Sliding float: equipment, mounting features for long casting

Often, fishing conditions require a sliding float to be mounted on the tackle. If the depth of the reservoir exceeds the length of the rod or you need to accurately cast the bait, then you can’t do without a sliding float. Therefore, such tackle is mounted in a completely different way. The float slides along the line until its movement is limited by the stop. The article is designed to acquaint readers with how to fix the float and how to independently make elements of such equipment.

Purpose and types of sliding floats

The use of a sliding float is justified in such cases:

1. The depth of the reservoir in the place of fishing is equal to or exceeds the length of the rod, therefore, when casting tackle with a blind mount, the float may catch on the rod blank.
2. The presence of a sliding float allows you to catch hard-to-reach places. Since the float is within the load at the moment of casting the gear, it is possible to carry out not only long-range, but also accurate casts.
3. If you intend to catch predatory fish, especially live bait. Since the line passes freely through the float, the bait bait has enough free space to move in the water column. In case of a bite, it is possible to make a quick and effective cutting.

Depending on the expected fishing conditions, you can choose the following types of sliding floats:

• With one access ring, which is located at the end of the keel of the float. As a rule, this type of float is more suitable for fishing in still water. Each float has a special mount, which allows you to quickly change the type of float on the shore of the reservoir. These types of floats are distinguished by a streamlined shape, and sometimes have stabilizers that increase the casting range. The floats have a special design, with a variable load capacity, which allows you to adjust the casting distance.
• With two access rings located both on the keel and in the upper part of the float. A similar option for attaching the float is intended for catching fish in the current, since the braking of the fishing line does not sink the float, especially if the float has a thin body. In ponds with stagnant water, when the line is pulled under the action of surface tension, the impression of a cautious bite of fish is created. The upper attachment point of the float experiences maximum loads in the process of hooking fish, therefore it is considered a weak point. In addition, to replace such a float, you will have to spend a lot of precious time.
• With a central axial tube through which the fishing line passes freely. As a rule, such floats are more used when catching predatory fish. These types of floats are distinguished by the presence of a voluminous body and have a high carrying capacity, which allows them to withstand the weight of the live bait. To replace this type of float, you will need to disassemble the entire tackle.

The first type of floats has a unique design, because it has a long antenna and a spindle-shaped body closer to the bottom. As a rule, the antenna has sufficient buoyancy and sensitivity. Therefore, such a float is perfect for catching carp. The other two types of floats are characterized by the fact that they can have a very diverse appearance.

Tackle structure

As a rule, tackle for long casting is equipped with a sliding float and an inertial-free reel, which ensures long and hassle-free casting. In addition, the presence of throughput rings does not allow the line to stick to the blank of the rod.

Tackle designed for fishing on a sliding float consists of the following elements:

• Main line of suitable diameter.
• A shock leader representing a piece of fishing line up to 7 meters long and having a thickness slightly greater than the thickness of the main fishing line by 0,03 mm. The shock leader prevents breakage of gear when casting heavy rigs.
• The upper stopper, which is installed on the shock leader and acts as a retainer, as well as a bait movement limiter.
• Beads of large external size, compared with the stopper. This is necessary if the float eye is larger than the stopper.
• Sliding float of the desired design.
• The lower stopper, which is necessary in order to prevent deformation of the sinker and the keel of the float.
• Loads (weights).
• A swivel that prevents the line from twisting in the event of an empty winding of the tackle.
• Leash with a hook of the required length.

As a rule, such an arrangement of rigging elements is considered classic and unchanged, although the shock leader can be excluded from this scheme. It will not be required if a weight is used plus the weight of a float weighing no more than 8 grams, which eliminates the possibility of a break in the gear.

Attention anglers! In order for the float to easily slide along the main line, you will need a weight of at least 1 gram.

The Bologna rod, when it is required to fish in still water, is equipped with a whole set of pellets, which are distributed according to a certain pattern on the main line. When it is necessary to catch predatory fish on live bait, the bait must be quickly delivered into the water column, which is why sliding sinkers are used. In addition, such a scheme allows you to easily cast the float to the desired distance.

Fastening and stoppers

Attaching floats with an axial tube and two mounting rings comes down to the fact that the fishing line is simply taken and threaded through them. If the float has one lower mount, then their installation is somewhat more complicated. In this case, there are two options for attaching such a float:

1. The option boils down to the fact that the fishing line is threaded through the ring. This option has one significant drawback: if you need to replace the float, you will have to disassemble the entire equipment.
2. This option includes a special adapter with a special sleeve through which the fishing line passes. Such an adapter is connected to a float using a silicone tube or using a carabiner and a swivel. This allows you to quickly replace the float with a spare, other capacity.

In this case, it is necessary to mount the float in such a way that the fishing line moves freely in the adapter sleeve. The stopper serves as a limiter for the movement of the float, which regulates the depth of immersion of the gear. If you need to move the stopper, you will have to make some effort.

