UK Coarse

Float · Technique journey

Stick float

A river float designed to run a bait down a crease at the pace you choose. Maggot, hemp and a mended line — after 16 June.

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What it is

The stick float is running-water fishing. A buoyant top, a cane or alloy stem, shot down the line, and a bait that trundles the crease as if it belongs there. You hold it back to lift the bait, let it run to search, and mend the bow so the float doesn't drag off line.

It is a 16 June method on rivers, streams and drains in England and Wales. The close season is 15 March to 15 June inclusive. Canals that are still canals are usually fine; if it looks like a river in a straight jacket, check.

When to use it

Rivers for roach, dace, chub, and sometimes barbel on a heavier stick. A crease you can reach with a 13ft rod. Open season only.

When not to

Stillwaters (use a waggler). The close season on rivers. A weir that wants a feeder. Pace you cannot hold with the floats you own.

From the graph

Who it catches, and where

The kit

A starting point, not a shopping list you have to finish. Match the water in front of you.

Rod
13–15ft river float rod. Length is control.
Reel
3000, or a closed-face if that's your generation — both work.
Main line
3–5lb. You need to mend, not winch.
Hooklength
18–30 inches of 0.10–0.14mm. Stronger for chub in snags.
Hook
16–20 to maggot or hemp; 14 for a bit of bread or worm.
Float / feeder
Cane or alloy stick to match the pace. Too light and it drowns; too heavy and it looks like a boat.
Accessories
Shot, plummet, landing net, licence, and a diary note of the close season.

13–15ft float rod, 3–5lb line, stick 4–12no.4, shirt-button shotting, 18–30 inch hooklength of 0.10–0.14mm, size 16–20.

On the peg

Feeding strategy

A few maggots or grains of hemp every run. Feed the line the float will travel, not your feet.

How to set it up

Shot in a shirt-button down the stem so you can hold and let go. Plumb so you know the depth; then fish a few inches off, or trip the bottom for chub.

Where to cast

The crease. Under the far bush for chub. Down the run for dace. Not the dead slack unless that's where they went after a spate.

Depth / presentation

Running at the pace of the surface, held back to lift, or tripping. Depth is everything — a bait six inches off the deck in a four-foot crease is often the one.

The first hour

Read the pace, pick a float, feed a line, and run it. Five bad trots while you find the depth are normal. Then stay on that line.

Conditions

A steady pace, not a flood. Coloured water after rain is a gift. Bright, low, clear water wants finer tackle and hemp.

How to fish it

This is running-water fishing, and in England and Wales it is a 16 June method on rivers, streams and drains. Pick a stick to match the pace — too light and it drowns, too heavy and it looks like a boat. Shirt-button shotting down the stem so you can hold and let go.

Feed the line the float will travel, not your feet. Run it at the pace of the surface, hold back to lift the bait, mend the bow so the float does not drag off line. Five bad trots while you find the depth are normal.

Strike downstream and up, not into the bank behind you. Keep in contact so the strike actually moves the hook.

Starting routine

First hour plan

  1. 0–10 min

    Read the pace, pick a float, plumb, feed a line. First trots are for depth, not for a net.

  2. 10–30 min

    Stay on that crease. Feed a few maggots or grains of hemp every run. Mend. Hold, then let it go.

  3. 30–60 min

    If the float drags in, mend or step up a stick. If the bait skates, you are holding too hard. No fish means wrong line, not wrong maggot.

Bite indication

A dip, a hold-under, a sail-away. Dace are gone if you stare. Chub melt it.

Striking

Downstream and up, not into the bank behind you. Keep in contact so the strike actually moves the hook.

Playing and landing

Steer chub away from the bush you just pulled them out of. Net dace; don't swing a keepnet-full of pride.

Common mistakes

Fishing a river in May. A waggler shotting on a stick. Never mending. Feeding at your feet. A 10ft rod on a 15-yard crease.

Troubleshooting

Float dragging in: mend, or a heavier stick. Bait skating: you're holding too hard. No fish: wrong line, not wrong maggot.

Beginner setup

A 6–8no.4 stick, shirt-button shotting, size 18 to maggot, a gentle crease after 16 June. Feed a dozen maggots a trot.

More advanced

Hemp on the hook over hemp feed for stamp roach in summer. A slightly overdepth trot for chub under the tree. Change the bottom shot before you change peg.

Catches

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