Legering

What is legering?

Legering is a fishing technique that uses a weight to anchor your bait at the bottom of the water. Unlike float fishing, where bait drifts with the current, legering keeps your offering in one spot. This makes it well suited to targeting fish that feed along the riverbed or in deeper sections of stillwater.

The method suits a variety of venues, though results depend heavily on local conditions. In lakes and slow moving rivers, the weight holds firm. In stronger currents, it may shift downstream gradually, though controlling this drift precisely over any real distance is difficult.

Rolling leger technique

A rolling leger allows the weight to move along the riverbed with the current. Rather than anchoring in one place, the tackle bumps and rolls downstream, covering more ground and presenting bait to fish spread across a wider area.

This approach tends to work best on smooth, sandy or gravel bottoms where the weight can travel freely. In rivers with rocky beds, thick weed growth or heavy debris, a rolling leger will often snag or tangle. Choosing the right venue matters here.

When conditions suit, rolling a leger can be a useful way to locate feeding fish without casting repeatedly. The movement of the weight may help the bait appear more natural as it travels, though this varies depending on the species you're targeting and the character of the swim.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Types of leger weights

Leger weights come in various shapes and sizes, each suited to different situations. For light work at close range, small weights can be attached using a leger stop or bead to protect the main line from damage.

Bomb weights are a common choice for general legering. These pear shaped or rounded weights usually have a built in swivel, allowing the main line to run through freely. When a fish picks up the bait, it can move away without immediately feeling resistance from the weight. This makes bites easier to detect and gives the fish less reason to drop the bait.

Heavier leger weights come into play when targeting larger species. Pike and catfish anglers often use substantial weights to keep deadbaits firmly in position, particularly in flowing water or at distance. The extra weight also helps when casting bulky baits.

Flat or gripper style weights are useful in strong currents where a round bomb might roll out of position. The shape helps them grip the bottom and stay put.

Common leger rigs include the running rig, where the weight slides freely on the line above a swivel, and the paternoster, which positions the hook on a separate length of line above the weight. Bite detection typically relies on quiver tips or swing tip indicators, which register movement when a fish takes the bait.

Using swimfeeders

A swimfeeder combines the function of a leger weight with a built in bait delivery system. The basic design is a plastic or metal tube with holes punched through the sides. A weight is incorporated into the feeder, allowing it to be cast and fished in the same way as a standard leger.

Before casting, you fill the feeder with loose feed such as maggots, casters, pellets or groundbait. Once in the water, this feed escapes gradually through the holes and draws fish towards your hookbait. The result is a concentrated feeding area right where your hook is positioned.

Swimfeeders are popular on commercial fisheries and rivers alike. Open ended feeders suit groundbait and particle mixes. Cage feeders release their contents more quickly. Maggot feeders, with smaller holes, let live bait escape at a slower rate.

Matching the feeder size to conditions matters. In still or slow water, a smaller feeder may be enough. Faster flows often call for heavier feeders to hold bottom and deliver feed without being swept away.

For specific regulations on weights, methods or protected waters, check with the Environment Agency, your local fishery, or relevant byelaws for your area.