Stick Floats
Stick floats are available in various patterns , whatever pattern you choose they all have one thing in common :- They are not suitable for still waters there are many more much better suited to that type of venue.
Stick floats are a valuable asset for both pleasure and match anglers. For the match angler it is a valuable weapon in his arsenal, for they can out perform more modern methods given the right conditions it is swift and deadly and can add those extra pounds that separates the winner from the rest of the field.
For the pleasure angler its pure joy giving tight control and instant feel when contacting their quarry, for some reason I have found the use of a stick float one of the most satisfying ways of fishing, but be warned its not for the --- put the rod on the rest and wait for a bite angler, it does require constant activity to achieve good results .
So what is a stick float !!! a stick float is a balance of two different materials usually distributed 1/3 buoyant at the top and 2/3 dense at the bottom, the balance of these is critical and a good one should sit in the water at an angle before any shot are added.
Many different materials are now being used to achieve the balance required, beware of cheap imitations the softer material used for the stem do not balance the float correctly, buy good ones they
are little more expensive but the rewards far outweigh the additional cost.--------
Attaching Stick Floats :-
Use double rubber method, normal rubber ring over the top of the float and thin silicon tube for the bottom
Pops Tip :- The bottom rubber should protrude 3/16 of an inch past the end of the float, it reduces line tangle,another option is to use a silicone float adapter instead of the bottom rubber, Put the first shot straight underneath either of these.
Windy Conditions
The prevailing wind affects the way we put shot on our floats , the following methods I believe
will work best. Regular evenly spaced shot pattern, check your rig to keep a tight line
From behind or no wind :-
Is just the same as 1 above
Down stream wind :-
Not the ideal float for this condition.
Pops Tip :- To give some control put a No. 6 shot 12 inches above your float and clean your line with a pad containing washing up liquid.
(normally you would not sink your line)
Facing into the wind --
1 shot directly under the float - 1 shot 18 inches from the hook and the remaining shot strung together above the hook shot.
The size of each shot will vary depending the size and buoyancy of your float, the speed flow and the depth you are fishing at .Allow 1 shot for every 2 Ft. approx. water depth + 1 more for the tail end shot.
Fish standing up if possible
Keep the rod tip pointing at your float
Introduce a few samples of your hook bait upstream before every cast
Strike at any change in float behaviour
Search your swim:-
Begin fishing close in at a depth of 3 to 4 feet
Increase depth in stages until maximum depth is reached
Repeat this pattern casting further out until the maximum comfortable distance has been reached
If contact with the fish is lost,keep searching varying - type of bait - depth - distance - speed (checking your rig at varying intervals).
Pops Tip :- Look for snags or obstructions to the natural flow,check your rig to clear the obstruction and release your line when clear so that your bait falls behind or to either side of it , fish often prefer to shelter from the main force of the flow.
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