Floater fishing

[Ginger9991]

So, Its time to come out of the closet....i have never really floater fished for Carp in the 30 years i have fished. BUT...im now fishing a lake where its going to be a strong method through the summer and i can also fish a little during the day/early evening SO:

Any advice or tips?....what dog biscuits should i be using now a days? Should i be using something else.... Should i be rubbing my vaceline down my line instead of my.....lips!

I will be buying a 4th rod for this, Any recommendations on a good floater set up? 12ft/10ft.....

THANKS ALL!

[newmarket]

Hi Ginge , I love floater fishing .

my set up ?

1.75lb tc Avon type or Barbel rod , one of my old smaller bait runner type reels 8lb Drennan double strength line and a size 10 hook with a fake chum mixer banded to it . Simple . 
Dampen your doggy biscuits and add some oil of some kind . As well as adding attraction to the freebies the oil makes a slick on the surface helping you to see your hook bait .

[salokcinnodrog]

My floater rod is a 1.75lb Specialist rod, which swaps between roach, bream, tench and chub as well as carp.

Years ago I bought a Shimano aero 4000 gtm fighting drag with spare spool, but one of the current 4/5000 size baitrunner reels should be perfect.

 

Obviously match your line to the lake, some places 8lb is fine, others it is 10-15lb plus. The 8lb I use for feeder fishing for the 'little' species as well, including floater fishing for chub.

Hooklink wise I tend to water knot an arms width of hooklink, Berkeley Trilene xl below 10lb, Preston Reflo above 10lb, usually to a size 10. Hooks, Drennan Super Specialist, Solar 101's work for me.

 

As for dog biscuits, a box of Bakers Complete gives a mix of shapes and sizes and a very nice hook bait with the big square ones.

 

If close enough freeline, if further out a decent controller, and wait for it, but a Nash Tackle recommendation (I feel faint and ill saying that, 😆) the Bolt Machine.

[greekskii]

Floater fishing is always a viable method. Plenty documented in the carp world of winter floater captures. 
 

bit of freelined crust in a nash bread bomb is always worth a go 

[Whitstable Jack]

On 26/03/2022 at 14:52, salokcinnodrog said:

My floater rod is a 1.75lb Specialist rod, which swaps between roach, bream, tench and chub as well as carp.

Years ago I bought a Shimano aero 4000 gtm fighting drag with spare spool, but one of the current 4/5000 size baitrunner reels should be perfect.

 

Obviously match your line to the lake, some places 8lb is fine, others it is 10-15lb plus. The 8lb I use for feeder fishing for the 'little' species as well, including floater fishing for chub.

Hooklink wise I tend to water knot an arms width of hooklink, Berkeley Trilene xl below 10lb, Preston Reflo above 10lb, usually to a size 10. Hooks, Drennan Super Specialist, Solar 101's work for me.

 

As for dog biscuits, a box of Bakers Complete gives a mix of shapes and sizes and a very nice hook bait with the big square ones.

 

If close enough freeline, if further out a decent controller, and wait for it, but a Nash Tackle recommendation (I feel faint and ill saying that, 😆) the Bolt Machine.

Hello mate,

I am getting my surface gear ready, and did a search on the forum for 'Bakers Dog biscuit', and this came up.

I got back into carp fishing last year after around 25 years, and surface fishing was my biggest pleasure for sure.

Bakers meaty meals was the best surface bait I used, and I want to explore this further this year.

They smell very meaty, are soft, and two different sizes.

However, they don't stay afloat for long, especially with a size 6 or 8 hooked into them.

I'm working on ideas around putting some cork inside for the hookers only. Do you have any feedback on how best to mount them, still nick them on the hook, with a hair rig?

I've tried pretty much all of the plastic offerings from ESP, Nash etc, and the carp just 'know' the difference because of how the hookbait sits and moves.

I also think one of the attractions to the carp is actually how low the Bakers sit on the surface, so maybe it is just more of a case of accepting you get about 20 minutes max as a hook bait.

I am also looking at putting a pink topper on, only to help with visibility when fishing further out.

Many thanks in advance.

[yonny]

10 hours ago, Whitstable Jack said:

I've tried pretty much all of the plastic offerings from ESP, Nash etc, and the carp just 'know' the difference because of how the hookbait sits and moves.

Use a brown pop up and trim it down until it sits perfectly. You're dead right that overly buoyant hook baits will be ignored if they sit too high in the surface film. By trimming down a pop up you can get it just right and the hook bait will last for hours. I certainly wouldn't be inserting cork into mixers as they'll still fall apart pretty quickly.

As long as the hook bait sits ok in the surface film and you have them feeding properly, you'll get bites.

👍

 

[salokcinnodrog]

12 hours ago, Whitstable Jack said:

Hello mate,

I am getting my surface gear ready, and did a search on the forum for 'Bakers Dog biscuit', and this came up.

I got back into carp fishing last year after around 25 years, and surface fishing was my biggest pleasure for sure.

