🪶 Long Cane Tip Float
The Extra Long Cane Tip Pear is one of my favourite stillwater floats — a superb all-rounder when targeting fish at multiple depths.
I was first introduced to this float during the 1992 World Championships in Hungary, held on a rowing course averaging around 7 feet deep. It was a tricky venue, with a real mix of species to contend with — roach, rudd, skimmers, carp, bleak, perch, and chub. These fish could feed at any level in the swim, making bait presentation absolutely crucial.
Swapping a bag of casters for a few of these floats with the great Roberto Trabucco turned out to be one of the best deals I ever made.
🏆 World-Class Results
Using this float and a full-swim drop presentation, I went on to win the second day of the World Championship match, beating some of the very best pole anglers in the world. Since then, this float has won me many more matches across a range of stillwaters.
🧪 Design and Features
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Body shape: Long pear body
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Tip: Extra-long cane bristle for ultra-sensitive bite detection at any depth
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Stem: Wire for stability and balance
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Presentation: Designed for a slow, controlled drop through the water column
🎣 How to Fish It
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Plumbing: Set the float at full depth
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Shotting: Fix an Olivette at half depth, then space a string of No. 12 and No. 14 style shots evenly down to the hooklength
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Feeding: Loose feed regularly in front of you; lay the float and shotting line straight over the feed
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Effect: As the loose feed sinks, so does your bait, creating a natural and irresistible fall through the water
The cane bristle is the key here — its sensitivity allows you to detect bites at any level, whether fish are intercepting the bait mid-water or feeding tight on the deck.
🏆 Match Memory: Roundhay Park
One of my fondest wins with this float came at Roundhay Park, Leeds. Using cloudy black groundbait and bloodworm, I caught over 17 lb of roach, narrowly beating my good friend Bob Nudd — the only time I’ve ever drawn next to him in a match.
✅ In summary:
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Ideal for catching fish at all depths on stillwaters
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Long cane bristle gives exceptional sensitivity
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Excellent for roach, skimmers, and other silver fish
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Proven at World Championship level
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Works best with loose feeding and slow drop presentation
Illustration from the book
Now available in paperback: The Complete Float Manual. Over 169 pages of content
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