Float fishing for Zander

[Goooey]

Looking at a simple float fishing rig for Zander on the river with livebaits.

Single or double hooks?

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

[Kev Berry]

Looking at a simple float fishing rig for Zander on the river with livebaits.

Single or double hooks?

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

for trotting or fishing in slacks --float, bullet, trace, hooks according to bait size---keep it simple.

or paternoster it if current isn't too strong or you fishing at night---and don't be too bothered if baits are several feet off the bottom, they will come up for them.

[Goooey]

Perfect...pretty much as i was expecting so thanks for that Kev.

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

The only thing I would add would be to use a buoyant mainline such as powerpro and an uptrace if you intend to use live baits.

Cheers Alan

[ADAM-F]

Most pike float rigs will work fine, I would however fish with the smallest float and lead arrangement that you can get away with on the day. On the fenland waters I fish it is rare for me to use a float bigger than a 1oz lead would sink. Even on the bigger rivers and drains 1.5oz lead /floats would be plenty in most normal conditions. Wind and water flow dictates what you can get away with, it can be worth changing if conditions alter thoughout the session.

Experience has taught me to scale down whenever possible as this will help avoid dropped runs and if you can use my preferred 1oz float ledger dropped runs will be very rare.
Ill try and post you a pic of my zed floats later.

[Ian Crook]

Bait fishing is cheating, end of

[Mark Phillips]

Looking at a simple float fishing rig for Zander on the river with livebaits.

Single or double hooks?

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

What ever you do for pike, do the same, just match everything to the conditions, bait size, etc. Just as you would when pike fishing... hooks? Stick to trebles is my conclusion from 35 years of zander fishing

[Goooey]

Thanks lads. Light float set up it is, and will be fishing the early hours of darkness so starlights as well.

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

Most pike float rigs will work fine, I would however fish with the smallest float and lead arrangement that you can get away with on the day. On the fenland waters I fish it is rare for me to use a float bigger than a 1oz lead would sink. Even on the bigger rivers and drains 1.5oz lead /floats would be plenty in most normal conditions. Wind and water flow dictates what you can get away with, it can be worth changing if conditions alter thoughout the session.

Experience has taught me to scale down whenever possible as this will help avoid dropped runs and if you can use my preferred 1oz float ledger dropped runs will be very rare.
Ill try and post you a pic of my zed floats later.

I would generally agree Adam but sunk floats paternosters, a high resistance rig, catch plenty of fish and get the baitrunner reels spinning

Cheers Alan

[ADAM-F]

[quote]
I would generally agree Adam but sunk floats paternosters, a high resistance rig, catch plenty of fish and get the baitrunner reels spinning

Cheers Alan

Yes sunk floats and ledgers will catch plenty of Zander but the opening post asked about a float rig.

From my experience sunk floats or ledgering will result in more dropped or missed runs than a light float rig those will catch though and are probably a much easier method to fish for an inexperienced angler than a balanced float rig.

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

I would generally agree Adam but sunk floats paternosters, a high resistance rig, catch plenty of fish and get the baitrunner reels spinning

Cheers Alan

Yes sunk floats and ledgers will catch plenty of Zander but the opening post asked about a float rig.

From my experience sunk floats or ledgering will result in more dropped or missed runs than a light float rig those will catch though and are probably a much easier method to fish for an inexperienced angler than a balanced float rig.

Its funny how exsperiences differ Adam.
I do think that all this low resistance buisness is over thought for species such as pike, perch and zander and in the right instance, depending on the day, one school of thought will win out over the other.
I have fished very sensitive float set ups for zander and had plenty of dropped takes , they can be bar stewards at times

Cheers Alan

[ADAM-F]

[quote]and in the right instance, depending on the day, one school of thought will win out over the other./quote]

I can't disagree with you there Alan.

Personally I prefer to fish a float, I just love seeing them disappear

[Duncan Holmes]

and in the right instance, depending on the day, one school of thought will win out over the other.

I can't disagree with you there Alan.

Personally I prefer to fish a float, I just love seeing them disappear

[cookiesdaughtersdad]

and in the right instance, depending on the day, one school of thought will win out over the other./quote]

I can't disagree with you there Alan.

Personally I prefer to fish a float, I just love seeing them disappear

I cant disagree with you there Adam

Cheers Alan

[Barbelist]

I do fish the SFP a lot for both pike and zander and find it efficient but....there is something very appealing when the float starts doing the dance of death as a pred picks up the bait and moves off

[Fentiger01]

When I used to day fish the drains using mobile deadbaiting tactics, I fished floats with fairly light drilled bullets and baits on the bottom. I could pretty much tell you whether a Pike or a Zander had picked up the bait, for if the float went under it was a Pike. If the float slid gracefully across the top of the drain, it was usually a Zed.

Definitely differences in how they pick up baits.

[ADAM-F]

Here's my floats if this works.

The round ones have stiff rig tubing glued in and then it's carefully heated and bent. This then allows the float to lean towards u on a tight line enabling the starlight to sit proud and clearly visible.
Floats range from .75 - 1.5oz to sink them. They are fished slightly overdepth and I tend to use the lightest conditions will allow.

If its not flowing too much then i fish open bail arm with the line only just clipped in the line clip I have taped to the rod.

[ADAM-F]

All floats have the tubing that comes with the starlight glued into them. Slightly off set of the middle for the round ones.

The smaller round ones are made from 1.25" foam bait poppers. These grip the stiff rig tubing well and its possible to use a longer tubing and glue only the top one. You can then cut a slit in other poppers and add more floats as desired.

**note for the clumsy - the tubing is not indestructible and care needs to be taken especially when winding down the line.

[Goooey]

Spot on, thanks.

[dave aylett]

Looking at a simple float fishing rig for Zander on the river with livebaits.

Single or double hooks?

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

What ever you do for pike, do the same, just match everything to the conditions, bait size, etc. Just as you would when pike fishing... hooks? Stick to trebles is my conclusion from 35 years of zander fishing

You started Zander fishing at 13/14 years of age?? 'Kin ell..

[Rik W]

Looking at a simple float fishing rig for Zander on the river with livebaits.

Single or double hooks?

Any recommendations?

Thanks.

What ever you do for pike, do the same, just match everything to the conditions, bait size, etc. Just as you would when pike fishing... hooks? Stick to trebles is my conclusion from 35 years of zander fishing

You started Zander fishing at 13/14 years of age?? 'Kin ell..

Mark was very often seen on his 'push bike' at Three Holes

I was only 8 back then and owned a tricycle, b*****d to pedal and could only get as far as Mepal...........