What you must do at all times is to keep the line behind the float and as straight as possible to the rod tip. This will ensure that it travels downstream in a smooth and natural way.Snape wrote:I have never been a trotter so excuse my ignorance but why does it matter whether the bait is ahead or behind the float as surely the fish know nothing of their relative positions so why should it make a difference? Is it just that at the moment of holding back the bait rises tantalisingly?
If you allow the line to snake down the river and get ahead of the float, it will pull the float off line and across the flow. You won’t get too many bites as it offers such an unnatural presentation of the bait. In fact as you state, every so often it is very good idea to stop the line altogether. This will make the bait flutter up in the water, due to the flow, in an enticing manner. This will also help correct the line.