Why float fish?

[Epat]

I agree with Gary Lee "Enjoyment in one word".

 

I just love seeing a float going under.

 

 

Eddd

[Mat Hillman]

Wow and I thought us float anglers were a dieing breed

 

For me it's just the sheer enjoyment of watching the float, surely theres nothing better than watching a float near some lillys on a tench pond early on a summers morning ??

 

And Jason.P - keep trying for that double, I've had more double figure carp on the float than on a ledger - most of them while actually aiming for tench!

 

Mat

[Vagabond]

Newt:

A question for you float gurus - do you ever use a float for suspending a bait mid-water?

Frequently - as others have already said.

 

One thing I have noticed in the States is the almost complete absence of sensitive floats. The usual thing offered in tackle shops is called a "bobber" and is a pretty gung-ho chunk of low density material with wire contraptions attached (so it can be attached/detached from the line without breaking the tackle down)

 

I tried one of these gung-ho bobbers and it caught fish OK, probably 'cos they were gung-ho fish such as the various freshwater sunfish, basses and cats - none of which seem at all put off by float resistance when taking a bait.

 

That is from my admittedly limited experience of USA freshwater fishing - lots of fish, but nothing over 5 lbs.

 

Apart from imported carp, few of the American cyprinids appear to be fished for - which is probably why there is no demand for sensitive floats - is that fair comment Newt?

[Newt]

Vagabond:

Apart from imported carp, few of the American cyprinids appear to be fished for - which is probably why there is no demand for sensitive floats - is that fair comment Newt?

That is pretty accurate I think Vagabond. For most of the fish here that are targeted, sensitive gear such as that needed to fool the UK fish basically isn't needed. Kamikaze preds are the usual species we fish for where I live.

 

An angler named Mick Thill does have a line of euro style floats that are getting to be more and more available but I'm really not sure who buys them.

 

Until I watched a couple of UK angling DVDs, I wasn't even aware of most of the methods they were showing. I thought a float was for ... well, for floating a bait and when it started to bounce or was pulled under, you had a take.

 

We don't seem to have the variety of cyprinid species the UK does and from the pictures I see, your roach, rudd, and a few others would simply be lumped together as 'shad' which are usually netted but even if taken by rod & reel are intended for bait.

 

Few bones, plenty of meat, and tasty seems to be the common criteria for most that we fish for. Lots of catch & release anglers these days but still targeting the fish that have traditionally been sought for the table.

 

[ 01. October 2005, 07:14 AM: Message edited by: Newt ]

[DJMCJERICO]

The best way i can describe why I float fish.

 

So far this year i have taken at least 100 double figure carp going up to 20.4lb, a few cats upto 28lb, loads of tench and bream on the quiver tip, and pike upto 13.6lb

 

 

Sitting next to me are a carp rod and all the trimmings and a lure rod and all the the gear.

I'm due to get to the lake when the gate opens at 07:00, so why am i still awake?

 

 

Because theres also a pint of red maggots (with extra food colouring added) 3 tubs of lobworms, (with red food colouring added), 2 tins of corn, a tin of meat, a bowl of groundbait, a rod, reel and box containing about a dozen floats.

Every time i close my eyes i see that float dip under the water, my heart skips a beat and i'm wide awake again.

 

I feel like i'm 8 years old and its christmas eve, i know if i go to sleep it will come quicker, but i'm just to excited.

[DonRamos]

DJMCJERICO:

 

Every time i close my eyes i see that float dip under the water, my heart skips a beat and i'm wide awake again.

This made me smile

 

I have dreams about float fishing all the time. I never dream about quiver tipping or fishing with bite alarms, just float fishing.

 

Am glad I'm not the only one.

[JBee123]

3 words as to why to fish with a float.

 

"Crayfish"

"Crayfish"

and urm

"Crayfish"

 

Buggers are too lazy to get off the bottom. But if you have a problem with them then 1 foot off the bottom and they wont bother you!

[Bally]

Ha ha.

 

Dan, I've been fishing for almost 40 years and still have trouble getting to sleep the night before. (And I mostly floatfish) Its the same every single time I go. I normally set the alarm for about 5ish and you can bet your bottom dollar I'll still be awake at 2am!

 

Gladly, I live a little closer to my venues these days, so driving home isn't as dangerous as it was years ago when I had to drive a couple of hours to get home.

 

I also see a float going under when I close my eyes. But this is always after a days fishing when I've had lots of bites, never before.

[Alan Stubbs]

If you float fish, you stand a chance of getting a bite when the bait is falling through the water... it's far more likely than when legering.

 

When fishing for roach, fishing 'on the drop' is a great method.

[hermes]

stillwater or running there's nothing like seeing a float go under.