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I used a heavy Browning Spinning rod for floater fishing for years, it had the backbone, able to chuck big lures and had the guts to handle big carp. I never really found a floater rod that was quite right

Here it is enjoy

Have you had a look at the snugpak range ? they now do a thermal waterproof jacket admittedly it’s a bit on the expensive side though

I always used to take my floater rod and dog biscuits to Brackens when I fished there in the summer as there was always the chance of catching a fish from the surface. I'm still using my barbel rod, guess that's around 1.5lb from memory, and is good with 12 or 15lb line and a standard controller or small interceptor.

This is the problem, my mate bought a new 2.75lb floater rod and said it bent double and couldn't do anything with the fish. I'm thinking go straight in with a standard 3lb rod, like you say some of the floats weigh a bit and a big chuck might be needed on occasion, whilst it's usually close range. I want to give it a good go next year, the adjustable zigs caught me a few bonus fish this year. Embarrassed at how often I've gone fishing with no surface gear or baits tbh a zig can get you out of a hole but not as good as it would be if you had the bait to drift over them or the surface rod obvs. Lazy boy!

For smaller waters I use a cut down match rod that I snapped a foot off the end 😞 great rod for carp low doubles even use a spinner rod, On the over end of the scale Iv used a big Nash controller had to be over 3oz could have been 4 oz ? with a 3lb carp rod on linnar man that float could fly 😳 …sadly I remember my mate playing a good fish on Oxlease in the bay at the back of the island using a floater rod it was bent double folded right over just couldn’t do anything with it and snapped him… he actually threw the rod into into the air landing it in a blackberry bush.. I got ripped to pieces trying to get it out 🙄…happy days 😄

I've got the Fox version already but the insert had vanished last time out, had to repair with silicon and shrink tube as you do, if only these things came with component spares. They say the biggest one gives best bolt action but it feels weird on a light set-up I must admit, I like the 30g version, shame they didn't have any of the 50g. My mates got the 2.75 ESP floater rod but says it's too soft, I'm looking at the Fox Horizon XT in 3lb, maybe 2.75.

Those Interceptors and the Nash version are a good piece of kit; I've used the small ones and had plenty of fish on them on floaters. Not used the larger ones though as not needed the range. Also used a normal controller on the river for chub when floater fishing in a slightly faster current when you need to keep dog biscuit in the right line

Not been fishing this weekend but what did I learn? I wanted to go fishing, I thought about fishing, I watched fishing videos and I got bored and bought some bits of tackle for fishing 😂

I love the rain for fishing, but it is a bit heavy! I set up Tuesday at the base of the bank, with my front rests just touching the water. I've had to resort to the pod, moving them back to the bank, and even that's now wet. I also had to move the bivvy back up to the top of the slope, in the pouring rain. That wasn't fun, putting everything away, unpegging bivvy, moving it complete, pulling groundsheet up and clipping that in and quickly putting bedchair and bags inside.