BEGINNERS - Basic Float Fishing / Waggler Setup

This is the setup we at fishing fools started out with, as it's the image that most beginners thinks of when starting out isn't it ? you know the basic rod, with a float attached and a hook on the end - the advantage is that it involves very little equipment, and can be setup and casting in a matter of minutes (well maybe hours if it's your first time) which is very important for us at fishing fools, as time spent fiddling on the bank with complicated setups is wasted fishing time !

The one thing that is suprising about float fishing is how exciting it is ! you've got this visual indication of a possible bite, that depending on how you have your line setup can be going every few minutes ! and it's so unknown...you could have a minnow on the end, or a nice fat carp / bream - every time you cast your wondering...what will be on the hook this time !

The key thing with float fishing is the shotting pattern that is used between the hook and the float - depending on how you place the shot down the line, will determine how the bait travels through the different fish layers from surface to lake/river bottom.

Now as beginners, the most important thing for us is to catch a fish - any fish will do, else your going to get bored very fast ! With that in mind, two of the setups used by fishingfools are shown below - of those the drop patten was the most fun to start with, as fish were biting within a few seconds of casting !

Float Fishing on the Drop

The idea we fishingfools think is behind this shotting pattern is to present the bait in the top layer of the water - this results in targetting fish feeding at this upper level and should have them taking the bait as it drops slowly through the water towards the bottom - If anything, so far it has proved to be a certain method of catching the really small fish - great at first ! but by the time you've unhooked the 20th one in an hour...slightly repetitive  

The shot layout used is 70-80% of the required float cocking weight at point A (you can find out this weight by reading the side of your float) - then a very light shot at point C, something around a single #6 - this is to stop tangles from the hook getting snagged on the shot further up. There are then two layouts we've tried for point B. 

Float Fishing on the Bottom

So once you've had enough of catching the fish at the top layer, another option is to move the bulk of the shot further down towards the hook.  This has the affect of bypassing the fish at the top level, and placing the bait at mid - bottom levels.  Again the shot layout uses 70-80% of the required float cocking weight at point A - then a very light shot at point C, something around a single #6. The bulk of the shot is then placed lower down at point B in a tight cluster (We suppose you could also space them out between point B & C - not tried that yet though  )

Summary

While we at the fishing fools have had much success using the float patterns above - the best way to learn is through trial and error, and finding a style that works for you.  So read up on techniques, then get down your local fishing lake and give it a go ! there's no magic formula (that we've found yet) so trial and error are the way forward.

And in the words of the best advice we've had "Impatient fisherman catch fish" - so - if you've not had a bite in some time, then don't be afraid to change your setup, your shot pattern, your location ! just a small change in the placing of your shot can work miracles...

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