The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

I have some old Pike floats and have not used this type before, so do you use them top and bottom
like a Perch bob or do you use them bottom end only like a sigar float.
Fred

Personally I prefer to use bobbers top and bottom, but there are no rules to say you couldn’t fish them bottom
only in deeper water Fred...

Thanks Rob, that makes sense. I'll give then ago this week end.

I think it would depend upon whether using live or dead fish.

Line really needs to be on the surface/floating to prevent tangles when using lives. Like 'trotting' rather than with a 'waggler'.

Olly wrote: ↑Thu Nov 08, 2018 5:51 pm I think it would depend upon whether using live or dead fish.

Line really needs to be on the surface/floating to prevent tangles when using lives. Like 'trotting' rather than with a 'waggler'.

Good point, although on many waters in Kent livebaiting is frowned upon, mostly on the basis of curbing people from moving fish from water to water and possibly transmitting diseases.

Providing the live bait is caught from the same water on the same day - there should be no problems - unless the Society, Club or fishery owner bans it outright.

There is a perception it is cruel - however we do stick hooks in fish's mouths. That's fishing after all.

I tend to fish them waggler style with a sliding stop knot, allows me to fish deep water, mind you I do use a short rod.

JW

With the bigger bodied floats, I’ve always been concerned that the tension on the tip and the stem when playing a big fish (if only), would snap the float, when fishing top and bottom, so I’ve tended to fish them bottom end only.

Pike floats with an internal tube just slide up & down the line! There are a variety of pike floats to suit all situations, rather like normal float fishing.