Has float fishing becoming a dying art?

[Andy_1984]

I don't think its a dying art and I come across loads of people float fishing. Like a lot of things its very easy to be influenced by what you see in your own world and multiple/apply that to all situations. I think venue and length of time you plan to fish effect what method gets used, those fishing short sessions or on the move will often opt for float fishing simply because it is a very practical way to fish.

 

Wander on to a still water that mainly gets session fished and then you may find that 100% of the anglers are ledgering. Even the most hardened fans of the float would struggle to watch a float for 48 to 72 hours.

 

I guess this may be another one of those threads where we can look down on others fishing. Those who don't fish the proper way with floats, most tackle shops I have been in to carry huge amounts of floats that seem to sell very well. But I guess we are not counting Pellet Wagglers etc as thats not real fishing.

 

Carp is King and as they are the number 1 species with the most followers and ledgering is a very good way to catch them it can appear that float fishing is dying out. But there are still loads of Chub, Perch, Roach, Rudd, Dace anglers who fish very well with a float as do thousands of match anglers and mobile Pike anglers.

 

Are bubble floats classed as float fishing or method floats?

 

You just need to look in the right places to see all the float anglers.

 

I couldnt tell you exactly what they are used for but roach fishing they are not, and especially on 6-12lb mono straight through to an 8 with 2 maggots

[gozzer]

Why does it have to be someone "looking down" on others fishing Stephen? You seem to have a 'bee in your bonnet' about this.

It's just another way of fishing.

I prefer to float fish whenever possible, sometimes when it wasn't possible, I've still tried. This is because I love float fishing, I find it much more interesting. Apart from a simple running leger, or freelining, I find it the least complicated, and most sensitive way of fishing. Depth, movement, distance from bank, can all be changed much easier, and the 'bite indicator' is much closer to the bait, so you can see a bite develop sooner, and react.

It's just another method of fishing, but one I prefer to do.

 

 

John.

[AddictedToScopex]

Dales, I dont think so far anyone has looked down on ledgering as an inferior tactic. I for one simply expressed my opinion of fishing the method myself. I just find it really boring. Thats not to say I wont do it but I think I would prefer float tactics unless of course as you say it is a very long session in which case a float is more difficult to fish with in terms of concentration.

[Tigger]

Float fishing, legering, I use the one more suited to the water whichever is best method to catch fish on the day.

I see quite a lot (to many) of people float fishing, infact everyone I saw on the river yesterday where float fishing.

[Dales]

Just trying to pre-empt everything is Carp anglers and Carp fishings fault. All the worlds problems are caused by Carp Fishing :-)

 

But it's very good to see so many members enjoying their float fishing, can't be a dying art after all :-)

[AddictedToScopex]

Just trying to pre-empt everything is Carp anglers and Carp fishings fault. All the worlds problems are caused by Carp Fishing :-)

 

But it's very good to see so many members enjoying their float fishing, can't be a dying art after all :-)

 

I do see a lot of carp anglers fishing a float so it cant be all their fault

 

i think there has definitely been a shift toward a certain type of angler fishing ledger tactics as it allows them to sit and drink lager or roll a fat one without having to watch a float but I would say it is actually the attitude of the angler rather than the species they choose to fish for that dictates the method they use.

[gozzer]

I do see a lot of carp anglers fishing a float so it cant be all their fault

 

i think there has definitely been a shift toward a certain type of angler fishing ledger tactics as it allows them to sit and drink lager or roll a fat one without having to watch a float but I would say it is actually the attitude of the angler rather than the species they choose to fish for that dictates the method they use.

 

Too true ATS, (but I try not to look down on them......too often)

 

John.

[Dales]

As I said earlier I think loads of anglers fish with floats and I don't think it is going away any time soon.

[Matthew Simmons]

Interesting thread, that's got more interesting.

 

There are definitely less floats in tackle shops now and more specialist carp tackle - rigs and baits. Is this reflecting a decline in float fishing on both still waters and river - yes. The shops follow the money - and its in carp right now. You only have to look at the number of dedicated carp magazines to see this. Carp has not only dominated the specimen scene now, but also the match scene and to a large extent the pleasure fishing scene. Most still waters are geared to carp, both club and day ticket. Is float fishing a realistic way of catching carp - yes - its highly successful in match fishing. I see some highly skilled float fisherman catching huge bags of carp. Also the match scene has moved away from rivers - onto carp lakes.

 

Do I think its a dying skill; sadly yes. I never see kids fishing this way - I only see them fishing lakes for carp with bottom baits - only sad old gits like me float fish. Do I think its because of carp fishing - yes!

 

On rivers I still see the float used, occasionally, but not in the way it used to be.

[Mat Hillman]

Does that make me an old git then?

 

90% of my fishing is done with a float, I only reach for the ledger gear when conditions or the type of water make a float impractical.

 

Mat