There are two ways to limit the movement of the float along the line:

• Use a commercially available silicone stopper.
• Tie a special knot on the fishing line itself.

In the first case, the silicone retainer is installed above the float, but then the rod must have access rings, the diameter of which is greater than the size of the stopper, otherwise the stopper will not be able to freely pass through them. The second stopper is installed below the float and it is intended to ensure that the keel of the float does not hit the sinker, which can damage the keel of the float. Therefore, it is better to install a silicone limiter below the float.

In the second case, when a special assembly is used, it is better to form such a limiter above the float. Such a stopper can easily and freely pass through the guide rings. To prevent the float eye from slipping through this knot, a safety bead is attached in front of the knot.

There are several ways to knit a stop knot:

1. To tie a knot, you need to take a piece of monofilament fishing line, up to 15 cm long and fold it in half, and then put it on the main fishing line. After that, holding one end of the loop, the second end wraps around the fishing line and the second end of the loop several times. After making about 8 turns, the end of the loop is threaded into the eye formed by the fold. Before tightening, the knot must be moistened, otherwise it will not work reliably. After tightening, the excess ends are cut off.

   

   The first way to knit a stop knot

2. The second method is somewhat similar to the first, but has little difference. The same piece of fishing line is taken and a loop is formed in such a way that a piece of fishing line can be pulled inside it. After that, one end of the loop is taken and wrapped inside the loop around the fishing line and the other end of the loop about 5 times. After that, the knot is wetted and tightened, and the excess ends are cut off.
3. The same piece of fishing line, folded in half, wraps around the main line three times, after which the same segment is simply tied with a triple knot. Before tightening, the knot must be moistened, and then cut off the excess fishing line.

Which of the options for forming the stop knot is the best can be determined in practice. As a rule, each angler has his own stop knots, tested by time.

It is important to remember! As a rule, stop knots have to be knitted on the pond, but some anglers form them in advance on sections of cambric, for example. Upon arrival at the reservoir, the cambric with a knot is put on a fishing line, after which the cambric is removed and the knot is tied.

Unfortunately, the formation of such knots in advance requires that there is no equipment on the fishing line. The knots are not complicated, so they can be easily connected at any time. This can be a lot faster than making them at home and then struggling to fix them.

DIY sliding float

A sliding float is not difficult to make on your own at home. As a rule, most anglers practice making do-it-yourself equipment. This will not only not require large expenditures, but also very interesting. In addition, the float can be made from simple and affordable materials, sometimes unnecessary on the farm.

For example, you can use Styrofoam or a cork from a wine bottle. You will also need a plastic tube of a small diameter. As a last resort, you can use an empty refill from a ballpoint pen.

They operate as follows:

• A through hole for the tube is drilled in the body of the float.
• A metal pin is inserted into the drilled hole and clamped in a drill, after which the body of the float is given the desired shape.
• After that, a plastic tube is inserted into the drilled hole. In this case, the lower part of the tube should look out by 4 cm, and the upper one by 5 cm. The tube can be fixed with waterproof glue.
• The lower part does not require additional coloring, but on the upper part of the tube you can put a foam ball painted in any noticeable color.
• It is better to cover the body of the float with a colorless waterproof varnish or paint it in a neutral (white or dark) color.

A similar float design is designed to pass the fishing line through a plastic tube. If you plan to make a float that is attached differently, then the steps are as follows:

• Drilling and shaping the float is done in an identical way.
• Instead of a hollow plastic tube, a bamboo skewer is inserted into the drilled hole. In this case, the length of the keel can also be no more than 4 cm, and the size of the antenna can be no more than 7 cm.
• To make the float antenna bright and far visible, you can fix a Chinese plastic float on it or paint it with bright waterproof paints.
• A wire ring or other type of fastening is attached to the end of the keel.

If you take copper or brass wire, up to 4 mm thick, you can load the float. For this, a piece of wire, about 6 cm long, is suitable. One side must be flattened and a hole drilled with a diameter of not more than 1 mm. The desired hole is made in the lower part of the float body and this piece of wire is attached.

A float with two attachment points must have an antenna no longer than 7 cm, and the upper eye must be immediately above the body of the float.

A sliding float is needed when it is necessary to make a long cast or the depth at the fishing point is greater than the length of the rod. In this case, you can choose the type of float for any fishing conditions. Similar floats are sold in fishing shops, although they are easy to make yourself.

In conclusion

Fishing is a rather interesting hobby, because you can not only relax, but also catch fish, delighting the rest of the family. To catch a fish, you have to work hard, picking up the right gear with the right elements. Some fishing conditions require the use of different design elements of equipment, and especially a float. The use of a sliding float allows you to solve a number of complex problems, otherwise you will not be able to catch the fish. Not every body of water is suitable for fishing with conventional float gear, since long casts are required, and a sliding float allows you to do this.