Back to top      Back to index page
 
 

Pole Floats

As alluded to in a previous section dealing with poles, methods utilizing these items of tackle are most often the first choice of the competitive bank (match) angler. This truism can be traced to several key facts: pole fishing affords the angler both enhanced sensitivity and a greater degree of control with respect to his or her terminal tackle and, in part due to its inherent simplicity, pole fishing can also a very fast / efficient method. The simplicity, and subsequent effectiveness, of pole angling can be traced to the fact that each rig utilized is comprised of the same three basic components - a float (bobber), lead shot and hook, all of which are attached to a suitable length of line that is, in turn, attached to the tip of the pole. The rig is then simply baited and then either lowered (if a long pole is used) or cast (if a short pole or ‘whip’ is used) in to the swim. However, while this approach may at first seem simple, the ‘devil’, as they say, ‘is in the details’. In the case of pole fishing, the choice of pole float incorporated into the rig is the single most important factor governing its effectiveness. What follows is a discussion of which types and sizes of pole floats work best when key variables, such as depth water, strength of flow and surface drag or ‘skim’ due to wind, are taken into account. Choosing a Pole Float

Essentially every pole float is comprised of three principle components - a tip, body and stem. Unfortunately, it is easy to become confused when trying to select a suitable pole float, as differences among these components (in terms of their size, shape and material of construction) render floats possessing certain combinations of these variables the most suitable choice for specific conditions of depth and flow. However, by developing an understanding of which features of a pole float make it best suited for certain general applications, this ‘mystery’ can be easily solved. In more detail, the behavioral characteristics of any pole float can be traced to several figures of merit: body shape, float weight or loading, stem material and length, as well tip material and size: Body Shape

Pole floats generally posses one of three common body shapes, ‘body up’, ‘body down’ or ‘football’ / ‘slim’:

Body up shape: These floats have the widest part of the body towards the top. They are most suitable for use on flowing water because their body shape will not allow the float to ‘ride up’ out of the water (and thereby affect bite detection) when they are slowed down or ‘held back’. This allows the angler to run the bait through the swim at a slower pace than the flow and still maintain a perfect presentation. Such a design is not suited to use on still water though, as ‘body up’ floats are more effected by wind induced ‘skim’ than ‘body down’ designs.

Examples:
 

Flo (thick cane tip, carbon stem)
Turbo (cane tip, wire stem)

Body down shape: These floats have a characteristic ‘pear’ or ‘tear drop’ shape, with the float body tapering from being narrow near the tip to the widest part at the base. These patterns are traditionally used for fishing still waters, such as lakes and ponds, or very slow flowing waters and often have fairly long stems to provide extra stability in windy conditions. The fact that the body tapers gently into the tip means that they are often easy to ‘read’ as the rig’s final dropper shots settle (see below for a standard rig diagram).

Examples:
 

Lake (thin cane tip, long carbon stem)
Carp 2 (cane tip, carbon stem)
Choppa (thick cane tip, short carbon stem)

Football / Slim shapes: These categories cover floats that have a symmetrically shaped body with the widest part in the middle. They are used on still or very slow flowing waters, particularly when the fish are shy biting. Due to the fact that they have particularly hydrodynamic shapes (more so for the slimmer floats) they are typically easier for the fish to pull under than either ‘body up’ or ‘body down’ patterns. However, they are typically a little less stable than comparable ‘body down’ designs (which have a lower center of gravity), so should only be utilized when there is little or no ‘skim’ over the water’s surface.

Examples:
 

Pinkie (thin cane tip, carbon stem)
Carp 3 (thick cane tip, short glass fiber stem)
Squatt (cane tip, carbon stem)

Summary of float body shapes and applications
 

Body shape	Use
Body up
Rivers or other flowing water
Body down
Still waters, slow rivers
Slim / Football
Still waters, slow rivers – most often under calm conditions

Tip size and material

Float tips are typically constructed of either nylon or cane. For a similar tip size, nylon is more sensitive than cane – this fact is due to the fact that nylon is far denser than cane and, therefore, less buoyant. Thus, nylon tipped floats are typically employed during cold water conditions, when the fish are more tentative, or in conjunction with smaller (lighter) baits. Since cane tips are more buoyant than nylon ones, they are typically used in conjunction with either with bigger (heavier) baits or when fishing flowing water as they have less of a propensity to ‘drag under’. Remember also that the bigger the tip volume is, the more buoyant the tip will be. Thus, a long thick nylon tip will have a similar buoyancy, or sensitivity, to that of a slimmer, shorter cane tip. However, this is something of a moot point as floats are typically shotted so that only a uniform half-inch or so of the tip is exposed. Summary of float tip materials and applications
 

Float tip material	Float tip material
Nylon
Shy biting fish, small baits
Cane
Bigger baits, rivers

Stem materials

In addition to the amount of shot a pole float carries (see below), its stability is also related to the position of its ‘balance point’ or center of gravity. Typically, if the float’s center of gravity sits below the depth of the surface ‘skim’ (induced by wind over the water’s surface) it will remain stable. Thus, for a similar weight loading, floats with either longer or denser stems will be more stable than floats possessing shorter or less dense stems. The catch 22, of course, is that using a long stemmed float in shallow and/or very clear water can often spook wary fish.

