Selecting the correct pole float

Walk into any tackle shop and you will be bombarded by an array of different brightly coloured pole floats with many shapes. colours and sizes. How do you select the right pole float for which situation?

Here is a basic guide...

Most pole floats are split into 3 different designs; the teardrop, reverse teardrop and slimline. Each one is designed for a different purpose.

Teardrop

 

 This design of float is primarily for still waters were there is a little bit of 'chop' on the water. The dumpy design gives stability and is especially good when fishing a bulk shot down the line.

Reverse Teardrop

The shoulder on this design makes it perfect for rivers. It gives stability in the flow and aids holding back to make the bait rise up in the water. It can be used both on the drop and bulk shotted. A carbon stem aids 'on the drop' shotting as it sinks slower, while a wire stem gives more stability for bulk shotted rigs in heavy flow.

Slimline

Slimline floats are designed for catching on the drop because of their even fall through the water. These floats are usually made from  carbon stem as this aids the slow fall of the bait through the water. They are mainly used on still waters but can also be used on canals/rivers with little or no flow.

Although these are the main designs of floats you will see on the shelf, recently there has been a surge of specialist carp floats available. These floats are usually very buoyant with quite thick tips to avoid being pulled under by large, heavy baits. Some are designed for fishing near the surface while others are very rugged for fishing tight to marginal snags which could damage most traditional pole floats.

Hope you find this useful! Please feel free to comment!
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