It’s certainly not a bad place to start Jeffers

General rule is 0.1g for every foot of water. Then add extra shotting capacity to counteract the wind and undertow on the venue. However, the type of hook bait does have some effect on the choice of float to counteract the conditions. Heavy baits like corn, meat, big hard pellets and paste give stability to the rig. So, using smaller floats can still be used without giving a problem with stability and control of the rig.

There was a very interesting thread not so long ago on this subject which might still be around. Well worth reading. If you can find it.

They reckon 0.1g for every foot but what about a 6ft swim with very little undertow you can get away with a 0.2g float ?

AW youa re right, there are situations where you need to fish a lighter or heavier float but 0.1g/ft is a good starting point.

Its one of those things thats difficult to measure, Lad at the side of me last week fished a 0.5 wilky power diamond in 4ft water when i was fishing a 0.2 chimp, Neither of us were catching but the point is did he really need to fish with such a heavy rig ?

0.1g is the general rule but often you can get away with using a lighter float.

Conditions on the day will dictate the size of float you should use.

good tips lads
but what is say 0.3 grams in float sizes
ie 0.3 = 4 number 8?
cant get my head round this grams thing

My starting point for float size choice is a 4 x 12 float for water of 1ft-2ft deep in very good conditions. A 4x 14 float for water 2ft-4ft deep in very good conditions. A 4 x 16 float for water of 4ft-6ft deep in very good conditions. I dont have a problem in moving up a float size or even 2. If the conditions are very difficult. I want my rig to boss the conditions and not allow the conditions to boss me. It is also my belief that in difficult weather conditions. Feeding fish respond more positively and are not put off by heavier rigs. So, in my opinion there is no need to use very light rigs in most situations.

For swims 6ft-8ft deep. Most of my floats are in grams. So, its easier to chose the right sized float to suit the conditions based on the 1ft – 0.1g + extra shotting capacity to counteract the conditions.

Control of my rig is critical in my opinion in getting the best out of my swim on most of my regular venues. I believe most anglers use fare to lighter floats for the depth of water and the conditions they are fishing in.

If your aiming to catch on the drop or want to drag your rig around in your swim and put loads of movement in to your hook bait. Or if using heavier hook baits. A lighter rig can be an advantage in some situations.

One of the things that came from the other thread on this subject. Was that bigger carp seemed to respond better to lighter rigs. Especially when aiming to catch on the drop or by dragging the rig around the swim. A more positive/heavier rig seemed to be better for targeting stockies and smaller commercial venue fish on the deck.

http://moopoo.net/fishing/calculator/