Gold Medal Floats

Canal Waggler pole float

🪶 Pole Wagg Float

The Pole Wagg — a mini waggler made from peacock quill — is a beautifully simple yet highly effective float pattern. Originally developed long before modern pole floats became widely available, this float remains a valuable and versatile tool for match anglers today.

Peacock quill is naturally buoyant, light, and easy to trim to size, making it perfect for use with both pole and whip setups.

🏆 A Bit of History

Before purpose-made pole floats became common, British anglers relied heavily on peacock quills. One of the most memorable demonstrations of its effectiveness came at the 1982 World Freshwater Angling Championships on the Newry Canal in Northern Ireland, where Kevin Ashurst won the individual title using a homemade peacock top-and-bottom fixed pole float.

I also enjoyed success with this float in a National Championship on the Oxford Canal, finishing 12th overall. By drifting the float under a far bank bush, I caught nearly 6 lb of small chub and lost one that could easily have pushed me into the top two.

🧪 Design and Features

  • Material: Natural peacock quill — light, strong, and buoyant

  • Shape: Mini waggler style

  • Fixing: Top and bottom, or bottom-only (true waggler style)

  • Tip options: Flat top or fine bristle

  • Sizes: From ½ inch up to 3 inches long (customisable)

The natural buoyancy of peacock allows precise presentation and quick response to bites.

🎣 When and How to Use It

  • Canals and far-bank work: Ideal for flicking under overhanging cover, perfect for small chub and roach.

  • Breaking down the pole or whip-to-hand: Versatile for different approaches.

  • Back-shotting: Excellent for stabilising the float in wind or tow.

  • Bleak fishing: A bottom-only rig with a splashy cast can pull shoals of bleak straight onto the bait.

    • I’ve personally taken 25 lb and 29 lb bags of bleak on the River Wye using this method.

  • Margin carp fishing: Perfect for shallow margins with minimal shot down.

✅ In summary:

  • Classic peacock mini-waggler float

  • Ideal for canal far-bank work, whip fishing, and shallow margin carp fishing

  • Lightweight and ultra-buoyant — perfect in wind or drift

  • Proven match winner at World and National level

  • A timeless float that deserves a permanent place in your tackle box

Illustration 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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