How should you present your hookbait when floater fishing?

One area that’s often the downfall of either (a) missed bites or (b) dropped fish when floater fishing. Here are the arrangements our experts use to mount and present their hookbait…

“My hooking arrangement is a small rubber bait band tied on a reverse Hair rig to a size 10 to 12 hook. This involves using a small length of fine braid and a Domhoff/Whipping Knot to hold the band in position. Although fiddly to tie at first, having the Hair coming off at the eye means the hook sits in the perfect position without dragging the hooklink under the surface. The bait bands make it quick and easy to change hookbaits between casts.” MARTYN SKOYLES

“If the fish are really having it at close-range then I will often use a larger hook (8 or 7) and side-hook a soft hookable floater or a big chunk of bread. If the fish are a little cautious, I’m fishing at range or leaving the bait in the water for more than a few minutes then I will use a Knotless Knotted Hair rig with a small piece of clear silicone over the eye.” ALAN BLAIR

“In the past I have tried everything but for several years now have favoured gluing my hookbait to the back of the hook shank. Because the hookbait is fished on the hook, I do like it to come off when I’m playing a fish, and by gluing it on it does so on every occasion.” IAN POOLE

“I just use a very simple Knotless Knot set-up with a short Hair so the bait is held tight to the shank of the hook. I use size 12 Korda Wide Gapes for the majority of my floater fishing, they are super sharp and I am pleased with the hook holds that I get using them.” ALEXEI BYGRAVE

“A Palomar Knot set-up is best for surface fishing. It adds great strength to a sometimes-vulnerable carp fishing method and also offers great anti-ejection. Most people us a Knotless Knot but in fact this is a strangulating knot and the harder you pull the weaker it gets. The Palomar Knot doesn’t move once it is pulled and if you thread it back through the eye of the hook, as I do, you’ve got a ready-made Hair. Simply add a Hair loop and a little silicon tubing to keep it straight and you’re ready to go.” PETE CASTLE

The hook trick

The magnificent surface hooking arrangement courtesy of Pete Castle

01 First pass your line through the eye towards the hook point.

02 Next connect your chosen hook using the Palomar Knot.

03 Make sure the knot is even and lubricated before tightening.

04 Now take the tag end and pass it back through the eye.

05 With the line exiting the back of the hook, tie your Hair loop.

06 Using a gate-baiting needle pull on a piece of silicone tube.

07 Pull the silicone around the shank and up to the eye on the hook.

08 Mount your chosen hookbait in the conventional manner.

09 When the fish sucks in the hookbait, it goes in straight like this…

10 …And kicks out when you strike as shown. It’s deadly!