks in the middle and send them to the bottom. All the mass at the bottom dissolves and makes a little aromatic haze.

The crucian carp swims up and slowly begins to suck on this tackle until it swallows the hook.

Homemade bottom tackle "Banjo"

This tackle in recent times became popular for fishing in standing water... The banjo is a cross between a feeder and a nipple.

The cost of the rig is much more expensive than other feeders and therefore it makes sense to make it yourself:

1. We take the lid from a five liter plastic keg;
2. We make holes on the sides and insert a hollow tube;
3. We attach the sinker to the bottom of the cover using long bolts.

Tackle installation

Cut off 60 cm of fishing line, attach a swivel to one edge, and put a bead stopper on the other. We stretch the line into the tube and fasten, on the other hand, the swivel. Further, leashes with hooks can be placed on both sides.

Now you can hide the hooks in the middle of the lid, and stuff the bait tightly inside.

DIY summer bottom tackle

Now we will consider the option of a homemade bottom tackle with a built-in indicator light.

Manufacturing:

1. Plastic yogurt bottle;
2. We drill a 6 mm hole in the lid;
3. We insert the bolt, on which with outside we attach a stationery clip for paper;
4. We wind 50 meters of the required fishing line on the body of the bottle, and at the end we tie a carabiner with a swivel;
5. Next, we deal with the indicator light for night fishing, for this we need;

You will need:

• Tablet batteries - 2 pieces,
• Switch,
• Tilt sensor,
• Any one LED,
• Microcircuit 50x15 mm.

Tilt sensor:

1. We need a metal tube 8 mm in diameter and 15 mm long;
2. Then we cut out the side part from sheet aluminum;
3. The second side panel must be made of thin plastic or textolite;
4. We screw a small self-tapping screw into the center of the second sidewall and solder it to the foil;
5. We assemble our sensor, glue the textolite half to the tube;
6. We fill the cavity of the tube with small balls or pieces of cut wire;
7. Now carefully solder our first sidewall to the tube;
8. Next, we cut out a holder for two batteries from brass, isolate the legs with a cambric;
9. We collect the board and attach it to the cover.

Installation

On the shore, we drive a sawn peg into the ground, and we fasten our donka onto it with the help of a clerical clothespin. After casting, the line is passed into the crevice on the peg, and when the fish pecks, the sensor will be triggered by the tilt of the peg.

Do-it-yourself bottom tackle with self-landing gear

The principle of operation of the self-undercutting device is based on the free movement of the fishing line and the return of movement from the stretching of the elastic band. An elastic band attached to a loop from a fishing line is stretched at the moment when a large predatory fish took the bait and began to move back into the depths of the reservoir.

The elastic is stretched until the tension in it creates a reverse motion, and then the hook fits snugly into the mouth of the fish. Thus, we get the self-trimming effect.

Pulling the fish when self-tapping should be done carefully without sudden movements. Since you can get a reverse stroke with a sharp release of tension.

DIY universal bottom tackle

To make a universal tackle, you can use the most reliable and popular donkey design with a feeder. With the help of such a donkey, you can fish out carp, bream, crucian carp, pike perch, grass carp.

You should also pay attention to the rod: you can only fish successfully good spinning, especially carnivorous species such as catfish, perch, pike, carp, silver carp.

To increase versatility, it is necessary to use several types of feeders. Always use feeders in the exact location for which they are intended.

Fishermen are mostly experimenters, but there are certain well-established rules of fishing, based not on someone's whim, but on the behavior of the fish, its nature and habitat.

There is a category of fishermen who exclusively prefer bottom gear. Their choice is explained by the fact that they have more chances to catch large fish at the bottom. And the very process of fishing and playing is different from float fishing. The bottom tackle has its own characteristics, allowing you to enjoy long-range fishing.

Bottom tackle with a rod

The most common "donkey" is a tackle with a rod. It is called the initial type of feeder gear. It is a simple zakidushka where any reels and rods can be used. A large amount of fishing line is wound on the spool in order to make casts of a hundred or more meters. A load or a feeder is attached to the end of the fishing line, leashes with hooks are tied.

Bottom tackle with a rod

In order for the donk to be made correctly with your own hands, it is necessary to fulfill the basic requirement for hooks, leashes and the main line - they must correspond to the size of the expected catch. Since the tackle is designed for catching large specimens, it is not recommended to use a braided line. He is not able to absorb the strong jerks of large fish. The weight of the load is selected depending on the casting distance.

