Float Fishing

Float fishing is an exciting and active method which can be used to catch a wide variety of fresh and saltwater fishese. This method of fishing involves suspending a bait in mid-water underneath a float, meaning that anglers are constantly watching the float waiting for it to dip under the surface when a fish takes the bait. Since no terminal tackle is in contact with the bottom, float fishing allows fishing with little risk of becoming snagged.

Floats come in different sizes and shapes, and can be made from various materials, such as foam, balsa wood, cork, plastic, Indian sarkanda reed, or even bird/porcupine quills. The float is used to enable the angler to cast out a bait away from the shore or boat while maintaining a reference point to where the bait is unlike bottom or leger fishing.

The angler will select an appropriate float after taking into account the strength of the current (if any), the wind speed, the size of the bait he is using, the depth the angler wishes to present that bait at and the distance the bait is to be cast.

Usually, the line between the float and hook will have small weights attached, ensuring that the float sits vertically in the water with only a small brightly coloured tip remaining visible. The rest of the float is usually finished in a dull neutral colour to render it as inconspicuous as possible to the fish. Each float style is designed to be used in certain types of conditions such as slow or fast rivers, windy or still water or small confined waters such as canals.