Float Fishing - Fishing Slightly Overdepth

Hi

Could any of the experienced pike anglers on the forum explain in laymans terms what it means to fish slightly overdepth and how to rig up a float so that I can fish slightly overdepth?

I will be fishing in a reservoir or loch if these water conditions make a difference to the setup?

Cheers

Hi there,

Heres an image, I photoshopped a while ago.

this is fishing overdepth to me!

BigSi wrote:Hi there,

Heres an image, I photoshopped a while ago.

this is fishing overdepth to me!

great image bigsi......

basicaly using the ledger float setup you are fishing over depth...

i always fish over depth (unless drifting or roaming) so the pike feels less resistance on the initial pickup. This is also useful when fishing on a flowing river, fish over depth so a bow forms between your float and the lead, this will help stop your float being pulled under by the current.

If you have say 5ft of water in front of you and you fish at 6ft depth then that is fishing overdepth.

I float ledger this way by using a NON weighted float (Fox Deadbait Pencil) then tighten down to leave about inch and half poking out from the water. You must use enough weight to hold bottom but not too much so as to make the pike wary of the bait and drop it. I find that an 8gram egg sinker or above, depending on the conditions, is ideal. The weight goes at the junction of mainline and trace wire.

This setup is very sensitive and gives good bite indication. The float will lift and possibly lay flat when your bait is picked up or will sink out of sight if the pike runs as soon as grabbing the bait.

When I caught my PB pike I used this method and saw a very slight rise on my float, so stood over the rod in readiness. A few seconds later I saw the float start to move so struck and it was fish on.

Here is a link to a picture on the main website:

http://www.pikeangler.co.uk/articles/images/floatledgerrig.jpg

raf1870 wrote:Hi

I will be fishing in a reservoir or loch if these water conditions make a difference to the setup?

Cheers

im fishing a res on the 13th, now my plan is to using the ledger float (im fishing from the bank, not a boat) if you know the depth your fishing, then its simple, if you dont know, then you will have to have a play around with the stop knott untill you find the depth.

if your fishing a boat then id drift deads closer to bottom rather than over depth on it...

Lefty wrote:If you have say 5ft of water in front of you and you fish at 6ft depth then that is fishing overdepth.

I float ledger this way by using a NON weighted float (Fox Deadbait Pencil) then tighten down to leave about inch and half poking out from the water. You must use enough weight to hold bottom but not too much so as to make the pike wary of the bait and drop it. I find that an 8gram egg sinker or above, depending on the conditions, is ideal. The weight goes at the junction of mainline and trace wire.

This setup is very sensitive and gives good bite indication. The float will lift and possibly lay flat when your bait is picked up or will sink out of sight if the pike runs as soon as grabbing the bait.

When I caught my PB pike I used this method and saw a very slight rise on my float, so stood over the rod in readiness. A few seconds later I saw the float start to move so struck and it was fish on.

Here is a link to a picture on the main website:

http://www.pikeangler.co.uk/articles/images/floatledgerrig.jpg

yeah agree with that, you can also use light leads like 1oz to 3oz. i use the middle which is 2oz to 2.5oz

Thanks for the info so far.

Sadly I cannot seem to see the image posted

raf1870 wrote:Hi

Could any of the experienced pike anglers on the forum explain in laymans terms what it means to fish slightly overdepth and how to rig up a float so that I can fish slightly overdepth?

I will be fishing in a reservoir or loch if these water conditions make a difference to the setup?

Cheers

hi there raf1870 my idea of slightly over depth is the sensitivity of the float is that the pike only has to sniff the bait you will know instantly on the float . I use this method which you might find usefull i use a map carp bagging float not wieghted it is fixed to the line with a silocon float adapter which you can ajust in a instant .Then fish your desired bait as normal but dont use a lead in any way .You dont need a lead because the weight of the bait will easily cock the float becausof the size of the float. I would advise fishing this float at a angle in surface film strike strait away if float lays flat or it will sail away mate it is so sensitve mate its like in a way fishing for tench useing the lift method

just to add to that last thread i would probably use that rig at close range say upto 25 yards

Can you use inline floats?

dont think you would get the same effect pal,the drennen floats are inline aswell as fixed/bottom eyed.your better with a float with a bottom eye for this methed

Bugger. Tackle shop it is then!

a inline float will work fine for float ledgering i use them on the river when theres a bit of flow on

nickcarpy wrote:dont think you would get the same effect pal,the drennen floats are inline aswell as fixed/bottom eyed.your better with a float with a bottom eye for this methed

Deffinitely a bottom fixed float for this method. And don't forget, it has to be an UNLOADED float. Never use a loaded float for this method. In fact, a lot of experienced pikers will say never use a loaded pike float FULL STOP.

lefty wrote

Deffinitely a bottom fixed float for this method. And don't forget, it has to be an UNLOADED float. Never use a loaded float for this method. In fact, a lot of experienced pikers will say never use a loaded pike float FULL STOP.

Well said leffty