Bottom tackle without a rod

It is not difficult to figure out how to make a donk without a rod. There are several types of such zakidushki:

• Fishing line with reel. It is stored and transported on it. Casting is carried out manually. With good dexterity, its range is not inferior to casting with a rod.
• The "rubber band" also belongs to the bottom gear. A shock absorber is inserted between the main line and the sinker in the form of elastic band... At the beginning of fishing, the cargo is brought in a boat over a long distance. The "rubber band" donka allows you to remove the fish without completely removing the tackle from the water.
• "Ring". You will need a boat here. A large volume of groundbait falls from it to the bottom. There she is throughout the entire fishing trip. Baited hooks are dropped nearby. To make them closer to the groundbait, a special ring is used.

Installation of zakidushki

After winding the fishing line on the reel, a load weighing up to 50 g is installed on it. Leashes with hooks are tied from the load at a distance of 20 cm. There should be the same distance between them. The hooks are located above or below the load. The installation of the anti-twist tube is also provided.

This article will be interesting for those anglers who prefer "quiet", calm fishing - catching fish such as carp, bream, crucian carp, rudd. But often in Three Rivers on the Lower Volga, fans of spinning fishing for river predators are also engaged in this in order to diversify the fishing process. And most importantly: with the bottom tackle, you can catch larger specimens of fish that prefer to stand and feed at deeper depths.

With a sufficiently large number of varieties of bottom gear and devices, in essence and principle of operation, they are all very similar. The main components of any bottom tackle are: hooks, leads, sinkers, main line and, in many cases, a special feeder. Various rods, reels, reels and rubber shock absorbers are also used for bottom fishing. Both natural and artificial baits and baits are used as bait, depending on the type of fish on which the tackle is installed.

The main types of bottom gear:
- donka (zakidushka);
- donk with a rod;
- feeder (donka with a feeder);
- donka with rubber shock absorber.

Donka (zakidushka)
An ordinary donk consists of a fishing rod, a main line, a sinker, a leash with a hook and a signaling device. The easiest to manufacture and at the same time reliable bottom allows you to throw the bait at a distance of 30-50 meters and at almost any depth.
As a fishing rod, a rod about a meter long is used, which is stuck into the ground or ready-made factory fishing rods made of aluminum, bamboo, equipped with a reel or reel.
The main line is selected based on the specific conditions and the size of the intended catch. In this version of the donkey, it is better to use a monofile with a thickness of 0.35-0.80 mm and a length of 40-60 meters. A braided line is undesirable, since it does not absorb the jerks of large fish at all. When fishing for perch, bream, crucian carp and roach, it is quite possible to limit yourself to 0.30 mm fishing line. The leash is made thinner, 0.15-0.22 mm and can be made of braid.
Bottom fishing sinkers are made of lead and can be of various shapes, weights and have two types of attachment: sliding and blind. A donka with a sliding sinker has an advantage over a blind rig because the fish that has taken the bait does not feel the strong resistance of the weight of the sinker and swallows the bait more boldly. In shape, sinkers for donuts are spherical, drop-shaped, conical and in the form of a stick (this shape allows you to avoid snags when fishing in a cluttered place). When fishing in a strong current, hooks - protrusions are cast on the surface of a flat sinker. In the case when it is necessary to raise the bait above the bottom, you can use a "Tyrolean stick" sinker, which has a float in the form of a tube at the point of attachment to the line.
Hooks for fishing with bottom tackle are used of all types and sizes, except for the "gills" - swallowers prohibited by the fishing rules. The size and type of the hook is determined solely by the type of fish being hunted and the bait.

Bite alarms are a very useful thing. They can be either the simplest of the available material (a twig-guy line or a piece of bark in the form of a weight on the line), or super-modern, electronic, reacting to the slightest movement of the line in the longitudinal direction. The most common signaling device for a simple donkey is a bell or, jokingly, "tsak")). It is simple, easy to use and sensitive, and denotes a bite not only by mechanical movement, but also by sound, which saves the angler from constant close observation of the tackle. The bell can be purchased at the store or made yourself, for example, from a brass cartridge case from a hunting cartridge. It is suspended from the main line so that it forms an obtuse angle in front of the rod. They are fastened with a clothespin or a piece of plastic with a slot, but in any case, it is desirable that such a signaling device be fixed so that it can move along the line for fine adjustment after each casting of the tackle.

How to increase the casting range of a regular donkey-zakidushki?
Usually, the donkey is thrown by slowly spinning the sinker on the main fishing line, but various slings are also used: a wooden spatula, a sanded stick, and so on. But of course, a much more advanced tackle is a donk with a rod.

