How windy is it . Can I see it . How deep is it and how much weight down the line is required . Preconceived set ups may be the thing if you visit the same venue week in week out . Still the wind may dictate . But carp don’t like heavy rigs IMO . Years ago Keiron Rich had a complete set of floats for each lake at moorlands farm ..Clever ,!! So he didn’t keep spoiling the deep rigs with that short line from pole tip to float . Maybe that would work for you . 😉

On those overstocked solid venues the weights are so big the float isn’t in for many seconds , before you get a bite ! So this has resulted in many more slim patterns like pencil floats . Trying to beat the wind may mean using a round or body down float but it can also result in loads of missed bites . In these waters you may be fishing dead depth or only an inch or two on the deck , and the bites are very quick . On very windy days I sometimes used a drennan chop with a long wire stem glued in . These needed little lead down but sat upright immediately . If in doubt go and watch them that’s catching , it may give you a better insight . 🙂

I like “guzunders” 😀

To a similar question I put one that keeps going under and it killed the thread dead !!! 😀 😀 😀

Give us a hint Punchmeat ??? Is anything you’ve read been helpfull ?? Or is it time to reach for the golf clubs ?? 😮

Choice of float is usually made during the years of learning we should all go through getting things wrong and learning what works and what doesn’t.
Understanding how fish behave and how the tackle itself works. Doing homework on the venue you intend visiting and what you’ll expect to catch at whatever time of year whatever the weather.
Dead easy to ask the question and as easy to give a good answer but lessons learnt through experience tend to stay with you longer. Some days you may get to your peg and will need 6 rigs, all with different floats. Preparation is vital.

Well it was a nice idea for a thread but it’s one of those – I bet most are like me, can’t resist picking them up in the shops and then usually buys it and consequently end up with enough floats in their sheds to open a shop. Personally I love the KC range and NG is doing some very useful patterns but as with everything it personal choice and how you read your swims and what float choice you make.

I’m a big fan of floats that have 0.6mm wire you loose a bit off the bulk with using thicker wire but they sit very well and have great stability

ime a pole float tart ,dont know why get all the latest floats or the ones everyone are using at the minute ………………..and then i always end up making a full tray up of my beloved preston chiantis in all sizes,for all applications love these floats they do it all

These days I am mostly using ng mugger paste floats. I find they work for most baits, at most depths up to around 8ft, and in all but the worse conditions. I think if you can master one or two float patterns, it is better than having rows and rows of different patterns. But then most venues I fish are very similar apart from rivers.. 🙂