Bakers meaty meals was the best surface bait I used, and I want to explore this further this year.

They smell very meaty, are soft, and two different sizes.

However, they don't stay afloat for long, especially with a size 6 or 8 hooked into them.

I'm working on ideas around putting some cork inside for the hookers only. Do you have any feedback on how best to mount them, still nick them on the hook, with a hair rig?

I've tried pretty much all of the plastic offerings from ESP, Nash etc, and the carp just 'know' the difference because of how the hookbait sits and moves.

I also think one of the attractions to the carp is actually how low the Bakers sit on the surface, so maybe it is just more of a case of accepting you get about 20 minutes max as a hook bait.

I am also looking at putting a pink topper on, only to help with visibility when fishing further out.

Many thanks in advance.

I used to use Bakers Complete rather than the meaty chunks, but use the larger chunks in the pack as hookbaits.

When I set up my hooklink, I tie a Uni-knot loop at the end, and put a hookbait in there, then knotless knot the hook on, usually a size 10, Drennan Super Specialist or size 12 Korda Longshank.

You can use a brown 'neutral' or lower flavour pop-up or the meaty chunks, although the meaty chunks can be slightly different sizes, whereas a pop-up is more consistent. Even a low flavoured or 'food source' coloured pop-up will work if you need to be able to see it.

I know some people don't like the knotless knot for floater fishing, but it does work for me, for both carp and chub fishing on the surface. The hooklink is usually Berkley XL in 7lb or Preston Reflo in 10lb for me.

Another alternative is feeding bread, on Bromeswell we'd feed whole, ¼ or ½ slices and wrap a size 6 in that.

Great fun to get them feeding right under your feet with only the hookbait touching the surface, but a half slice can be cast out quite a way. Reeling in if the bread comes off the hook is leaving freebies behind...

[kevtaylor]

8 hours ago, yonny said:

Use a brown pop up and trim it down until it sits perfectly. You're dead right that overly buoyant hook baits will be ignored if they sit too high in the surface film. By trimming down a pop up you can get it just right and the hook bait will last for hours. I certainly wouldn't be inserting cork into mixers as they'll still fall apart pretty quickly.

As long as the hook bait sits ok in the surface film and you have them feeding properly, you'll get bites.

👍

 

Dynamite Fresh Fish Pop-Ups look a very good match to dog biscuits, cut it into a square and it's pretty bang on.  The fake weighted floaters are good as the hook sits on top, out of the water, you can literally bounce them over weed to get it into little clearings where the fish are sitting.

Zigs work whilst feeding mixers over the top, especially if they are rejecting the hookbait.

My mate is a good floater angler, he uses the dog biscuits on the hook, but prepares them in a bottle of water and adds pressure to get them to take in the water to what he finds the right amount, I've only seen this once so can't remember the fine details - but that really works well.

[jh92]

Slow sinking bread is always a good shout 👍 can recommend the bread bombs from nash when fishing with bread 👍

With mixers we used to soak them in hot water until they start expanding, drain it then lay out in the sun for an hour. They shrink and toughen a little 👌

[framey]

2 hours ago, jh92 said:

Slow sinking bread is always a good shout 👍 can recommend the bread bombs from nash when fishing with bread 👍

With mixers we used to soak them in hot water until they start expanding, drain it then lay out in the sun for an hour. They shrink and toughen a little 👌

Kind of the same 

Mixers in a bag

pour on hot water 

blow air in and shake 

tip hot water out 

leave for 10 mins and they go rubbery 

when blowing air in can then add colour and or flavours 

 

think that came from Chris ball

[salokcinnodrog]

2 hours ago, jh92 said:

Slow sinking bread is always a good shout 👍 can recommend the bread bombs from nash when fishing with bread 👍

With mixers we used to soak them in hot water until they start expanding, drain it then lay out in the sun for an hour. They shrink and toughen a little 👌

Brian Skoyles used to put some in a bag and add a dash of flavour, pour in around half a cup boiling water, shake and leave them until it was all absorbed. They would be slightly tougher but soft enough to put a baiting needle through.

 

2 minutes ago, framey said:

Kind of the same 

Mixers in a bag

pour on hot water 

blow air in and shake 

tip hot water out 

leave for 10 mins and they go rubbery 

when blowing air in can then add colour and or flavours 

 

think that came from Chris ball

You replied as I was posting

[framey]

Skoyles that’s it 

 

well done nick

[salokcinnodrog]

11 hours ago, framey said:

Skoyles that’s it 

 

well done nick

Thanks, but I think Chris Ball (RIP) did it as your version.

I do recall Brian Skoyles version in a Nutrabaits Bait catalogue magazine.

On 19/03/2024 at 20:48, Whitstable Jack said:

I've tried pretty much all of the plastic offerings from ESP, Nash etc, and the carp just 'know' the difference because of how the hookbait sits and moves.

