Should your line float or sink when floater fishing?
These are the little tweaks that can make the difference between getting a bite in the first place and then actually contacting with it when you strike
“I like to have a floating main line, as I find it easier to control and pick-up the slack. I have found Korda Adrenaline to be spot-on, as it is very strong, has a thin diameter and has a tendency to float.” KEV HEWITT
“The hooklink should always be floating. If it sinks you’ll see two things happen. Firstly, the fish will spot the line and spook and secondly, the more it sinks the closer the hookbait and controller become thus spooking the fish further. The main line is slightly different, as I’ve started to get into using fluorocarbon main line, especially at range. I use Korda Kontour and this is a superb line that sinks like a stone, which helps fix the controllers into position. Fixing the controller out in the lake is a great method if you want to use two or more rods. It’s hard to keep an eye on two moving controllers, but when they are fixed you can even put them on your buzzers.” PETE CASTLE
“I tend to have both floating, with the exception of the last couple of inches near the hookbait which I want to just break through the surface film without actually sinking. The main line and hooklinks mentioned earlier both tend to float reasonably well on their own, however I always carry some Mucilin line floatant with me just in case either start to sink.” MARTYN SKOYLES
“I make sure that my hooklink is floating, as I imagine a loop of line hanging down in the water close to the hookbait to look a bit suspicious. I am less concerned about the main line and will generally try to sink some to help anchor the controller in place, reducing drift. Before I cast out I will first give the hooklink a stretch to straighten it and then I will rub a small amount of grease along the line to help it float. I use some dedicated fly-fishing stuff but Vaseline would do the same job.” ALEXEI BYGRAVE
“If I am sight fishing – i.e. watching the fish take the bait and then striking I will absolutely ensure my main line and hooklink are floating. The NXT Zig Flo that I use for my main line and hooklink is already very buoyant but I also apply some Muslin or grease to really keep everything super buoyant.
“If I’m fishing at range with a Bolt Machine and using the Bolt Machine to hook the fish then I don’t add any additional Muslin or grease to the main line as 60 to 100yds of Zig Flo will slowly sink and this resistance when the fish takes the bait works alongside the bolt effect of the controller, really nailing them.” ALAN BLAIR