Donka with a rod
This is the most common bottom fishing tackle among anglers, which differs from a simple donkey by the presence of a spinning rod with a reel, which is essential. makes it easier to cast and play fish, as a correctly selected rod makes it easy to send the bait with a sinker at a distance of 80 or even 100 meters. When playing a large trophy (especially for a strong and hardy carp), the rod absorbs jerks and blows well. In addition, the bottom tackle with such a rod allows you to fish in areas with overgrown or clogged banks and in conditions of a wide shallow coastal strip.
When using a spinning rod for bottom fishing, you can safely use a braided line as the main line, which has greater strength with a smaller section and, accordingly, has less resistance to water flow, which is especially important when fishing in a strong current.
The rod is selected according to the test in accordance with the weight of the lead (usually at least 80-100 grams) and a length of 2.4-3.2 meters. It is more convenient to use a two-handed one - it allows you to make the longest casting with a heavy sinker. The reel can be a conventional inertial, but it is much more convenient to use a modern non-inertia or multiplier.

The same bell, which is attached to the sensitive tip of the rod with a clothespin or other devices, can serve as a bite alarm. electronic signaling device bites, "monkey" (a special plumb line, attached one end to the rod, and the other to the main line). You can do without an additional signaling device altogether, registering pulls on the sensitive tip of the rod, painted in a bright color. For fishing with bottom tackle at night, additional signaling devices are used in the form of chemical disposable fireflies, which can now be purchased without any problems in the store. The glow time of such a beacon is up to 10-12 hours.
The rest of the equipment of such a donkey does not differ from the previous version.

Feeder tackle
This type of bottom tackle came to us from England, where it is used mainly for carp fishing. The main difference between feeder tackle and ordinary donkey is the presence of a special feeder, which is always next to the bait, and this is very important when fishing with donkey in the current. In addition to carp, such tackle is great for catching crucian carp, carp, bream and silver bream. And many other fish species are also by-catch: perch, roach, blue bream, buffalo, tench, ide, and so on.
For this method of fishing, the so-called feeder rods with a flexible end stop and powerful reels, including with an additional friction clutch - a bytrunner, which helps to avoid breaking the tackle at the first, as a rule, very strong jerk of a large carp or carp.
Bite alarms are used in this case the same as for a donkey with a spinning rod, and the line is used braided, high-strength.
When fishing with a feeder, the function of a sinker is performed by a feeder made of wire mesh, which can be equipped, in accordance with the fishing conditions, with an additional lead load. The bait mixture, tightly packed into the trough, is gradually washed out by water and creates a cloud or plume that attracts fish to the bait.
The device of the rig itself can be deaf (a simple but ineffective option), with a sliding feeder sinker (in-line) or loop type (a sliding feeder mounted on an asymmetrical loop is the most sensitive option to bite).
You can read more about the installation of rigs for feeder tackle in the article.

Donka with rubber shock absorber
Such a donk is very convenient for long-term fishing (several days) in one place. In addition, it has one important advantage - baited hooks are in the same place every time and allow you to use bait - constant bait, training the fish to a certain point on the bottom. But the most important advantage of the "elastic" is the absence of noise when the hooks are fed to the fishing site, since the heavy load is constantly in one place, and the hooks are pulled to the shore and fed back into the water due to the stretching of the rubber insert between the load and the hooks.
The main line for such a donkey can be used quite thick, monofilament (0.8-1.0 mm), so you will have to work with it, as they say, with your bare hands. All connections of the main line with a section for hooks, an elastic band and a sinker are made through carabiners with swivels. The fishing line in the area where the leashes are located is used thinner, 0.20-0.22 mm, and the leashes themselves are made of 0.12-0.15 mm fishing line, so as not to scare off the cautious carp or crucian carp. Leashes can be made from a small section braided cord, but remember that you need to correlate the risk of the hooks getting caught and the strength of the additional parts of the rig, so as not to lose the entire bottom at once in the event of a hook. In addition, a donkey with a rubber shock absorber has a "disease" of twisting the leads around the main line when pulling and releasing. The situation can be corrected by mounting the leashes on steel cord bends or by twisting about 1/3 of the leash at their base.
It is better to make a rubber insert from "model aircraft" high-quality rubber of a round cross-section. Unlike "noodles", rubber bands are less prone to tearing and cuts with strong stretching. Before installing the bottom, be sure to carefully check the integrity and elasticity of the rubber. If it darkens, turns yellow, you need to replace it. On average, such rubber stretches 4-5 times, so the ratio of the length of the line and the rubber insert should be 1: 5-1: 4. It makes sense to add about a meter to the estimated length of the rubber, then the shock absorber will not stretch to its ultimate strength and the load will need less weight, which will affect the range of the load from the shore. If it is possible to bring the goods to Right place on a boat, you can even use a sandbag equipped with a buoy to remove it from the bottom after fishing and not clog the pond. In the case when the sinker is thrown from the shore, it is made of lead and equipped with hooks - protrusions to keep it at the bottom. The weight of the lead should allow you to extract it after fishing directly from the shore using the tackle itself.
Another important nuance when fishing with a rubber band. You should not immediately pull the tackle to the shore after casting the sinker - it should "stick" to the bottom. After 10-15 minutes, you should slowly pull the line to the shore, laying it behind you with a snake until the hooks appear. Now you can install a fishing rod - a rod on which the beginning of the bridle is put on with a loop at the end of the main line. Now the tackle is fixed, you can bait the hooks, and then smoothly release the line into the water until the shock absorber shrinks completely. Correct position donkey in operating mode - no resistance when pulling to the shore, otherwise the fish when biting will be alerted by the excessive tension of the rig.
If you intend to feed the fishing site, then when you first lower the hooks to the first or last one, you can tie a small buoy on a thin line - it will show the location of your bait at the bottom.
The ideal signaling device for a rubber band donkey would be a heavy brass sleeve bell. It is installed so that the angle of the drawn line is almost straight (90 degrees).

