Float Fishing

[clashwhannon dave]

Having never float fished before, can any of you lads give me some guidelnes on how to floatfish for pollock,wrasse,etc regards DAVE.

[Nos4r2]

I'd be interested to know how members fish live prawns under a float for bass too (specifics on type of float, hook size, prawn size and hook length would be good.)

I've not seen float fishing discussed much.

[Fisherman333]

Experiment!

When I first started sea fishing last year - I only fished in two ways - spinning and float-fishing. Having come from freshwater fishing, I used more or less the same methods I normally used for freshwater fishing, except I just increased the depth of the rig and added bigger hooks! Looked a bit strange, using freshwater kit, but doing this around some rocks in my area earnt me many fish over the late summer period - including wrasse, pollack, loads of blennies and even a nice twaite shad.

So my advice is just get a float, get a hook and give any old tactic a bash - as long as the bait is in the water and is floating about in the right place, you'll be doing the right thing! Try in close when high tide's at its highest - amazingly that's when I caught the shad - it jumped out of the water, crashed ontop of my float, pulled it straight under and a split second later I knew it had found the single mussel I had put on as bait and then I saw that joyous sight of the line disappearing quickly under as the fish was taking the hook! I can easily imagine this tactic working for Bass too.

Great days. I really recommend it. No doubt others will be along shortly to suggest large water-filled floats and more complicated rigs, but close in and simple, especially around rocks is a good start. The only other thing I can think of is to say that don't cast too close to rocks as you'll lose a lots of gear when the wash throws your line around the submerged parts and you'll get stuck fast, especially if you squeeze shot on your line to sink the bait...plus take care - its very easy to cast and leave it when you're ledgering, but when you're float-fishing, you'll be moving about a lot more, giving more scope for accidents.

G'luck

[Devonian]

First tie a stopknot to your main line, then a bead, then a float which will take about an ounce weight, then an ounce ball weight, then another bead, then a swivel, then the hook length, then the hook. You adjust the depth of your bait by sliding the stopknot along your mainline.
If you use live prawns , hook them through the 2nd tail joint and if fishing for bass drift it around rocks on a long trace.
I always take my mullet gear with me so if the bass dont show I can go for the mullet which are usually found in the same sorts of places as bass. Float setup for mullet is a lot lighter, about 6 pound or 8 pound main line, tie on a stopknot, small bead, then I usually use a bubble float but you can use a waggler type float if you want, swivel, hook length and small hook about 6 or 8 .... throw some bread in so it sinks and have some floating as well, sit still , and before long the mullet will arrive. Pinch some breadflake round your hook and away you go.

[Nos4r2]

Cheers Devonian.What size/type of hook would you use for what size prawns?

[john54]

Why not ledger and float at the same time. While ledger fishing in a high up position I keep a float rigged up in my bag this consists of a swivel clip tied to 3’ of 20 lb line then a bead, float, drilled bullet, bead, and a rig clip tied on the end. Then I have 8ft of 15lb line a small swivel on one end an a hook on the other and a dropper about 3 ft above the bottom hook. Clip hook length to the float and after casting your ledger out clip your float onto main line and allow it to slide down. I’ve caught a lot of fish this way.

[Devonian]

I like to use a prawn about 2 or 3 inches long ... they seem to be most effective I have found ... I hook em with a size 1/0 or 2/0 hook .... but any hook to suit the size of the prawn really ... and I usually use just those cheap silver ones with the barbs, nothing special. When a bass takes your float will dissapear and stay under ... you have plenty of time really to pick your rod up and strike. More often than not you will hook it in the corner of its mouth.

[Floaty Phil]

My biggest caught on the float was a few years ago, a nice plump bass of just over 6 1/4lb caught on a piece of sandeel that was no longer than 1 1/2" using a size 1 hook at a depth of about 3' and a distance of about 10'.

I found that if I was using live prawn I would take it's hard horn off that is situated between it's feelers. That is it's defense mechanism and hook it about the 3 or 4th segment from the tail. Do not forget to match your hook size to the bait and use lightish hooks so as to minimize any resitence from the hook to make the bait look more natural.

For general float fishing in calm conditions I normally overweight my floats slightly to make them a little bit more sensitive.

As for depth, try to fish to a feature, be it a small patch of weed, a rock etc. Do not neglect close in, or even under the rock platform you are standing, this has worked for me as well. Do not be afraid to come close to the surface, especially in the summer for the mackerel and garfish.

Hope that helps!

[kato]

Clear Bubble Floats are good when you use Live Prawn as bait. Tie your main line direct to the top of the bubble float. Let some water into the float to act as weight and then tie a three foot Fluro Carbon Hook Length (15lb to 20lb) to a size 1/0 or 2/0 Kamasan Hook(Long Shank). Had Bass, Pollack, Gar, Mackerel and Gurnard this way, but not Wrasse. Sand Eel is also a good bait this way.

I think, but please don't quote me that Ian Houlton has some Bubble Floats for sale at Moon Fleet Angling.

I always find Bubble Floats are best when Sun Rise matches High Tide and two hours before.

[Devonian]

I am going to try fishing a livebait under a bubble float off one of my local beaches this year Kato ... I reckon it should work good.