Slider floats can sound intimidating, but they’re not. Mastering the slider opens up deep venues that many anglers write off as feeder only territory. Plenty of anglers hear the term in match talk and instantly picture a complicated array of knots and gadgets. In truth, it’s simple. With the right bits of tackle, you’ll have a slider rig tied up in minutes and once you do, you’ll have another deadly method in your armoury.
THE BEST FLOAT RODS FOR SILVERS ARE SUITED TO SLIDER FISHING.
What is slider fishing?
The slider was developed for deep venues where a standard waggler just won’t cut it. With a long trailing hooklength, casting becomes a nightmare. The slider solves that problem.
Think reservoirs, gravel pits, tidal rivers, or even when you want to fish tight to an island or lily bed where a long trailing hooklength makes it impossible.
If the water’s deeper than your rod is long - say, 12ft of rod but 15ft of depth, the slider is the answer. It lets you present a bait hard on the bottom in water of any depth, while still being able to cast easily.
THE BEST PELLET WAGGLER RODS CAN HANDLE FISHING A SLIDER.
How the rig works
At its heart, the slider is just a big waggler float that runs up and down your line. Instead of being locked in place, the float sits in a float adaptor that allows it to slide and you to change the float easily. Below the float is all the shot needed to cock it. Above the float sits a stop knot, and that’s what controls the depth the float is fished at.
Cast out, leave the bail arm open. The float will lie flat on the surface if unloaded, or sit up high in the water if semi-loaded as the shot descends. Once the stop knot hits the adaptor, the float should settle showing just the tip supporting the shot and you’re fishing.
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Putting it together
You don’t need anything fancy. You may already have these bits in your tackle box.
A large capacity waggler float (4AAA and up)
A swivel float adaptor
A stop knot (tied from mainline or slightly heavier mono)
Enough shot or olivettes to cock the float
Tie the stop knot above the float, thread the line through the float adaptor, then add your shot below the float. A plummet helps you find the exact depth by sliding the stop knot until the float cocks just right. Don’t forget to leave about an inch of line tag on your stop knot (it helps stop the float slipping over it).
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Fishing the rig
The key is leaving the bail arm open as the rig hits the water so the line can continue to run freely. As soon as the float stands up and settles, flip the bail arm over and take up the slack line. From there it’s just like fishing a normal waggler, only now you’re effectively float fishing in 10, 15, even 20ft of water without needing a 20ft rod.
Slider rigs are far more sensitive than many anglers realise. This is why it’s often preferred over fishing a feeder in deep water. That big float registers tiny knocks, and you’ll often see a lot more indications than you would on a feeder.
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Slider fishing tips
Always use a swivel float adaptor, it stops line twist and helps the float slide cleanly, and you can swap floats quickly without breaking down the rig.
If your stop knot slips, tie a second one and push them together.
Avoid rods with tiny guides, they’ll restrict line flow.
If your float adaptor swivel loop is too big for the stop knot, try flattening the eye into a diamond with pliers. It’s a simple tweak that stop the eye slipping over the stop knot.
THE BEST SEATBOX ACCESSORIES CAN MAKE YOUR FISHING SETUP THAT MUCH BETTER.