Features of the donkey device for fishing with live bait
This is one of the types of bottom tackle used when fishing predatory fish to Three Rivers from the shore. In this case, the main difference between the live bait is an additional small float, fixed on a leash in such a way that the live bait (small fish: roach, crucian carp, bleak, ruff) is constantly on a given water horizon and cannot get into the grass or snag.
If you want the bait to be located above the bottom or in half the water, you can use an underwater float. This is a small cigar-shaped foam cylinder (you can use cork, tree bark and other floating materials), along the axis of which a wire with loops is passed. The main line is attached to one loop through a swivel with a carabiner or a winding ring, and a leash with live bait is attached to the opposite loop. Carabiners make it possible to quickly install or remove such a float. You can make it sliding. Then it will be possible to regulate the position of the live bait on the current, which increases the chances of catching success.

How to fish with bottom tackle on the stream
To cast a donkey without a rod, the line must be removed from the reel and spread out like a snake on a flat, smooth area of ​​the shore (you can use a piece of film). After making sure that there is a safe zone for tackle (bushes, tree branches) and there are no people behind, the sinker is untwisted right hand and is sent forward and up towards the point where the catch is supposed to be. You can slow down the main line a little before dropping to reduce splash noise. Now you need to choose the slack in the line, fix it on the fishing rod and attach the signaling device. The line should not be too tight - this will scare off cautious fish.
The bite of even a fairly large crucian carp or bream may be barely noticeable and a bell, for example, will not necessarily ring like “on fire”. The first pull may be preceded by a weak movement of the tackle and there is no need to rush - let the fish calmly swallow the bait, since effective hooking occurs only during a confident pull. It often happens that instead of a confident jerk, only the horizontal movement of the plumb line is noticeable. If the bite pulls towards the shore, the line weakens and the signaling device, accordingly, falls into a plumb line. If the pull comes from the shore, and if the bottom length is large, the jerks may not be felt at all, the bite is determined by the tension of the line “into the string”. At the beginning of a confident pull, you need to make a sweeping sweep. Choosing the right moment for hooking a particular type of fish will come with experience, but it is the main guarantee of success when fishing with bottom tackle on the Lower Volga.
If, nevertheless, it happened, and after cutting on the main line, a noticeable heaviness or twitching is felt, then the desired prey "sat down" on the hook. It should be without fuss, but without wasting time, to gently extinguish the first, strongest jerks of the future trophy with a friction rod, rod or hands, and a carp of a kilogram by 3-4 can jerk even as, immediately turning to the vector of resistance across. If the fish is large, try to move it from its place, tear it off the bottom in order to wear it down with resistance in the clean, overlying layers of water. Do not loosen the line, but do not try to drag with all your might - you can break tackle, straighten the hook or tear the tissues in the fish's mouth. If the resistance increases sharply, the prey beats - loosen the friction clutch, hand over the cord. It is easy to lead a fish tired from the struggle into the landing net and pull it ashore. Sometimes it is useful to let the fish "gulp air" when playing - this puts it into a stupor, especially when fishing for large bream from a depth. Do not let a large carp or crucian carp go into reeds, driftwood or under the edge - entanglement behind obstacles or friction against shell rock will deprive you of your tackle along with the trophy.

So dare and gain experience, as the great Magellan said: our fish will not leave us!))