🪶 German Barrel Float
The German Barrel float is one of the most influential designs in the history of pole fishing for big rivers and canals. Its origins go back to 1980, on the mighty Mannheim Canal in Germany — a vast, 18-foot-deep, fast-flowing waterway stacked with big bream.
On that day, the German team stunned the angling world. Using this float and a brilliantly simple method, they secured a record-breaking section points win — just 7 penalty points out of 5 sections — and dominated the championship.
🏆 The Breakthrough Method
The secret to their success was simplicity:
-
Overshot the float.
-
Pin the bulk shot close to the bottom.
-
Hold it absolutely still.
Big bream respond beautifully to a static bait, and the German Barrel float delivered it perfectly.
Three-time World Champion Wolfgang Kremkus bagged over 35 lb of bream in just three hours, winning the individual title and rewriting the playbook for deep-water pole fishing.
English anglers were amazed by this float’s performance, and it wasn’t long before German Barrel floats found their way into tackle boxes across Europe.
🧪 Design and Function
-
Body: Classic barrel shape for maximum stability
-
Tip: Fine wire bristle — ultra-sensitive to the lightest movements
-
Eye position: Fixed to the side of the barrel, allowing the float to stay still in a heavy tow
-
Presentation: Overshotted, with bulk near the bottom
-
Plumbing: Just over full depth
This float excels when holding against the flow, with even the slightest quiver on the wire bristle signalling a bite. In many cases, the fish hook themselves.
🇮🇹 Refinements and Modern Use
The Italian team adopted the German Barrel and added their own refinement:
-
Fishing over depth, with the float suspended just above the waterline.
-
This gives the bait zero resistance, and any subtle movement is detected by touch or sight.
I’ve used this method with great success on the River Wye during flood conditions. When the river’s pushing hard, this is the only float I know that can reliably trip bottom in a raging flow and still register clear, positive bites.
✅ In summary:
-
Legendary float design born in Germany, 1980
-
Perfect for deep, fast rivers and canals
-
Overshot presentation with static bait — deadly for bream
-
Side-eye construction keeps it anchored in heavy flow
-
Proven in flood conditions when other floats struggle
illustrations from the book
📘 Now available in paperback: The Complete Float Manual — over 169 pages of float-fishing techniques, history, and methods.
Click on book cover to order
📘 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
💻 Instant Download (PDF) — no waiting, no shipping
💳 Secure checkout with PayPal
👉 Order now and start reading within minutes.