The Double Float
The float came into being during 2002/3 winter, when fishing a series of matches on a very sallow park lake. To catch fish you needed to present your bait on a fairly light rig but not ultra light in the float department, say 0.4grms. The size of fish varied from pair of eyes to bream in excess of 3lb (1.5kg) To do well you needed to catch a lot of the smaller Roach which averaged less than an ounce (25grms.). This approach needed small hooks and light elastics (No. 3) being necessary to avoid too many bumped fish, whist using a normal small fish approach. however, the lake was typically round and picked up the winter winds quite easily, which in turn created a strong circular under-tow. This made the fish difficult to catch. To start I used a larger float (1grm) to help keep the bait still and to a point this worked. Although what became a solution also became a new problem!!!
The larger profile of the bigger float made it hard to hit bites with light elastics, so up-sizing the elastic was required. But I now encountered problems with bumping too many small fish.
Giving the problem some thought, as to overcome the need for a heavier float and still use elastic light enough so as avoid bumped fish. I tried slim bodies to reduce the profile, this did not work as the float would not hold back enough to keep bait still and also rode up in the water.
The answer was to try to spread the float bulk with increased loading yet keep stability for the required presentation. That resulted in applying two bodies to one stem, the distance apart was played about with, as too was the body shapes. It was at this stage I realized further applications for the split bodies were possible, particularly strong side winds and those nasty skimming winds that drag the float , making it keel over. The lower body acted as a brake making the float very stable and helped retain sensitivity, of course the original premise remained that the float offered a profile of a float half the physical size of one with increased loading to give the required presentation.
With further use I discovered the split bodies made working the bait easier, as with lifting the float it would drop back into the ready position more quickly then a conventional single bodied float, due to the lower body pulling the top body into place more swiftly. I have since used patterns with rounder bodies for use in deeper water, you still get the benefit of the smaller profile to the overall loading without the extra resistance on the strike. In addition the longer tip pattern making an excellent chopped worm float when faced with extreme weather condition's and maybe even a fine tip pattern could cover bloodworm/joker fishing in the extreme winds we get at times?
Mounting the floats on the line is by simply putting the line through the top body ring passing it once round the stem and then through the ring on the bottom body, then securing in position with a float band (I use 0.5 diameter rig tubing) I have also found that they help stimulate conversation that follows the strange and puzzled looks you frequently get from other anglers that see them for the first time!!
I have used these doubles for some time now and find they come out in normal conditions, but as previously explained the additional attributes have made conventional floats obsolete in my armory. The big exception being for bloodworm and joker fishing. If I have to fish on the heavy side and in deeper water I will still use a double variation, however, I like the old fashioned wire stem floats for shallow water and for rigs below o.6grms.
Regards Dave Hemmings
M. B. (Handmade) Carp Specials