paternoster sunk floats

**anotherbarrelMrHooper** · 10-03-2008, 17:47

Can any pike/zander anglers explain to me how to rig up a paternoster sunk float.
What advantages do they have over conventional float rigs?.
Do you use them with live or dead baits?.
Would they work for bass?

**marc portch** · 10-03-2008, 19:57

Hi,

if you start from the rod end down; this is the sequence of items:-

power gum stop knot
small bead
float
bead
2" stiff tube
bead
swivel with snap link - to attach 18" wire trace to
bead
2" stiff tube
bead
swivel
3ft mono (less breaking strain than main line)
lead - keep this as light as you can get away with (1oz good start point)

there may seem to be a lot of bits on there but the addition of the stiff tubes and beads greatly helps stop tangles.

it is mostly used for livebaits as it will swim around in circles around the main line but deadbaits can just as easily be used. When the water temp is cold, fish such as roach just seem to lie there suspended with their heads slightly facing down so the pike are used to seeing this, which a deadbait mimics.

the advantage over standard float rigs is that you can position your baits close to features, such as deep holes , drop offs etc, without the livebait swimming off and getting stuck in weed or snags.

I prefer the sunken float method instead of the surface float version because it keeps the main line straight up, so you know that your bait is at the right depth. If you had the float on the surface, it might be overdepth so when you tighten up to it your line could be at such an angle that the bait is on the bottom, or in weed. With the above set up you know you bait is 18" off the bottom and you can increase it if you need to.

Bass...hmmm; I did try it in a harbour last year for a short while but had no luck but I will be trying it again...can't keep the sandsmelt alive though! Can't see any reason why it wouldn't work at slackish tide but a strong tide flow would just destroy the presentation.

Hope this helps but please ask if you need anything else.

cheers

marc

**Davy Holt** · 10-03-2008, 19:58

Hiya,

Originally Posted by anotherbarrelMrHooper

Can any pike/zander anglers explain to me how to rig up a paternoster sunk float.
What advantages do they have over conventional float rigs?.

Allows you to float fish in deep water and keep your bait at a specific depth. The distance off the bottom is set by the length of line between the weight & your trace

Do you use them with live or dead baits?.

yes it works well with both

Would they work for bass?

Probably, they are a predator like many other fish.

**anotherbarrelMrHooper** · 11-03-2008, 19:04

Great explainations there, i was able to picture how it works.
When i ordered one i was hopeing it would have instructions on the back.
Thanks alot Marc, Dave

**marc portch** · 11-03-2008, 23:36

the method is one of my favourites for piking but the efficiency can depend a lot on the weight of the lead.

keep it as small as you can to cast where you want to get to and keep the bait in position.

for small roach i often use just 3/4oz.

the reason for this is that the pike might drop the bait if it feels too much resistance...this happens a lot at times!

i try and use it over a clean bottom as the lead will slide easily, thus reducing the resistance.

if it is weedy or snaggy, there is another method but it is hard to explain....if you need it let me know and I will explain it to you.

marc

ps...are there many pike in Portugal ???

**anotherbarrelMrHooper** · 12-03-2008, 08:15

I would like to suspend a live bait (ballywhoo) off a reef drop in the mentawas from a boat i will be staying on,
Is it possiable to suspend a bait mid water?
Is it a question of balancing weight against float?
I dont want to use a conventional float rigs as i would have to set a huge depth.
Or do you think freelining would be better.
If the bait dies I dont want it sinking to the bottom.
I would like to fish it away from the boat.
I would be after wahoo and spanish mackys.
Where I live there are a few fresh water ponds and resiviors we dont have pike.
We did have large fresh water big mouth bass,(great sport).
But what with are eastern european friends camping out at weekends, They net, spear fish and have 5 rods out,plus a hot summer 2 years ago killed 50 tonnes of fish theres not alot left.
Still you can have great fun in august catching mackerel on the fly or light float tackle.