Gold Medal Floats

Italian Whip Float

🇮🇹 Italian Whip Float

The Italian Whip Float is one of the most devastatingly effective floats for speed fishing ever developed — and yet, it remains one of the most underestimated patterns in the UK.

Although pencil-style whip floats have been around for years, it was during the 1992 World Freshwater Angling Championships in Italy that I truly saw this float at its best.

🏆 A Lesson from the Italians

During practice sessions, I stood in awe as the Italian team used these little floats to catch at six to seven fish per minute with incredible rhythm.

My understanding of the method was transformed when Emilio Hugio, a local international-class angler, took the time to show me the setup and technique in detail.

When I finally tried it myself, I matched their speed — catching roach, bleak, and sunfish at a rate I’d never experienced before.

Back home, I’ve since used this float to take 30 lb+ bags of bleak from the River Wye and double-figure bags of gudgeon from the Warwickshire Avon.

This is, without doubt, one of the fastest methods I know for putting fish in the net.

🧪 Design and Construction

  • Body: Tapered balsa

  • Top: Flat top for easy bite detection

  • Tip: Fine nylon bristle

  • Stem: Small wire base for quick, stable setting

The simplicity of the design allows for fast, efficient fishing with minimal tangles and maximum presentation control.

🪝 Shotting and Rig Setup

This float’s power lies in its unique shotting pattern:

  • Bulk or Olivette: Just 6 inches above the hook

  • Below the bulk: Twenty No. 12 split shots evenly spaced

  • Hooklength: Loop-to-loop connection

💡 Why so many split shots?
They keep the line below the bulk weighted, which means that when you strike or miss a bite, the rig flips straight back into position without tangling or leaving the water.
This allows maximum time in the water, not wasted re-casting.

🎣 Fishing Technique

  • Set the float so it’s shotted down to the nylon bristle.

  • When a bite comes, strike the float upwards a few inches — you’ll feel the fish immediately.

  • If no fish is on, simply flip the rig back into the swim — no need to lift out of the water.

  • This means constant efficiency and unmatched catch rates.

This method rewards rhythm and precision, but once mastered, it’s virtually unbeatable in the right conditions.

🐟 Extra Speed Tips

  • Hook the maggot point first, sliding it up the shank so it crawls up the hook.

  • Pull the maggot above the spade to keep it in place — this stops it from sliding into the bend.

  • A single maggot can often catch up to 50 fish, saving precious seconds on re-baiting.

✅ In summary:

  • Devastatingly fast whip method perfected by the Italians

  • Excellent for bleak, roach, gudgeon, and other small fish

  • Clean, tangle-free rig design

  • Proven in World Championships and on UK rivers

  • A must-have float for speed fishing specialists

Illustrations from the book

Now available in paperback: The Complete Float Manual. Over 169 pages of content

Click on the book to order from Amazon

📘 Download the Complete Float Manual – Instant Access

Bring decades of float-fishing knowledge straight to your screen.
Written by World Champion Clive Branson, The Complete Float Manual is a 167+ page eBook packed with practical techniques, classic float designs, diagrams, and championship-winning methods.

✅ Learn how to use wagglers, stick floats, pole floats and more
✅ Discover the history and evolution of float fishing
✅ Get pro tips and tactics used at the highest level
✅ Ideal for beginners and experienced match anglers alike

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