In recent years, the weather has been quite favorable during the winter months. We've spent this period fishing, but this has changed this year, and everyone must decide for themselves whether unfortunately or not, perhaps nature needs a little break too. Thick ice covers our waters, and preparing for the season comes to the forefront. My thoughts, of course, revolve around fishing, so I've been tying some float rigs.

I always choose the float according to the fishing species and the type of water. I always try to refine the rig as much as possible during pole fishing for carp when the water is barely flowing and not too deep. Often, there's no need to go for the heaviest float. Of course, there are many factors to consider, such as the strength of the wind, the appetite of the fish, and of course, how we place the bait - on the bottom, mid-water, or surface. The EnergoTeam float range is quite wide, and I think everyone can find what suits them, whether it's for a pleasant float fishing session or for ledgering

Waiting to be tied.

I usually fix the stem of the float in three points with silicone tubing. Actually, it depends on personal preference; I know someone who does it in two points, leaving the tubing longer. Choosing the right line is crucial. I really like the Benzár lines, and I also choose the thickness according to the expected fish species and the amount of obstacles and vegetation. We "harden" the setup accordingly.

Fixed at three points.

When weighting, we always start from the float side with the heaviest weight and move towards the hook with progressively smaller weights. There shouldn't be a big difference between the shot sizes, as the setup will lose its balance, tangle, and during insertion, it will hit the water surface unevenly. For example, if I'm weighting only with shot, I make the main shotting with 5-7 pieces and add a telltale. The telltale shot is the smallest and closest to the hook; it has an important role because if the fish lifts the bait, the float signals to us, and it doesn't have to lift the whole string, which it might feel and reject the bait.

The EnergoTeam Competition shot set is an excellent choice.

Shot weights that look the same, yet there's a difference.

I usually measure the main shotting up to the float's antenna, and then comes the small telltale, which I use for corrections.

Before the telltale.

After the telltale.

Obviously, there are differences among anglers in how they like it, but it's undeniable that the float is more sensitive the less antenna is sticking out. I remember in the old days, half of the big floats were out of the water, like a buoy, and the fish got muscle fatigue by the time it took the bait. This also shows how much fishing has evolved. In those days, we used lines in the thirties or forties for float fishing. And the telltale shot... the smallest weight was one gram.

Finished shotting

I really enjoy float fishing with a bolognese rod in flowing water. The basic principle of weighting doesn't change, but a larger float requires more weight. Here I use a droplet weight for the main shotting's first step, which I hit with shot and pull together because the water is flowing, and it needs to sink faster.

Bolognese rod end tackle. 

Quality materials for float fishing.

It's important that when we're done with the rigs, we don't leave the necessary items for shotting at home; on the bank, we might need to adjust it because the density of tap water doesn't match that of natural waters. It should be there, just in case.

The bolognese rod doesn't remain empty; this is how I like the weighted float.

We hope that the good weather comes soon, and I can test these ready-to-use end tackles in real action. Wishing everyone a successful season!

Csala Viktor