How do you pick the right dropper size?

[TF_rik_j]

How do you pick the size of your droppers? Is it float size, float tid diameter, maybe float tip material or just by experience?

I’ve experience picking both too heavy and too light, depending on the situation, hence the question

[TF_One Out of the Frame]

Experience yes but there is much more to it than that.

Starting with the basics it all depends on what you are fishing for and the diameters of the lines that you are using and size of floats that you are fishing with. Rarely would there be a need to fish with 0.07 or 0.08 diameter lines if carp were your target and tiny little dips and hold ups the difference between catching and not (I know fishing pellets can be like that but I’m more making a generalization between say fishing joker for roach compared to fishing for match sized carp).

The next sweeping generalization is that you should be able to see the shot register on the float so no need for a size 13 dropper on a domed stick float or straight peacock waggler (however I certainly have had occasions where very small droppers have made a big difference to bites but as a rule they don’t).

Now the weather and fishing conditions should also be taken into account. If it is blowing a gale then you need some stability and would generally be fishing heavier than in normal conditions and with a substantial ‘chop’ on the water then you won’t see anything happening with a Size 13 dropper but bites are usually more pronounced anyway (the exception to this rule is Pete Rice down at Tunnel Barn fishing very light rigs in attrocious conditions and just increasing the amount of line between float and bottom to compensate for the increases in tow while holding the float steady with the pole: A real master at fishing very light rigs in these conditions – I’m sure he must rub his hands together when he sees high winds forecast!).

Next thing is your bait. No point with a light dropper if you are fishing with 10mm cubes of meat and likewise you would rarely be fishing with squatts and No 4 droppers.

What venue are you fishing? What are you fishing for and with what baits?

Maybe someone here knows your venue and will be able to give you some pointers.

[TF_rik_j]

I don’t fish commercials, and really fish a great variety of natural venues ranging from shallow ponds for roach & skimmers up to fairly big rivers with a good head of big ide and bream (5 lbs+). For the same reason my rigs span from 4×12 floats with fibre antenna to 40g flat floats with a massive AAA dropper 🙂

At the moment I’m using size 10 droppers for floats smaller than 1g, and size 8 from 1 to 3-4g, and size 6 upwards from that. I’m keen on trying smaller droppers, but would like to be able to relate dropper size to something different, like the diameter of the antenna.

[TF_One Out of the Frame]

Rik: What river are you fishing with ide? One of my favourite match fish as they wave the white flag as soon as they are hooked! lol

I had a ex g/f wanted to have a go with my rod (oo er missus!) when I was pleasure fishing at Makin’s and literally just cast down the lake and imediately hooked an ide approaching 5lb! Jammy git! Biggest one I’ve ever seen and easily doubling the best I’ve had!

Anyway: If fishing for roach and skimmers then they would both be likely to come up in the water if there are a lot of them and consequently I would have very light rigs set up as well as depth rigs and strung out No 12’s or 13’s would be my choice.

With regards to fishing flat floats (and it is something that I have rarely done) I was shown to fish with the olivette just off bottom and dependant on the flow fish with three droppers from 10’s to 6’s to anchor the bait.

[TF_rik_j]

You’re right about ide, it’s possibly the worst fighter of them all.

I’m not based in the UK, the river is on the continent, where the ide is living naturally. Here’s a pick of a friend of mine with a couple of decent river ide:

It sounds like it would be a good idea to give the small droppers (12 – 13) a chance on the light rigs. Thanks you 🙂

You cannot really talk of droppers on a 40g flat float, as they are only used to keep the bait on the deck, and then have the main bulk just a few inches from the bottom. However, sometimes the flat floats are also used for running through, and then the dropper size will be of importance again.

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