Float rig for night fishing

[codhead]

We fished West Bexy on Friday and Emma did OK on float gear, catching 7 Gar and 3 macky, she was catching well after dark too.

I'm currently trying to get my head around a night fishing float rig, incorporating a starlight.

Anyone got any ideas tips etc please?

[Ben]

you can either buy special floats with a little slop, special star lights which clip on the top or you could just glue them on or make a holder on the top

[codhead]

Thanks Ben, I didn't want to go the shop-bought route and am making a holder for the starlights, so that the line emerges from the top of the starlight/holder to enable the starlight to be seen from any angle.

Once I've got it sorted, I'll post some drawings/pics etc.

[Ben]

nice 1 matei noticed they made starlites which are floats as well, one use only thing

[codhead]

Two prototypes have now been made, they will be road (sea?) tested tomorrow night at West Bexy. I'll report back

[big guy]

how far out are you fishing?

down this way we used to have a similar problem with the scad/ gar fishing, now people have developed a kinda float leger system.

a lead is at the bottom then about 20 foot of 40lb mono and a big float locked off. under the float there is three hooks attached flapper style with small hooks and light snoods.

this is a hand full to cast and limits you to short range. people are trying to make some form of clipping system to make it easier to cast, but theres a very increased chance of tangling though.

[codhead]

She's fishing no more than about 15 metres out. West Bexy shelves steeply so depth ain't a problem.

Monday night was an unmitigated disaster. NE wind, big swell, ebb tide. Emma turned to me at one point and asked "why are the waves so big?". I honestly can't ever remember my daughter asking such a daft question.

Anyway back to the rig: she tried to fish top and bottom on a two hook rig and it was just too complicated. The floats she bought resembled floating lighthouses and needed 4oz of lead just to cock them. She'd also bought a new carp rod, especially for the trip but the whole balance of what she was trying to do and the equipment she'd decided on was WRONG. I reckon that any decent caster could have sent her float rig out further than you could see it.

We're gonna continue trying (well she is anyway - I just make the rigs) and as soon as we've found something that works without tangles, crack-offs (yes, you heard it right, two crack-offs on float - go figure), we'll report back.

[geejayy]

hi
i've been haveing thoughts on clipped down float rigs to get more distance for some time.
this should work, slideing float ,slideing on the main line with a 6ft snood( or whatever drop u can manage to cast with )attached to the float.
30 +lb main line straight through to a impact sheild or bait clipp stopknot/crimp and bead to tension the float and snood against the clip for casting. and possibly a stop knot to prevent the float drifting back in if this is not required.

caution WILL be required with casting as no shock leader used, r,e. float won't slide over leader knot, though i've not tried with tapered leader which would give smaller knots.

you could top fix the float only, via a large swivel which may help.
but then there is an increased chance of to snood twisting around the main line preventing the float from floating.
which especially foils my intended plans to fish a clipped down rig on the bottom at the same time, just for the hell of it.

Major draw back is;- you won't be able to strike a bite on the float as it will just slide away down the main line. can't solve this .........yet.

fishing strong lateral tides just gets the float pulled under in the current.

4th prototype might get tested this winter.

geejayy.

[big guy]

the rig i mentioned won't work in a very strong tide as there's a lot of drag on the float that will move the lead.

i would use a float that would be balanced with about 2 oz, a 5oz lead at the bottom to hold it on thge seas bed and a beach caster.

when casting lay the rig behind you so everything is tight and lob it over head style as the rig goes out lightly feather the line so it helps with tangles.

maybe try a shorter rig til she gets used to it then inctrease the length til your a best depth for the fish. btw the float is only used as boyancy, not as a indicator, you'll see the bits through the rod tip as the float is under water.

this is a very difficult technique to perfect but once you've mastered it will bring great rewards.

[geffski]

just get a bit of balser wood! push a swivel in the base, take it out
drop of super glue, push the swivel bake in!
on the top just a small divet with a knife and push in a light stick!
shape and paint it as you wont!