If you want a float rig that is easy to tie, simple to adjust and capable of catching plenty of fish, a basic waggler is hard to beat. It works on stillwaters, canals and rivers, and it is one of those setups every angler should know because it teaches you loads about depth, shotting and presentation.
Attaching the float
Start by attaching the float with a silicone float adaptor. This is the easiest and neatest way to do it, and it means you can swap floats quickly if conditions change or you need to fish lighter or heavier. Once the float is on the line, lock it in place with the bulk of the shot either side of the adaptor.
Most wagglers tell you exactly how much shot they need, so check the markings printed on the side of the float before you start pinching shot on. That gives you a solid guide and gets you somewhere close straight away, which saves time and stops the rig being badly shotted from the off.
USE ONE OF THE BEST FLOAT FISHING RODS TO FISH THIS WAGGLER RIG.
Shotting the rig
Once the float is cocked, add a couple of smaller droppers below the bulk around mid-depth. A few No6 or No8 shot are usually about right. These help settle the rig and start to slow the bait down as it falls.
Then finish things off with two or three No8 shot spread evenly between the last dropper and the hook. This is what gives you that nice slow fall through the final part of the water, and that's important because plenty of bites come as the bait is settling rather than once it has nailed itself to the deck.
RETRIEVE YOUR WAGGLERS SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY WITH THE BEST FISHING REELS.
Find the depth
After that, the most important job is plumbing up properly. Get the depth wrong and the rig will never fish as it should. In most situations you want to start with the rig set around four to six inches overdepth, so the bait is sat on the bottom. That is the right place to begin because most species you are targeting on a simple waggler rig will be feeding hard on the deck.
It is not a complicated setup, and that is exactly the point. Tied properly, this rig is easy to cast, easy to control and gives you a clean, natural presentation that catches fish almost anywhere.
NEW TO FLOAT FISHING? CHECK OUT THIS BEGINNERS GUIDETO SETTING UP YOUR ROD FOR FLOAT FISHING.
