🌊 Avon Float

The Avon Float is one of the most iconic and widely used running water floats in British coarse fishing.
Named after its extensive use on rivers such as the River Avon, it remains a favourite for anglers targeting chub, barbel, and roach in steady to fast flowing water.

This float perfectly balances buoyancy, control, and visibility, making it a must-have in any river angler’s tackle box.

📜 A Short History

The Avon float rose to fame in the 1960s and 70s, becoming the go-to float for trotting bread flake for chub. Its classic teardrop shape allowed anglers to hold back against the flow without the float lifting out of the water — a huge advantage over many other float patterns of the time.

Although pole floats and modern plastics have evolved, the traditional Avon remains a firm favourite among top anglers and pleasure fishermen alike.

🏗️ Design and Construction

• Body: Balsa, foam, or cork (modern versions often plastic-coated for durability)

• Shape: Teardrop/pear with a wide shoulder and tapered base

• Tip: Large, domed or blaze tip for easy visibility in turbulent water

• Base: Cane or plastic stem with top-and-bottom attachment

🎯 Key advantage: The shoulder of the float allows the angler to hold back steadily in the flow, presenting the bait naturally and effectively.

🐟 Best Waters and Target Species

Ideal venues:

• River Avon

• River Wye

• River Severn

• Any medium-to-large flowing river

🎯 Target species:

• Chub

• Barbel

• Roach

• Dace

Perfect for winter chub fishing on bread, but equally effective with maggot, caster, or pellet.

🪝 Tackle and Shotting Setup

• Main line: 3–5 lb (heavier for barbel)

• Hook length: 2–3 lb

• Float size: 4–8 swan shot (depending on flow strength)

• Shotting pattern:

  • Bulk shot 18–24 inches from the hook

  • BB/AA dropper 6 inches above the hook

  • Optional Olivette for clean presentation

📝 Tip: Plumbing should be just off bottom or slightly laying on to hold the bait in the main flow without dragging under.

🍞 Bait and Feeding Tactics

• Bait: Bread flake, maggot, caster, or corn

• Feed: Regular trickle of crumb, hemp, or maggots down the trot line

• Keep the float tracking directly over your feed line and control its pace by easing the float back against the flow with the rod tip.

This presentation is especially effective for chub, which often intercept a slowly moving bait.

🏆 Why It Works

• Perfect shape for holding back in flow

• Excellent visibility in all light conditions

• Easy to control and suitable for most rivers

• Works with a wide range of baits and tactics

• Proven track record for big catches of chub and roach

✅ In summary:
The Avon Float is a timeless classic that has won countless matches and caught countless fish. Whether you’re trotting bread on the Wye or easing maggots down the Avon, this float delivers reliability, control, and sensitivity in one beautifully simple design.

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✅ Discover the history and evolution of float fishing
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