davemacsween
Registered
Having searched the Internet for information on the basic way to put together a Pole Rig for stillwaters,commercials and rivers and the jargon that is used in the floats,line shot,i have put together my own guide.The amount of posts on Maggotdrowning asking for explanations of pole floats,shotting,line and what hook to use come up quite regularly.So to have it all in one place seemed a good idea.
POLE FLOATS
These come in all shapes and sizes but basically you only need 6 types to cover most of your fishing.
1. Dibber
A short float thats ideal when presenting a bait in shallow water tight to the near or far bank of a commercial lake or canal. Do not use in a river. The fat tip makes the dibber highly visible so they are popular with anglers struggling to see a fine-tipped float. Best fished slightly overdepth with a split shot touching the bottom to anchor the float. Not great in windy conditions as the short stem doesnt stabilise the float.
2. Body-Up
The fat body and distinct shoulders make this a very buoyant float that is suitable for fishing rivers, it rides the current well and allows the angler to hold back the float against the flow to slow down the speed the hookbait goes through the swim.
Make sure the bulk of the weight added to the rig is bunched in the last third of the line to bomb the hookbait to the bottom of the river and stop it getting lifted away by the rivers flow.
3. Round
A popular and versatile float. In the smaller sizes (up to 1gram) it is best used in stillwaters, especially if there is a wind blowing.
The wide, buoyant body and the long stem helps keep the float stable in the water in rough conditions. In the larger sizes (1.5 gram and above) this float can also be used in slow flowing rivers.
4. Pear
An elongated pear-shaped body gives this float some stability in canals and commercial fisheries. The slender shape helps make this a responsive float that efficiently registers bites from shy-biting species like roach, skimmer bream and crucians.
Good for use with maggots, casters and pinkie hookbaits especially at this time of year when bites become more subtle.
5. Body-Down
A more pronounced shape than the pear with a fatter body for greater buoyancy and stability in windy conditions. Best used in swims at least six feet deep and the bulk of the shotting should be placed in the bottom third of the rig.
6. Shallow
A short, small bodied float with a fat cane tip for buoyancy and visibility. Made for presenting hookbaits in the mid-to-upper layers of commercial lakes.
STEMS
The thin stem poking out of the base of the floats body is called the stem. The weight and buoyancy of the stem effects the behaviour of the float and dictates when they should be used
1. Cane
Similar to nylon - very light and strong. Use for shallow rigs but not in strong winds when the float will get blown around a lot.
2. Wire
Great when fishing in windy conditions. A long, wire stem helps keep the float stable while it also helps cock the float quickly in the water and reduces the amount of shot needed.
3. Carbon
Similar properties to wire stems but they are lighter, this can help if you want to fish a very sensitive rig.
4. Glass
Very light and strong. Best for up-in-the-water rigs when you want the bait to sink very slowly.
BRISTLES
The tip inserted into a pole float is called the bristle. The material each bristle is made from performs a different task, as this guide explains
1. Carbon
Very sensitive because they sink, only the buoyant body keeps the tip above the water. Brittle and easily broken. Great when using small baits for shy-biting species but floats with a carbon tip are difficult to shot up, you must be precise. A thin smear of Vaseline rubbed on the tip can make it slightly more buoyant.
2. Cane
Buoyant, and strong. They are ideal for using with heavier baits, such as meat and corn, as the buoyancy helps to hold up the bait.
The strength is useful when fishing tight to lilies, weed or rushes for big carp, if the float is dragged through the vegetation the tip wont get broken. Thicker tip allows for greater visibility.
3. Nylon
More durable than a carbon stem, slightly buoyant and therefore easier to shot up and use. Available in a variety of thicknesses, the fatter the nylon bristle the more buoyant they are.
That basically covers pole floats.There are thousands of designs,shapes,colours and manufacturers and no hard and fast rules as to how too fish them.These are just the basic types you would use to start you catching.
MAINLINE AND HOOK LENGTH
Monofilament line comes in all diameters,colours and strengths.The important thing to do is Balance the mainline and hook length.You would not for instance use a mainline of 10lb with a 1lb hook length as you would probably "crack off" on the strike/lift.This is a ROUGH GUIDE to line diameters and APPROXIMATE breaking strains.Each maufacturer will have their own and can be found on their relevant websites.
Line Diameter/ Approx Breaking Strain
0.06mm 12oz
0.07mm 1lb 2oz
0.08mm 1lb 12oz
0.09mm 2lb
0.10mm 2lb 6oz
0.11mm 2lb 14oz
0.12mm 3lb 4oz
0.14mm 4lb 12oz
0.16mm 5lb 10oz
0.18mm 6lb 8oz
0.20mm 7lb 12oz
0.22mm 9lb
0.24mm 10lb 4oz
0.26mm 11lb 6oz
SHOTTING GUIDE
This to most people is the most confusing part.Some floats come with numbers on the side i.e
4X12 this is the STYL weight if shotted with styls.Styl weights have been used for decades by some f the world's top anglers. Even today, they are perfect for making a slow falling on the drop shotting, or fine adjustments to delicate rigs.
