The basic rule is always to choose a float that is heavy enough for the job in hand. Providing you shot the float properly, even a small fish will have no problem pulling it under. A big float is easier to cast and easier to control. If you go too light, both these important functions become difficult.

Remember, too, that floats come in all sorts of different shapes. Broadly speaking, bodied Moats -those that aren’t straight – are more buoyant and are designed for river work. Straight floats – like wagglers – are more suited to stillwaters or very slow-moving rivers.

A float is primarily used to signal a bite from a fish, so it has to be visible. Most of my floats have red tips because they really do stand out. But remember, too, that floats also are useful for suspending baits at different levels in the water. You don’t always want a bait on the bottom and if you want to fish in mid-water or above, you simply have to use a float to suspend it. Floats are beautiful things and you’ll enjoy watching them. They’re even more beautiful when they disappear under the surface.

Floats in Running Water

Which float?
Common river floats are Avons, which have a good thick body and are perfect for trolling quick water at longish distances. Most river fishing, though, is done with stick floats, which are attached to the line at the top and the bottom. They give perfect control in slower water over shorter distances. With Avons and slicks, you’ve really got enough choice of floats to cover virtually all water conditions.

Shotting
Attaching shot to the float is very important. You need to put enough shot on the line so that the float cocks and only the tip shows above the surface. When you’re stick-float fishing, the shot is spread pretty evenly from the float down to the hook. When you are using an Avon Boat, you can group the shot midway between float and hook. This lets the float ride well in the current.

Long Trotting
This is one of the nicest ways to use a float on the river. It’s an ideal way of exploring long stretches because you can let the final amble down with the current a good 80m (260ft) or more. This allows you to get near to spooky fish on very clear water. You need a long rod for this type of fishing – a modern, light, 4.5m (15ft) rod is ideal. Mostly, you will be using lines between 1.4kg and 2.7 kg (5lb and 6lb) breaking strain for fish like roach, chub, grayling and even barbel. When you are long trolling, it’s important to ‘mend’ the line. That’s simply keeping direct contact from the rod to the float and not allowing great loops of line to develop on the current. If you don’t mend the line, the float will get pushed off course and the bait will behave unnaturally. (more…)