Try to match float size to the conditions at hand, smaller ones for panfish and bigger versions for walleyes, pike, etc. But it s entirely possible to make an oversized float work in any circumstance by adding the correct amount of weight. Tommy really enjoys taunting panfish. Positioned over a school of sunfish or crappies, he loads up just enough Thill Double Cut Soft Shot to make his float and bait sink, ever so slowly, through the pod of fish. He knows there s something-fishy going on if the float shifts sideways, stops, or begins plunging downward.
Minnow control is an important aspect of float fishing.
Chip is able to manage a minnow s swim range by modifying the distance between the hook and shot. When fish are aggressive or Chip s trying to draw fish in, he builds at least a one-foot gap between the shot and bait. This rigging method works with everything from crappie minnows to decoy suckers. Additionally, you have the ability to present a different line weight than what is fixed on your spool. For instance, six and eight-pound monofilament is easy to handle, but choosy fish might bock at it, so Chip and Tommy fix lighter, less visible line below the swivel.