| A float when fishing does two jobs: it lets the | | | | a long slender float with a sensitive tip. |
| angler know when his bait has been taken, giving | | | | The bubble float is a favourite among trout and |
| him a visual point where the line enters the water. | | | | mullet fishermen. It is a clear, plastic ball with |
| It also dangles the bait at a pre-determined | | | | plugs, which allow the angler to partially fill the ball |
| distance between the top of the bottom and the | | | | with water and hence regulate its weight and |
| bottom. As with every other piece of tackle, the | | | | where it sits on the surface of the water. Some |
| angler must know what fish he is after and what | | | | floats are designed to lie straight on the surface |
| the characteristics of that fish are in order to | | | | of the water and only stand upright when |
| select the correct tackle. | | | | registering a bite from below. These floats are |
| Some fish are naturally suspicious of bait attached | | | | not popular however as they are difficult to locate |
| to a float. Although it appears to float invisibly in | | | | and track before the bite. Luminous floats can |
| the water, the bait resists attempts to move it | | | | also be used, however these are not popular |
| or swallow it. Some fish, particularly a luderick, will | | | | either as the luminous fades after a short time. |
| immediately release bait from its mouth when it | | | | Colours of a float are important only to the |
| feels the drag of a float from above. A float | | | | individual angler and the best is determined by |
| should bob on the surface in a state of neutral | | | | their ease of sight in various types of water. |
| buoyancy. The slightest tug from below will be | | | | With the exception of the lying-down type of |
| transmitted to the angler and will not alert the fish | | | | float, all other floats should ride upright in the |
| to its presence. The ideal use of the float | | | | water. If they don't, it is because they are either |
| therefore requires a careful balance between the | | | | out of balance, or need an extra weight affixed |
| weight of the float and the use of a splitshot | | | | to the line underneath them to draw them into an |
| sinker or weight. | | | | upright position. The bait may also be resting on |
| The difficulty of using a line with a float is usually | | | | the bottom, the water being shallower than |
| in the length of line between the float and the | | | | anticipated by the angler. |
| hook, which is hard to manage during casting. | | | | To thread the float, simply pass the line through |
| Ideally a float should be rigged so that it runs | | | | the eyelets of the float and then at the depth at |
| along the line and stops at a pre-determined point | | | | which you want your bait to dangle, affix a |
| on the line with the use of a splitshot sinker or | | | | splitshot sinker or other device to stop the |
| swivel. This point is the desired depth at which the | | | | running of the float along the line beyond that |
| angler would like his bait to dangle underneath the | | | | point. There should be just enough pf the float |
| water. | | | | above the water to make it visible to the angler. |
| The shape of the float is almost as essential as | | | | Too much and the wind will catch the stem and |
| the weight or buoyancy of the float. The bobbing | | | | blow it away. Experienced anglers can then watch |
| cork of the rock fisherman must be able to | | | | their float and know instantly what is happening |
| support the weight of the bait as well as the | | | | beneath the surface where their bait is. The float |
| turbulence of the water washing back from the | | | | disappearing from view is a good indication the |
| rocks. There is no need for it to as sensitive as | | | | bait has been taken and time for the strike. |
| the float of the estuary fisherman who would use | | | | |