🪶 River Dipper Float
The River Dipper is a flat-top peacock float designed to trot the swim off the bottom or drag lightly with exceptional bite visibility.
I first saw this float in action a few years ago, in the hands of one of the greatest anglers England has ever produced — Kevin Ashurst.
It was during the John Smith’s August Bank Holiday Angling Extravaganza on the Warwickshire Avon at Evesham, where Kevin and I drew next to each other in the team event. Watching him fish this float with surgical precision was a real masterclass in fine-tackle pole fishing.
🎯 A Masterclass in Fine Presentation
Kevin was fishing for big roach with a size 26 hook and 0.06 mm hooklength, and he absolutely cleaned up — more than doubling my weight on what was a very hard day. He went on to secure several more team points that weekend from tough pegs, and I came away having learned a great deal.
The float was dotted right down in the water, with the depth set at twice the actual swim depth.
For example:
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Swim depth: 6 ft
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Float depth: 12 ft
The rig consisted of very light shotting — a few No. 10s down the line and a couple of No. 12s spaced about a foot apart — with the hooklength dragging gently along the bottom.
This produced a perfectly natural bait presentation, and the fish simply couldn’t resist it.
🧪 Key Setup Details
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Float type: Flat-top peacock
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Tip colour: Yellow, for clear visibility
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Depth: Twice the natural swim depth
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Shotting: Few No. 10s and No. 12s, spread out
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Presentation: Hooklength dragging softly on the bottom
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Bite indication: When a fish takes, the float simply vanishes
This setup creates a slow, natural movement through the swim — perfect for cautious roach and other shy-biting species. It’s also a superb method when the water is clear and bites are delicate.
🪝 Feeding Tips
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Feed little and often — just a few offerings every 2–3 minutes.
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Overfeeding can lift the fish up in the water, which defeats the purpose of this method.
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Keep the swim controlled, and the float will do the rest.
✅ In summary:
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Flat-top peacock float for ultra-natural presentation
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Depth set at twice the swim depth for maximum control
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Light shotting and dragging hook length mimics natural food
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Deadly for big roach and shy-biting fish
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A method learned from one of the best — Kevin Ashurst
Illustration from the book
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