THE
STICK FLOAT
Possibly the second most
popular float in the natural anglers
tackle box. The stick float came on the
angling scene ' late in the late 50s
superseding all running water floats,
initially for the perfect presentation of
also then new, caster bait. This float and
bait swept all before it, the development
and innovation came from possibly the
greatest angling family in history, Benny
and Kevin Ashurst.
This float soon became
popular all over the country, with
reports of matches being won every week.
What made this float so exceptional was
the way the float worked, giving the
most delicate and natural bait
presentation available.
Over depth shotted like
shirt buttons down the line, held back
and released, as it travelled down the
swim, the bait would rise when held and
sink when released, accounting for fish
catches like never before.
The sick float has come a
long way since those early days, but the
concept and the method still lives on.
These days the body shapes are
aerodynamic, with new materials for
weight and stability.
The sick float come in many
clothing. And conditions variably
dictate the type to use, down stream
winds,
up stream winds, close in work long
range fishing, and shotting also play an
important part in its presentation.
The basic stick float is
made up of a careful blend of balsa
and cane, the cane at the bottom
supplies the weight for casting and
balance, and the balsa at the top
supplies the buoyancy and the bite
indication.
The balance of the two materials must be
spot on; otherwise the float may not
work properly. Rising out of the water
when held or sinking when released Stick
floats are always fished with rubbers
attached to the top, middle and bottom,
they are shotted down in the water with
just a small dot, and with combinations
of shots the float becomes a very
delicate tool.
Casting is simple; side
casting is best for laying out the shots
for presentation, allowing the bait to
fall slowly. Over head casting is a bit
more tricky, but can be achieved with
practice, also best for distance fishing
(i.e. middle or far bank Expect bite's
to occur on the drop and running
through, dragging the shots along the
bottom can be a deadly method, so can
holding back and slowing up the bait.
Placing shots above the
float can reduce a bow in the line with
windy conditions, greasing the line
above the float makes mending the line
very neat without moving the line of
float out of position.
THE
STICK FLOAT
SHOTTING THE STICK
Stick
floats
