Master Match Angling Basics

Mesmerising - that’s the only word that can describe the vast array of different shaped, coloured and sized pole floats lining fishing tackle shop shelves. With so many different designs to choose from it is no surprise that lots of pole anglers – inexperienced and experienced alike choose the wrong float for the venue and weather conditions that you are faced with. In this simple guide to what’s what in the world of pole floats we’ll banish the mistakes and ensure you always choose the right float…

Shotting patterns affect the way a rig performs. It doesn’t matter how good your float and bait are, if your shotting is completely wrong your catch rate will suffer. Float, bait and shotting all work hand-in-hand to make the ‘perfect’ rig that gives your hook bait a natural look. To help make you a better pole angler this link will show you the correct way to set up your tackle.

Shotting patterns come in various forms. You can use olivettes, shot, styls and now Stotz, depending on what you are trying to achieve and where you are fishing, and we’ll run through the uses for these in this guide. Yes, the world of shotting patterns can seem daunting at times.

Top England international Will Raison has three words of advice for shotting: “Keep It Simple! ”Why? Because the simpler you keep it, the more confident you will be in your chosen approach. Any confusion you have had will be erased from memory once you start catching, and your rig will be less tangle-prone.

Are you stuck for the right shot to use for setting up a pole rig? Do you know the difference between pole float sizes? Well here's our guide to the most popular pole float sizes in styl weight and their matching weight in grammes, plus a guide to which split shot to use to cock them correctly...