Carbon is probably the most popular material used for constructing float stems. It is strong and durable, plus it is dense enough to provide stability under most conditions. However, in strong winds or when fishing strongly flowing water, a more stable (dense) wire stemmed pattern is preferred. Such floats offer a greater degree of stability at the cost of a little sensitivity. However, this sensitivity difference is in many cases negligible, meaning that a wire stemmed float is often a (personal) first choice. This fact is discussed in more detail immediately below. Although of a somewhat lower density than either carbon or wire, glass fiber is very tough and so is often used in specialized, robust float designs intended for use around snags.

Interestingly, since wire is denser (and therefore heavier per unit volume) than carbon, floats possessing wire stems typically have bodies that are slightly larger in volume than carbon stemmed models of the same weight loading. This is why wire stemmed pole floats are generally considered to be both more stable and less sensitive than comparable carbon stemmed models. However, this difference is not as great as one may think, as wire stems are often much narrower than carbon stems and usually add no more than 0.05 - 0.10 grams to the overall weight of a pole float. A good way to think about this is that, with all things being equal, carbon stemmed floats of a 'size up' are of similar sensitivity to comparable wire stemmed patterns. For example, I would consider a 4 x 16 'Lake' (carbon stem) and a 4 x 14 'Dandi' (wire stem) to be comparable in terms of their sensitivities. One conclusion that can be drawn from these facts is that, with the possible exception of very light floats, the benefits afforded (in terms of increased stability) by wire stemmed models generally out weigh their perceived sensitivity 'costs'. I will be putting this theory to the test during the 2003 season by using the Tubertini 'Delta' for much of my still and slow water fishing. The 'Delta' has a wire stem, medium cane tip and a mid sized 'football' shaped body - see the end of this article for a picture.
  Summary of float stem materials and applications
 

Float stem material	Uses
Glass fiber
Fishing near snags
Carbon
General all round use
Wire
Rivers, windy conditions

Float size / weight loading

With all other factors being equal, ‘size’ or weight loading is, perhaps, the biggest single factor affecting both a pole float’s sensitivity and stability. Why is this? Simply stated, the lighter the float, the more sensitive it will be. This is due to the fact that light floats (in conjunction with their associated lower shot loadings) have less inertia, and so are easier to ‘get moving’ than heavier floats. Result - they are easier to pull under by a biting fish. However, even though heavier floats are relatively less sensitive than their lighter counterparts, they are inherently more stable as their increased weight loadings better counteract conditions of increased depth, greater flow and increased surface ‘skim’ or 'drag'. This fact can be explained through reference to a standard pole float shotting diagram:

As can be seen above, a pole float is typically weighted down by either a single large shot (olivettte), or group of split shots, equal to ~ 90% or more of the float’s total weight loading. This bulk is most often set at between 6 – 18 inches from the hook, with several small ‘dropper’ or ‘tell tale’ shot spread out between the bulk and the hook. If one ponders the mechanics of this set up, the resulting tight line between the float and the bulk shot can be considered to be a flexible extension to the pole float’s stem. Thus, for greater separations between the float and bulk (as one would typically employ in deeper waters), a greater weight of bulk shot is required to maintain the integrity of this extended ‘pseudo stem'. Clearly, the longer this pseudo stem, along with a necessary and concomitant increased in the bulk shot weight, the more stable the rig will be.

In summary, even though the angler should always try to ‘get away with’ the lightest float possible, the depth of the water being fished and the strength of flow encountered most often dictate the choice of float size. Shown below are some general rules of thumb with regard to which float sizes work best under certain generic conditions. However, recall that under windy conditions float loading should be increased in order to counteract increased surface ‘skim’ or ‘drag’.
  Still waters
 

Depth	Float ‘size’ (weight loading)
less than 2ft
0.05g to 0.3g
2ft to 4ft
0.2g to 0.5g
4ft to 6ft
0.5g to 1g
6ft to 12ft
0.75g to 2g
12ft to 20ft
1.5g to 4g

Small Rivers (up to 6ft deep)
 

