2.2 FLOAT FISHING

A simple but very effective method of fishing from our holiday cottage on the R Thurne, Norfolk Broads.

Lift method

It is well worth while to perfect the �lift method� as this can be very accurate and achieve large bags of tench and bream.

Trotting

The flowing water of the River Thurne and other rivers in the Norfolk Broads system will help you catch rudd, roach and chub.

Float choice essentials

Waggler � make sure that it is straight, anything bent, or that will bend with use is not good.

Alloy stem stick � a must for trotting as it helps stability.

Paint / varnish � Too much of either might make for a great display in the fishing tackle shop but will reduce its performance.

Colour � very important but remember that bright colours will not contrast well on certain water reflection.  Think about different varieties of sunshine reflection and water colour and what colours will stand out.

Body thickness � when using a large bait you will need a larger float body.  But when using a light bait you will want a thin tipped float.

Adaptor � Well worth buying and using.  It make changing floats so much quicker, creates less frustration and less damage during the day to your fishing line.

Silicone sleeve � they are cheap, don�t damage the fishing line and make fishing float change easy and accurate.

Wind conditions � use a full bodied Waggler rather than a thin tipped one when it gets windy.

Luminous / chemical tip � great for night fishing.

Size does matter � when its windy use a long one as this will help to ensure that you can sink the fishing line.

Common sense � its not rocket science but you need to look at your tackle box before you go fishing, then consider the likely conditions and write a list of what you want.  Don�t buy floats that look great in a fishing tackle display case, we all have those in our tackle boxes and they don�t catch fish!

STILL WATER FLOAT

Best bait � Casters, sweet corn, maggots

You might think that our self catering holiday cottage on the River Thurne at Martham, Norfolk Broads, one mile upstream from Potter Heigham would never have still water fishing conditions.  Well we do twice a day for approximately an hour each time.

During �slack water� at high and low tide we enjoy not only still water fishing conditions but also some of the best fishing of the day!  If you can only fish for one hour during the day fish during slack water at night.  Our self catering holiday cottage is on the headwaters of the River Thurne and therefore does not get effected by salt water coming up river, but the movement of the tide does effect it and depending on rainfall the river can change from a steady flow to still water for an hour.

When fishing for rudd and roach you can use a fine tipped antenna float.  Its body form will let you use shot to lower the tip in the water to just the smallest dot which will then have the great benefit of detecting the smallest bite known to man.  When setting up your fishing rig you must plumb the bottom.  This will let you ensure that you present the bait just on the bottom after the rig and shot have settled in the still water.  Be ready to adjust the float depth because in certain conditions the rudd and bream will take the bait on the drop rather than when it gets to the bottom.

As with all fishing you must remain flexible because the rudd and roach may change their feeding depth at any time.  So when the fishing bites get slower think about what the fish might be doing and change you depth.  It costs just a small amount of effort to make these changes but it will be well worth while.

Don�t disturb the rudd and roach shoal, always cast beyond where you think they are and sink the line with your rod tip.  When using a new line drip some washing up soap on the drum of line as this will also help remove the chemicals that have been used when making the line.  Floating line will be moved by wind, wavelets, floating debris, etc this will cause phantom bites and move your bait away from the shoal.

LEDGERING FLOAT

Best bait � lob worm, casters, sweet corn, maggots, trout pellet paste

The bream and tench on the river Thurne outside our self catering holiday accommodation usually feed on the bottom.  So you want to be sure that your bait is kept on the bottom as the river flow will otherwise bring it off the bottom as it streams past.

Fishing weight choice essentials

Weight / size - depending on the water flow speed you will need to have a variety of bombs in your fishing tackle box.

Locking shot � to be avoided as they pinch the fishing line and create a weakness, this is what causes the majority of line breakages and lost fish!

Drennan ring � the recommended method to attach weight.

TROTTING FLOAT

Best baits � maggots, castors, sweet corn, bread

Our self catering holiday cottage on the banks of the river Thurne is a great location for trotting as the water flow speed is just right except during slack water.

Alloy stem stick � a must for trotting as it helps stability.  The super buoyant float is being dragged along by the water flow of the River Thurne with the shot and hook bait behind it, however when you create some drag on the fishing line the set up will change.  This will result in the reverse taking place, ie the hook bait will be moving downstream first with the alloy stem stick behind it.  The hook bait will therefore present in a far better way as it will wiggle in the current.  Another benefit of this method is that you will make a more effective strike.

Due to the nature of the river Thurne, its bottom, depth, water flow speed and width this is a very effective method.

Place your shot at even intervals between the alloy steam stick and the hook presenting your bait.

RIVER WAGGLER FLOAT

Best bait � sweet corn, casters, maggots, stewed hemp/wheat

The Roach and Rudd found in the River Thurne, Norfolk Broads outside our self catering holiday accommodation can be caught using this method.

The straight large bodied waggler float can be set up with the line floating on the surface when there is little or no wind and the rig below the float being over depth.

LIFT METHOD FLOAT

Best bait � sweet corn, bread, paste, casters, maggots

As I said earlier the Bream and Tench on the River Thurne and the Norfolk Broads can be caught using the �lift method� during the slack water period which creates still water conditions for an hour twice a day outside our self catering holiday home.

Set your fishing rig up applying all of your weight near the fishing hook and use a small peacock Waggler float.  What you must imagine when fishing is how the fish feeds in the conditions that are occurring at the time.  When a fish feeds on the bottom it will be feeding nose down unless it is a barbell or similar fish which has it mouth opening parallel to the bottom.  So when a Bream or Tench are bottom fishing its nose and mouth will be pointed downwards.  Then when it takes the bait the fishing weights that are all near the hook will be lifted upwards and the float will also lift as it is not being held down by any weight.  It is essential that you strike immediately when using this method.

As we all know Bream and Tench do not read fishing manuals so the float can react in other ways as well.

3. NIGHT FISHING

Best baits � lob worm, maggots, trout pellet paste

We recommend night fishing on the river Thurne and the Norfolk Broads, particularly during slack water as was mentioned earlier.

We have installed an external power point outside our self catering holiday cottage on the River Thurne on the Norfolk Broads, however please remember that water and electricity make for dangerous situations and we don�t want anyone electrocuted!

Luminous / chemical tip fishing float � great for night fishing, a must have in your tackle box, ensure that you set your fishing float so that all of the tip can be seen or your eyes will become very tired and you will miss bites.

If you use lob worms at night you will catch eels!  So ensure that your fishing rig incorporates a swivel buckle as that will stop your fishing line being twisted and make it easier for you to take one rig off quickly and replace it with another.