Waggler Floats

WAGGLERS are a family of floats fished on a rod and line (rather than on a pole) that are attached 'bottom end only' rather than 'top and bottom' like a stick float or a pole float. Bottom end only floats are designed to be cast beyond polefishing range. A skilled angler can comfortably fish a normal waggler at 30 yards. Specialist, large-bodied wagglers can be fished at even greater ranges. Fixed waggler are generally fished at depths between a couple feet and the lenght of your rod. (Beyond that and it would be difficult to cast). Wagglers patterns are divided into five main groups - straight, insert, bodied, unloaded, and loaded. Specialist patterns include pellet, splasher, bagging, gaint and speci wagglers.

Straight Waggler

This is a simple lenght of peacock quill, cane, hollow ABS plastic or, far less popular these days, Sarcandas reed. The float can measure anything from 10cm (4in) to 50cm (20in) and is as thick at the top as it is at the bottom, therefore 'straight' These floats are used when fishing overdepth to combat tow as they don't pull under as easily as an insert waggler.

Insert Waggler

The same as a straight waggler, but with the addition of much thinner piece of plastic, peacock or cane inserted in the top (hence 'insert' waggler) to show the bites. Insert waggler are great for fishing at dead depth or upp in the water. The smaller floats in this range can also be a great bit of kit for canal fishing when every bite counts.

Bodied Waggler

Either a straight or insert waggler with a chunky balsa, EVA foam or plastic oval added to give the float greater shotting capacity for increased distance casting. Capacity is usually printed on the float.