Pike and zander anglers, as well as sea anglers, often rely on durable and versatile floats made from clear plastic, black and brass machining, with a plastic inner tube and rubber sleeve. These floats, like the Premier Floats Loaded Flighted Oval Pike Float, are crafted from high-quality balsa, making them ideal for rough or fading light conditions and for fishing at a distance. The float’s design allows anglers to easily adjust their bait’s depth, a crucial aspect in successful fishing.
Premier Floats Loaded Flighted Oval Pike Float (ebay ad)
When using these floats, it’s important to monitor their behavior in the water. If a float cocks but sits low and drifts, it indicates that the stop knot is set under-depth. Adjusting the stop knot can quickly change the bait’s depth, offering more flexibility in fishing strategies. Besides traditional methods, float ledgering combines the best of float fishing and ledgering, providing clear bite indication and effective bait presentation.
Pike fishing often involves a variety of baits and techniques. Spinning for pike can be effective with artificial baits like spoons, minnows, and plugs. For those preferring live bait, small fish such as roach, dace, perch, gudgeon, and rudd are suitable. When it comes to fishing lines, a minimum of 15lb mono is recommended for pike, or heavier braid for more strength.
A unique approach involves using drifter or rover floats for deadbait fishing. This method can cover more water and has been successful in catching large pike. For those crafting their own floats, materials like polystyrene, cork, quills, reeds, plastic tubes, drinking straws, aluminium, and balsa wood can be used. The Pike Float sets typically include a float, lead-free weight, handmade rig, wire, trebles, swivel, float stopper, and beads.
For more tips and tricks on pike fishing, enthusiasts often turn to experts like Steve, who shares his knowledge in the predator section of Angling Times. His insights can be invaluable in landing that elusive pike.
