Float Fishing

[BornBad]

What is float fishing ?



Float fishing is where you use a floating indicator to help catch fish. This indicator is called a float. Floats have a bright tip that allows you to see it easily. The float is attached to your fishing line. It acts as a visual indicator between your rod and hook bait. When a fish picks up your hook and swims away, the float is pulled beneath the water. When you see the float disappear, you know that you have a fish.



You can use floats to fish the whole depth of the water. i.e.; From the surface right down to the bottom. This lets you put your hook bait right where the fish are. Professional Match fishermen like Bob Nudd are able to keep catching fish, even when the fish have moved up or down in the water.



Floats come in different shapes and sizes. Choosing the right float depends on the type of fishing you want to do. You can use floats on many different types of venues. i.e. From deep or shallow lakes, to fast or slow rivers.



The three main types of floats are:



The waggler:

The insert waggler

The bodied waggler

The sliding waggler

The stepped waggler

The crystal waggler

The self depth adjusting waggler



The stick float:

The quill float

The standard stick float



The pole float:

Pear shaped - body up pole float

Pear shaped - body down pole float

Cane stem floats

Wire stem floats

Carbon fiber stem floats

Continental varieties ( top quality )

Lake / still water pole floats

River / fast water pole floats

The dibber



These three types of floats are used for different techniques and venues.



The waggler is a float that is attached to the line at the bottom of the float. Depending on the situation, a waggler can be locked in one spot, or left free to slide up and down the line. The waggler floats can be used for almost all forms of fishing. The different varieties can be used from fast to slow, to deep, to shallow venues. It is by far the most diverse float design.



The stick float is designed for river fishing. They are attached length ways along the line, with the bottom facing the hook end. Two or three small silicone rubber bands are used to slide over both the line and float, and are placed at the top and bottom of the float. This holds the float in place, but allows you to easily adjust the float position along the line.



Stick floats are fished down stream of where you are river fishing. The stick floats have a slim design, that allows it to lay down in the current. This lets you maintain control over the float and more importantly, your hook bait.



The pole float is used for float fishing with a pole. A float is attached to a piece of fishing line, that is attached to the end of the pole. Pole floats are very small and do not require much weight. This is because they are physically pushed out by the sheer length of the pole. As a result, you are able to make your rigs ultra sensitive. Pole floats range from many shapes and sizes, allowing you to fish most venue types.



How does a float work?

A float is buoyant mass. i.e.; this means that it floats in water. To use a float for fishing, it needs to be weighed down. This is done by squeezing small pieces of lead shot onto the fishing line between the float and the hook. When a fish picks up the hook bait, the float moves. It is this movement that indicates what is going on below.



The most common types of movement are mentioned below:



A rising float tip happens when a fish has taken your hook bait and is either holding the line up, or that the fish is swimming towards you. When a fish does this, it usually means that the fish has lifted the bait but has not yet swallowed it. I have found that you shouldn't strike until the float has disappeared under the water.



A side to side wobble is when a fish is moving with the bait in its mouth OR that fish are bumping into the line.



A slide away is when a fish has picked up the hook bait and is moving off in one direction. The float will steadily slide beneath the surface. I have found that you should strike only when the float has disappeared.



The diving float is where the float tip simply dives beneath the surface of the water.



-by Sean Roberts

[Warmouth]

I've been using slip flaots more and more over the last three years or so. They make it much easier to cast, and give you a lot of control around snags. They're some good bobbers imo.

[bullitt]

No way, BB. Float fishing is when you park your carcass and a cooler of beer in a canoe or jon boat, and float down da ribber catching bass and goggleye!!!!
I think you're confused with bobber fishing.

[gman]

One is float fishing the other is fishing with a float.