Flow condition	Float ‘size’ (weight loading)
Slow flow
0.4g to 1g
Medium flow
0.5g to 1.5g
Fast flow
1g to 4g

Large Rivers (over 6ft deep)
 

Flow condition	Float ‘size’ (weight loading)
Slow flow
0.5g to 2g
Medium flow
1g to 4g
Fast flow
3g to 10g

Float loading scales

Often times, pole floats will be marked with a weight loading quoted in styl weights, e.g. ‘4 x 14’. What follows is a conversion table showing the relationship between, styls, grams and more familiar numbered shot.
  *

Styl	Grams
Approx. Shot equivalent
4 x 10
0.1
1 x #6 or 2 x #8
4 x 12
0.2
2 x #6 or 4 x #8
4 x 14
0.3
3 x #6 or 6 x #8
4 x 16
0.5
5 x #6 or 10 x #8
4 x 18
0.75
7 x #6  + 1 x #8
4 x 20
1.0
5 x #4 or 10 x #6

*A useful conversion factor to remember is that 0.1 g = 1 x  #6 shot. Recall also that 2 x #8 shot = 1 x #6 shot, 2 x #6 shot = 1 x #4 shot etc. Also, one other thing to remember is that the stated weights for floats are somewhat approximate, due to the natural variability in the materials used to make the float and to the weight of the line, hook and bait to be used.
  Personal selections

What follows is a list of the pole floats I most often use when fishing my local venues, along with a discussion of why the particular floats chosen are suited to the job:
 
  : : : : ::

Location

Typical FP or park district pond or lake

Time of year

Early or late season, cold water conditions

Depth

~3 – 5+ ft

Target species

Bluegill and shiner

Method

Long pole

Float choices

4 x 14 (+) Colmic Strike, or 0.4 g (+) Drennan Lake

Discussion :  During cold water conditions bite detection can be very difficult – pan fish often times just suck in a bait without moving off, causing little or no movement of the float. Thus, one must use the most sensitive of floats during such conditions. The ‘Strike’ is the most sensitive float in my arsenal  - it has a long, slim nylon tip and a slim body. It also has a longer than normal stem, meaning it has a little more stability than you might expect for such a design. I fish the rig with small baits (1 or 2 spikes, or small worm segment) an inch or so off bottom (so it does not drag under) and strike at any ‘dip’ or ‘dink’ of the tip. Often times, it pays to periodically lift and drop the rig, as a fish is often attached (yes, they can be that shy!). If the wind gets up and ‘skim’ becomes an issue I switch to the ‘Lake’. This float has a body down design and a long stem, so is inherently more stable than the ‘Strike’ for a similar weight loading. Although the ‘Lake’ has a cane tip, it remains very sensitive because the cane used is very thin. I generally either fish the rig just touching the bottom or an inch or two over depth (to keep the bait still when there is ‘skim’) and periodically ‘jig’ the bait by lifting and dropping the pole tip by a foot or so. The long stem and narrow shoulder of the float allows for the final drop of the bait to be ‘read’ through the strike zone – striking when the tip ‘holds up’ or ‘checks’ sideways often results in a hooked fish.
 
  : : : : ::

Location

Typical FP or park district pond or lake

Time of year

Early or late season, cold water conditions

Depth

~2 – 4 ft

Target species

Bluegill and shiner

Method

Short pole to hand (‘whip’)

Float choices

4 x 14 Drennan Pinkie or 0.25 g Drennan Quad

Discussion:  Similar considerations to those discussed with regard to fishing the long pole during the cooler months must also be taken into account when fishing the short pole or ‘whip’ during cold weather. Therefore, both the ‘Pinkie’ and ‘Quad’ floats used possess very fine / sensitive tips to aid in bite detection but, due to the fact they are used at closer range in shallower water, have relatively shorter stems and lower weight loadings. Specifically, the ‘Pinkie’ has a very fine cane tip and the ‘Quad’ a set of different colored nylon tips. Because the floats have relatively low weight loadings, a slightly wider ‘football’ type body shapes can be used without unduly sacrificing sensitivity – this design feature also increases the stability of the floats, which can be important when fishing a ‘whip’ rig. The only other major difference between the two floats is that the ‘Quad’ has a wire stem, while the ‘Pinkie’ has a carbon stem. Thus, the ‘Quad’ is a better choice when there is a noticeable ‘skim’ on the water.  Note: a whip rig should only be used when the fish are feeding well and the angler is attracting at least a bite a cast – when this is not the case the long pole rigs detailed above offer a significantly better degree of control and, inevitably, attract more bites from the fish present.
 
