Gold Medal Floats

Flat Pole Float

🪶 Flat Float 

The Flat Float is one of the most effective floats ever created for fast-flowing water. Known by many names — Cralusso, bat float, lollipop float, disc float, leaf float — I’ve always preferred “Bat Float”, both for its bat-like wing shape and its unmatched control in turbulent currents.

Its flat body design allows it to be held against strong flow with half the weight needed compared to a traditional bodied float, making it an essential tool on powerful rivers.

📜 A Little History

The original design dates back to the 1970s, developed by my teammate Ted Parry, who made a large all-balsa version (around 10 swan shot capacity) to trot the fast waters of the Lower River Wye.

With the rise of pole fishing in the mid-1980s, and inspired by continental techniques, I helped develop smaller, pole-friendly versions after being handed a huge Danish flat float. That float was far too big for our home waters — but it sparked the idea to create a perfectly balanced UK version.

🧪 Design and Features

  • Flat, rudder-style body for maximum stability in fast or turbulent water

  • Minimal resistance against strong currents

  • Can be held at any pace — even held dead still

  • Exceptionally sensitive to shy-biting fish

  • Ideal for both deep and shallow fast swims

The shape acts like a boat rudder, cutting through the surface turbulence while keeping the bait anchored and stable near the bottom.

⚖️ Shotting and Presentation

  • Best fished with bulk down to stabilise the float in the current.

  • Add just a few dropper shots — typically three No. 6s or two No. 5s.

  • If the float starts to ride out when holding back hard, simply add a little extra weight to keep it locked in place.

  • Works best with steady pole pressure and slight overshotting.

When trotting, if you miss a bite, simply release the float and it will drop straight back into line, allowing the presentation to continue seamlessly. The more time the bait is in the water, the better your chances of hooking up.

🎯 Top Tip

  • Laying on the bottom with this float, especially with casters, is a deadly method for big roach and other quality fish.

  • The angle of the rudder allows it to track straight even in fast water, giving unmatched control compared to standard body floats.

🚀 Modern Development — Cralusso Torpedo Flat Float

In more recent years, the Cralusso Torpedo Pole Float has pushed flat float design even further. This innovative model solves some of the common problems associated with traditional bat or lollipop floats — most notably the tendency to “ride up” or vibrate in turbulent or windy conditions.

The hydrodynamic shape of the Torpedo allows flowing water pressure to pin the body down, keeping it perfectly aligned with the current. This results in an extremely stable and sensitive presentation, even when fishing baits off the bottom or allowing the rig to run slowly down to feeding fish — something that’s difficult or even impossible with standard flat floats.

🧪 Design and Performance Advantages

  • Sizes 0.5 g to 5 g come with two interchangeable bristles for visibility and sensitivity.

  • Sizes 6 g to 30 g are supplied with four or six antennas, giving versatility for different light and flow conditions.

  • A quick-fit tuning device is included on models 6 g and above, enhancing the down-force effect of the flow and forcing the float well below the surface in strong currents.

  • Made from polyurethane, the body will not absorb water, meaning that even minor surface damage won’t affect performance.

This modern flat float retains the core advantages of the original bat float — unmatched stability in fast water and superb control — while adding precision engineering and versatility for demanding river conditions.

✅ In summary:

  • Flat body creates unmatched stability in turbulent water

  • Developed from original Ted Parry design on the River Wye

  • Can hold at any pace, even dead still

  • Works best with bulk down and light droppers

  • Perfect for big roach and quality river fishing

Illustration from the book

📘 Now available in paperback: The Complete Float Manual — over 169 pages of float-fishing techniques, history, and methods.

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