NEUTRAL BUOYANCY AND THE WAGGLER

The most skillful float to explain neutral buoyancy is the waggler. This quill shaped float is an import from European fishing and readily available in our bait shops. They are made of balsa wood and are shaped like a long straw.

The finesse of the float action is accomplished through the use of split shot attached below the float to achieve neutral buoyancy. Neutral buoyancy is achieved by the weight below the float being enough to counter the floating tendency of the float but not enough to pull it under.

With most floats (bobber or cork) the fish will pull it under the surface and the angler sees that as a chance to set the hook and retrieve the fish. However, this type of approach misses perhaps a third of the fishing opportunities.

When a fish takes a baited hook one of four things is happening. They will spit it out, run with it, stay where they are, or allow the float to rise up.

When the fish spits out the hook, the float may move and is generally regarded by fishermen as a nibble. If the fish runs with the bait, then he will pull the float beneath the surface. This is probably the most common point at which a fish is hooked and is often taught to young people as the time to set the hook.

In some situations the fish will take the bait and hook into his mouth and not move at all. There is very little visible action of the float. If the fish rises up from the location where he originally took in the bait, the float lifts up in the water. With a pencil shaped float, it results in the float laying over on the surface.

The extra buoyant waggler requires more leas split shot which give it more casting distance and stability. They are usually fished in waters at a depth of 1 to 10 feet. Under windy conditions, one would use a waggler with a little larger body. They can be used as either a fixed or slip float. Fishermen tend to use them according to the conditions of the moment.

A small split shot is placed on the line above the float at the distance from the hook that is equal to the depth at which the angler wishes to suspend the bait. The waggler is then applied to the line and a hook is attached to the end of the line. About ten inches above the hook, enough split shot is applied so as to make the float suspend upright in the water. In windy conditions, only the tip of the float is allowed to show as a strike indicator. This would require more weight below the float than more calm water conditions. If only the tip is showing, the float is not affected as much by the wave action making for more accurate responses to a fish attacking the bait.

If the float is properly applied and used, one should experience more bites than normal bobbers. It allows the angler to respond to what is actually going on below the surface.

                                                  Don Gasaway – The Ground Pounder