Hinged Waggler – Gold Medal Floats

🐉 HINGED WAGGLER

The Hinged Waggler was invented by the late Albert Friswell of Newport, Gwent — a true gentleman of angling and a lifelong competitor. Albert’s dedication to the sport was legendary. He was still actively fishing well into his 90s, and his inventive mind led to one of the most practical and original float designs in modern coarse fishing.

As a young man, Albert would cycle from Newport to the Gloucester Canal — more than 90 miles round trip — to fish competitions, carrying all his tackle on his back. As his eyesight began to deteriorate with age, his ingenuity shone through: he developed a float that allowed anglers with poor vision to clearly detect bites while also giving instant striking contact.

🧰 Design & Function

Material: 10″ peacock waggler (cut in half)
Hinge: Small swivel fixed between the two sections
Dual Purpose:
1. High visibility for anglers with poor eyesight.
2. Positive, instant strike connection when used conventionally.

The float is built by cutting a peacock waggler in half, then gluing each section onto a swivel, creating a hinge point in the centre.

This allows two distinct setups:

Flat-lay setup: One half of the float is submerged, the other half lies flat on the water. When a fish takes the bait, the top half pops upright — a clear and unmistakable visual cue.
Standard setup: Shotted as a normal waggler. On the strike, the float collapses at the hinge, giving the angler instant contact with the fish.

🌊 Why It Works

🧓 Perfect for anglers with poor or ageing eyesight, making bites easier to see.
🪝 Instant, direct strike connection thanks to the hinged joint.
🌀 Excellent for fast, sharp bites such as dace or roach intercepting the bait mid-drop.
⚡ Simple, low-cost DIY build with just a swivel and a standard peacock float.

🏆 Clive’s Match Memory

I used this float with great effect on the River Usk during an open competition. The dace were ragging the maggot on the drop, and conventional wagglers weren’t cutting it. Switching to the hinged waggler made all the difference.

Each time a fish touched the bait, the float flicked upright or collapsed on the strike, giving me instant hookups with big cock dace averaging 10–12 oz. I went on to win the match with 20 lb 8 oz — all thanks to Albert’s clever design.

🧭 Rigging Tip

For visibility mode, shot one half down so it sits under the surface and allow the top to lay flat.
For standard mode, shot normally and enjoy faster bite-to-strike connection.
Ideal for use on rivers and stillwaters where dace, roach, or chub take baits mid-water.

🕰️ 🎣 Classic Innovation: Albert Friswell – Newport, Gwent

“Born from necessity, crafted with genius — the Hinged Waggler is a float designed by a true angling gentleman. Albert’s invention helped those with failing sight keep fishing competitively and gave the rest of us a tool for lightning-fast bite detection.”

🎨 Illustration Box:

🧔 Inventor Tribute: Albert Friswell, Newport, Gwent
🪶 Float Type: Hinged Waggler (10″ peacock – centre swivel hinge)
🪝 Best For: Dace, roach, and other fast-biting fish
🌊 Ideal Venue: Rivers with mid-drop feeders, steady flow, or stillwaters with finicky bites
📌 Rigging Tip: Shot half of the float down for upright bite indication or fully for instant strike contact.

📘 For diagrams, hinge construction methods, and classic angling innovations, see Clive Branson’s Float Fishing Manual (Paperback & PDF Download).

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