The markings maybe like this 0.2g is the weight in GRAMMES needed to shot the float.THE RULE OF THUMB IS THAT 0.1g IS EQUAL TO 1 FOOT OF DEPTH SO 0.5g WOULD BE FOR A FLOAT TO BE FISHED IN 5 FEET OF WATER.
The markings may just say 5no 10s this is the weight in SHOT
The most common are the first two.
This is a ROUGH GUIDE to the most common sizes.
float size/weight/shot
3x10 0.10g 2x no 10
4x10 0.15g 3x no 9
4x12 0.2g 5x no10
4x14 0.4g 6x no8
4x16 0.5g 8x no8
4x18 0.75g 3x no3
4x20 1g 4x no3
5x20 1.25g 5x no3
6x20 1.5g 6 no3
As i have said before this is just a rough guide to the weight to shot your floats,trial and error and using them when you are fishing will give you a better idea of what you need to do.
HOOKS
Yet again hook preference is down to the individual and how they fish.We now have a vast array of hooks specifically designed for a certain purpose.We have hooks for maggot,caster,pellet,meat,paste etc...etc..Again it's the BALANCEof the hook to the hookbait.It's no good putting a single maggot on a size 10 hook or trying to put a 8 mm pellet on a size 24.Below is a ROUGH GUIDE to what bait to use on a specific hook size.
Size 26 Bait- joker,bloodworm
Size 24 Bait- joker,bloodworm,squatt
Size 22 Bait- Squatt,bloodworm,pinkie
Size 20 Bait- 2xpinkies,maggot,caster,punched bread,hemp
Size 18 Bait- Maggot,caster,punched bread,redworm,expander pellet,hemp,tares.
Size 16 Bait- 2xmaggot,2xcaster,punched bread,redworm,half a dendrobena,sweetcorn,expander pellet,meat,tares.
Size 14 Bait- Breadflake,3xmaggot,2xsweetcorn,worm(red and dendros),cocktails,expander pellet.
Size 12 Bait- Breadflake,paste,meat,3xsweetcorn,cocktails,pellet.
Size 10 Bait- Paste,meat,bread crust.
This is just a STANDARD list.Some anglers use specific patterns for certain baits and with the advent of banded pellets and mini boilies it is just a case of experimenting on the bank.
I have not mentioned anything about putting the rig together,thats the fun part and only you,through trial and error,and fishing with the rig will know what will work for you.
Most of the information i have borrowed from sources on the 'net including Angling Times,Go-Fishing and some others.I hope this guide helps a few of you out
POLE FLOATS
These come in all shapes and sizes but basically you only need 6 types to cover most of your fishing.
1. Dibber
A short float thats ideal when presenting a bait in shallow water tight to the near or far bank of a commercial lake or canal. Do not use in a river. The fat tip makes the dibber highly visible so they are popular with anglers struggling to see a fine-tipped float. Best fished slightly overdepth with a split shot touching the bottom to anchor the float. Not great in windy conditions as the short stem doesnt stabilise the float.
2. Body-Up
The fat body and distinct shoulders make this a very buoyant float that is suitable for fishing rivers, it rides the current well and allows the angler to hold back the float against the flow to slow down the speed the hookbait goes through the swim.
Make sure the bulk of the weight added to the rig is bunched in the last third of the line to bomb the hookbait to the bottom of the river and stop it getting lifted away by the rivers flow.
3. Round
A popular and versatile float. In the smaller sizes (up to 1gram) it is best used in stillwaters, especially if there is a wind blowing.
The wide, buoyant body and the long stem helps keep the float stable in the water in rough conditions. In the larger sizes (1.5 gram and above) this float can also be used in slow flowing rivers.
4. Pear
An elongated pear-shaped body gives this float some stability in canals and commercial fisheries. The slender shape helps make this a responsive float that efficiently registers bites from shy-biting species like roach, skimmer bream and crucians.
Good for use with maggots, casters and pinkie hookbaits especially at this time of year when bites become more subtle.
5. Body-Down
A more pronounced shape than the pear with a fatter body for greater buoyancy and stability in windy conditions. Best used in swims at least six feet deep and the bulk of the shotting should be placed in the bottom third of the rig.
6. Shallow
A short, small bodied float with a fat cane tip for buoyancy and visibility. Made for presenting hookbaits in the mid-to-upper layers of commercial lakes.
STEMS
The thin stem poking out of the base of the floats body is called the stem. The weight and buoyancy of the stem effects the behaviour of the float and dictates when they should be used
1. Cane
Similar to nylon - very light and strong. Use for shallow rigs but not in strong winds when the float will get blown around a lot.
2. Wire
Great when fishing in windy conditions. A long, wire stem helps keep the float stable while it also helps cock the float quickly in the water and reduces the amount of shot needed.