I never got on with fake plastic mixers, or even cork balls. For some reason I found using 'fake' surface baits they were rejected even faster than mixers or bread, and that's fast enough, even if I had fed constantly.

 

As much as feeding constantly frequently works, for some reason sometimes, the carp will pick up one surface bait then bog off and disappear. Difficult to gauge, but in this case, hookbait first, hopefully catch one while you have the chance. Normally though you can feed, get them feeding and then get them to take the hookbait.

 

This is one of my favourite 20's, a ghostie mix common. I'd gotten the fish feeding on surface baits around the lily pads behind me, but the ghostie would only take a bait touching the leaves. It took ages to work a hookbait in between the two lily beds and get it to take. It looked like the largest fish in the group as well.

I'd say it was stalking, so not bad for an afternoon fishing at Hintlesham when the other anglers were all behind the artillery waiting and blanking.

[Whitstable Jack]

13 hours ago, salokcinnodrog said:

Thanks, but I think Chris Ball (RIP) did it as your version.

I do recall Brian Skoyles version in a Nutrabaits Bait catalogue magazine.

I never got on with fake plastic mixers, or even cork balls. For some reason I found using 'fake' surface baits they were rejected even faster than mixers or bread, and that's fast enough, even if I had fed constantly.

 

As much as feeding constantly frequently works, for some reason sometimes, the carp will pick up one surface bait then bog off and disappear. Difficult to gauge, but in this case, hookbait first, hopefully catch one while you have the chance. Normally though you can feed, get them feeding and then get them to take the hookbait.

 

This is one of my favourite 20's, a ghostie mix common. I'd gotten the fish feeding on surface baits around the lily pads behind me, but the ghostie would only take a bait touching the leaves. It took ages to work a hookbait in between the two lily beds and get it to take. It looked like the largest fish in the group as well.

I'd say it was stalking, so not bad for an afternoon fishing at Hintlesham when the other anglers were all behind the artillery waiting and blanking.

Hi Nick,

Thank you for the great feedback on how you fish with floaters, I will be trying the uni-knot loop and your other tips. Also any mention of Chris Ball and Brian Skoyles is always welcome - have you seen their book on surface fishing? It is superb.

I know the norm is to get them feeding, then cast out. I've done it the other way round a fair bit - cast out, then work the swim up.

That said, just like fishing on the bottom, sometimes a single hookbait can work.

That ghostie common is a cracker Nick, and great work getting the bigger fish from the pack.

[Whitstable Jack]

On 20/03/2024 at 15:48, kevtaylor said:

Dynamite Fresh Fish Pop-Ups look a very good match to dog biscuits, cut it into a square and it's pretty bang on.  The fake weighted floaters are good as the hook sits on top, out of the water, you can literally bounce them over weed to get it into little clearings where the fish are sitting.

Zigs work whilst feeding mixers over the top, especially if they are rejecting the hookbait.

My mate is a good floater angler, he uses the dog biscuits on the hook, but prepares them in a bottle of water and adds pressure to get them to take in the water to what he finds the right amount, I've only seen this once so can't remember the fine details - but that really works well.

Interesting about the pressure being added, was this just to the hookers or freebies too?

[kevtaylor]

10 hours ago, Whitstable Jack said:

Interesting about the pressure being added, was this just to the hookers or freebies too?

Just the hook baits 👍

Edited March 22 by kevtaylor

[salokcinnodrog]

17 hours ago, Whitstable Jack said:

Hi Nick,

Thank you for the great feedback on how you fish with floaters, I will be trying the uni-knot loop and your other tips. Also any mention of Chris Ball and Brian Skoyles is always welcome - have you seen their book on surface fishing? It is superb.

I know the norm is to get them feeding, then cast out. I've done it the other way round a fair bit - cast out, then work the swim up.

That said, just like fishing on the bottom, sometimes a single hookbait can work.

That ghostie common is a cracker Nick, and great work getting the bigger fish from the pack.

Floater fishing was quite possibly my 'goto' method on a couple of waters, Taverham Mills and Earith.

Taverham is where I really 'formulated' my floater fishing style. It was handy for an evening after finishing work in the summer, and also for days to catch extra fish if I was fishing for a couple of nights.

The daytime probably from lunchtime on I'd be walking round firing Chum mixers in, looking for fish. Good floater spots were not always in the main lake; Bruce and I used to find plenty of floater takers in some of the small channels and bays.

At Earith we did try the same, but for some reason that was a lot harder in Virginia pool although George's, Pats and Reeds lake produced a few.

Weird considering that Reeds and Virginia were joined. In fact the only Earith fish I caught twice I caught once in Virginia on a bottom bait, and once in Reeds on a dog biscuit.

I ignored floater fishing for too long at Brackens, but eventually twigged (too late) that in summer it was worth taking a floater rod with the rest of my gear.

It's something that I will be doing I think on most waters, always take some floating baits and tackle. Rods on alarms at night, and if you can get them on floaters during the day...