  : : : : ::

Location

Typical FP or park district pond or lake

Time of year

Mid season, mild or warm water conditions

Depth

~3 – 5+ ft

Target species

Bluegill and shiner

Method

Long pole

Float choices

4 x 14 (+) Preston Chianti, 4 x 14 (+) Tubertini Dandi or 4 x 14 (+) Tubertini Delta

Discussion:  When the water begins to warm (typically above 50 –55 ^oF), the fish become more active and easier to catch. Thus, it is not necessary to utilize floats with fine, ultra-sensitive tips, as bites are usually pretty positive. In fact, it is to the anglers advantage to use floats with tips that are slightly more buoyant than those used during the cooler months. In this way, slightly bigger baits may be used without having to re-shot the float and ‘line bites’ (due to fish knocking the line) become less noticeable. Similar tactics to those discussed above for cold water are used, except the ‘Chianti’ is used in place of the ‘Strike’ and the  ‘Dandi’ in place of the ‘Lake’. In each case, these new floats have similar shapes and lengths to their cold-water analogues, but have slightly thicker cane tips and (for the ‘Dandi’) a wire stem. The ‘Delta’ is an excellent all around model that has a medium cane tip, a ‘football’ shape and a wire stem.
 
  : : : : ::

Location

Typical FP or park district pond or lake

Time of year

Mid season, mild or warm water conditions

Depth

~2 – 4 ft

Target species

Bluegill and shiner

Method

Short pole to hand (‘whip’)

Float choices

4 x 14 Drennan Pinkie, 4 x 14 Drennan Caster or 4 x 12 Tubertini Delta

Discussion:  Fishing the whip during the late spring, summer and early fall can result in some spectacular catches of bluegill from the margins. It is not uncommon for US match anglers to bank in excess of 500 fish during a four hour period! Bites from ‘gils during this time are very positive, so, in addition to the standard ‘Pinkie’, slightly thicker cane tipped floats such as the ‘Caster’ and ‘Delta’ should be used preferentially. The ‘Caster’ is especially effective when fishing shallow water, as it has a very short body and stem, while the ‘Delta’s’ wire stem makes it the first choice when there is a noticeable surface ‘skim’. Additionally, the ‘Delta’ will settle quickly when cast due to the fact that it’s wire stem gives it a low center of gravity.
 
  : : : : ::

Location

Typical FP or park district pond or lake

Time of year

Mid season, mild or warm water conditions

Depth

~2 – 4 ft (shallow water)

Target species

Carp and catfish

Method

Long pole

Float choices

4 x 14 Drennan Choppa, 4 x 14 Preston PB 4

Discussion:  Fishing the shallows for larger species during the summer months can be both highly exciting and extremely nerve wracking, as fish often give there location away by nudging the float, clouding up the water as they feed, and then taking off at speed once hooked. Clearly, pole floats used in water as little as 18 inches deep must have short stems, while they must also have reasonably thick cane tips that are, in turn, capable of supporting / not being dragged under by large baits. For a bunch of maggots, one or two grains of corn, or several pieces of chopped worm the ‘Choppa’ is ideal, while the biggest of baits – 2 or 3 grains of corn, a bunch of chopped worms or a pinch of dough bait are best fished under a ‘PB 4’. Both floats have short carbon stems and stout cane tips, although the tip on the PB 4 is noticeably thicker than that of the ‘Choppa’. Typically for big fish rigs, the bait is fished either at dead depth or up to a foot or so over depth in order to maintain a static presentation (the more ‘skim’ or drift, the more over depth the rig must be fished).
 
 
  : : : : ::

Location

Typical FP or park district pond or lake

Time of year

Mid season, mild or warm water conditions

Depth

~3 – 5+ ft

Target species

Carp and catfish

Method

Long pole

Float choices

4 x 16 Drennan Carp 2, 4 x 16 Drennan Choppa (or MAP Carptek series1), 4 x 16 Preston PB 4 (or MAP Carptek series 2)

Discussion:  A similar approach to that detailed above for shallow water big fish angling is followed, although larger floats are generally employed because of the greater depths fished. While ‘Choppa’ and 'PB 4’ floats are often used, similar models with longer stems are often a better choice for such deep water swims or when surface ‘skim’ becomes a problem. Thus, longer stem ‘body down’ patterns like the ‘Carp 2’ are often used to fish a bunch of maggots or a single grain of corn, while the ‘Carptek 1’ and ‘Carptek 2’patterns may be substituted for the ‘Choppa’ and 'PB 4’patterns, respectively, when fishing increasingly larger baits at depths of 5 feet or more.
  Selected Floats
 

Colmic ‘Strike’	Preston ‘Chianti’	Tubertini ‘Dandi’	Tubertini ‘Delta’	Preston ‘PB4’	MAP ‘Carptek 1’	MAP ‘Carptek 2’