3. Carbon
Similar properties to wire stems but they are lighter, this can help if you want to fish a very sensitive rig.
4. Glass
Very light and strong. Best for up-in-the-water rigs when you want the bait to sink very slowly.
BRISTLES
The tip inserted into a pole float is called the bristle. The material each bristle is made from performs a different task, as this guide explains
1. Carbon
Very sensitive because they sink, only the buoyant body keeps the tip above the water. Brittle and easily broken. Great when using small baits for shy-biting species but floats with a carbon tip are difficult to shot up, you must be precise. A thin smear of Vaseline rubbed on the tip can make it slightly more buoyant.
2. Cane
Buoyant, and strong. They are ideal for using with heavier baits, such as meat and corn, as the buoyancy helps to hold up the bait.
The strength is useful when fishing tight to lilies, weed or rushes for big carp, if the float is dragged through the vegetation the tip wont get broken. Thicker tip allows for greater visibility.
3. Nylon
More durable than a carbon stem, slightly buoyant and therefore easier to shot up and use. Available in a variety of thicknesses, the fatter the nylon bristle the more buoyant they are.
That basically covers pole floats.There are thousands of designs,shapes,colours and manufacturers and no hard and fast rules as to how too fish them.These are just the basic types you would use to start you catching.
MAINLINE AND HOOK LENGTH
Monofilament line comes in all diameters,colours and strengths.The important thing to do is Balance the mainline and hook length.You would not for instance use a mainline of 10lb with a 1lb hook length as you would probably "crack off" on the strike/lift.This is a ROUGH GUIDE to line diameters and APPROXIMATE breaking strains.Each maufacturer will have their own and can be found on their relevant websites.
Line Diameter/ Approx Breaking Strain
0.06mm 12oz
0.07mm 1lb 2oz
0.08mm 1lb 12oz
0.09mm 2lb
0.10mm 2lb 6oz
0.11mm 2lb 14oz
0.12mm 3lb 4oz
0.14mm 4lb 12oz
0.16mm 5lb 10oz
0.18mm 6lb 8oz
0.20mm 7lb 12oz
0.22mm 9lb
0.24mm 10lb 4oz
0.26mm 11lb 6oz
SHOTTING GUIDE
This to most people is the most confusing part.Some floats come with numbers on the side i.e
4X12 this is the STYL weight if shotted with styls.Styl weights have been used for decades by some f the world's top anglers. Even today, they are perfect for making a slow falling on the drop shotting, or fine adjustments to delicate rigs.
The markings maybe like this 0.2g is the weight in GRAMMES needed to shot the float.THE RULE OF THUMB IS THAT 0.1g IS EQUAL TO 1 FOOT OF DEPTH SO 0.5g WOULD BE FOR A FLOAT TO BE FISHED IN 5 FEET OF WATER.
The markings may just say 5no 10s this is the weight in SHOT
The most common are the first two.
This is a ROUGH GUIDE to the most common sizes.
float size/weight/shot
3x10 0.10g 2x no 10
4x10 0.15g 3x no 9
4x12 0.2g 5x no10
4x14 0.4g 6x no8
4x16 0.5g 8x no8
4x18 0.75g 3x no3
4x20 1g 4x no3
5x20 1.25g 5x no3
6x20 1.5g 6 no3
As i have said before this is just a rough guide to the weight to shot your floats,trial and error and using them when you are fishing will give you a better idea of what you need to do.
HOOKS
Yet again hook preference is down to the individual and how they fish.We now have a vast array of hooks specifically designed for a certain purpose.We have hooks for maggot,caster,pellet,meat,paste etc...etc..Again it's the BALANCEof the hook to the hookbait.It's no good putting a single maggot on a size 10 hook or trying to put a 8 mm pellet on a size 24.Below is a ROUGH GUIDE to what bait to use on a specific hook size.
Size 26 Bait- joker,bloodworm
Size 24 Bait- joker,bloodworm,squatt
Size 22 Bait- Squatt,bloodworm,pinkie
Size 20 Bait- 2xpinkies,maggot,caster,punched bread,hemp
Size 18 Bait- Maggot,caster,punched bread,redworm,expander pellet,hemp,tares.
Size 16 Bait- 2xmaggot,2xcaster,punched bread,redworm,half a dendrobena,sweetcorn,expander pellet,meat,tares.
Size 14 Bait- Breadflake,3xmaggot,2xsweetcorn,worm(red and dendros),cocktails,expander pellet.
Size 12 Bait- Breadflake,paste,meat,3xsweetcorn,cocktails,pellet.
Size 10 Bait- Paste,meat,bread crust.
This is just a STANDARD list.Some anglers use specific patterns for certain baits and with the advent of banded pellets and mini boilies it is just a case of experimenting on the bank.
I have not mentioned anything about putting the rig together,thats the fun part and only you,through trial and error,and fishing with the rig will know what will work for you.
Most of the information i have borrowed from sources on the 'net including Angling Times,Go-Fishing and some others.I hope this guide helps a few of you out