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Funny looks when surface fishing

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:07 pm
by Mark
For at least twenty plus years now it amazes me how many funny looks I get from anglers on the bank when they see me with my float upside down on my line when I am fishing a surface bait for carp (when I need to use a float that is).

This is how I position my float on the line
Drawing 1.JPG
Instead of the normal position
Drawing 2.jpg
If you position the float in the normal position on the line this is how your line looks in the water. Notice the line in the water to the hook.
Drawing 3.jpg
But if you position the float upside down this is how the float looks in the water. Imagine a 3 or 4 foot gap between float tip and hook to see my point even more clearly, there is no line under the water from float base to hook, it's all on the surface.
Drawing 4.jpg
How many of you chaps fish your float this way when surface fishing.

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 2:55 pm
by Julian
That's a brilliant idea Mark.
Not something I've ever tried, or even seen before.
I really enjoy surface fishing but I usually just freeline - and am limited to the distance I can cast with the weight of the bait only, but as I love watching a float this is something I'm really looking forward to - as soon as the weather warms up a bit!

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:14 pm
by The Sweetcorn Kid
That looks spot on Mark, I'll be giving that a go at Waggoners this spring!!!

Oh, and thanks for getting the float in there, very nice!!! :wink:

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:45 pm
by Snape
Never tried it but I will.
I usually have a blob of edam rind squeezed onto the line.

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:51 pm
by The Sweetcorn Kid
If you fished that with a fairly stiff material leaving the float tip and tied to the hook, but kept short, say, 8 inches, it would be possible to have the bait touching the water with no line on the surface. Certainly has got me thinking......

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:54 pm
by Snape
and have a longer quill which stands higher out of the water.

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:56 pm
by The Sweetcorn Kid
Was just thinking that when I pressed submit!! :thumb:

It would be like one of those Gardner suspender floats but less gangly and much much better looking!!! :wink:

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:57 pm
by Tony1964
I have never seen that method Mark, did you invent it or pick it up over the years?

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:00 pm
by Chevin
Or you could just pinch a shot either side of the quill and let it all lay flat on the surface

Re: Funny looks

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 5:10 pm
by Mark
I can't say that I invented it but I have never seen anyone else using it and I have never read about it in a book or magazine.

I first thought of it some 20 odd years ago. Whilst fishing a local pool the carp would take a free lined floating bait without any problem but whenever I needed a float to get a bait out a bit further they would never take it. The idea stemmed from this but I thought it must have been used by someone before that’s why I have never looked at it as my idea.