THE SLIDING WAGGLER
This float can catch fish when other floats can’t. Whether its 8ft or 28ft this float can present bait far more easily in depth of water than a fixed float ever could.
The sliding waggler is a float generally used when the means of a fix float to a rod and reel can’t cope with the depth. A body waggler combined with a tiny eye attached to the base of the float, which allows the line to pass through and stop at a required distance with the help of a stop knot.
Long before 20ft rods, Bolognese rods and roach poles became available, the standard way of fishing in deep water was the sliding waggler and even in to-days modern angling there is always a place for the slider.
This float when fished at depth can combat most bad weather conditions, with the help of the stabilizing body, long antenna and the shotting method. It can also be used at distances very successful. Peacock and balsa body floats are the best combination.
When fishing the slider at distance its always a good idea to have a semi loaded base, this allows ease of casting without tangles, plus you can use a smaller bulk down which presents the bait more naturally.
Casting the slider presents no problem as long as you feather the line down onto the water, using an overhead cast. When the float lands the bail arm of the reel must still be open, to allow the line to pass through the sliding eye until it reaches the stop knot.
The stop knot should be a special one, a half loose blood knot, so that it can move up or down the line when needed and at the same time not move on the line when casting. I use two knots; this helps to stop a knot from moving, especially with the heavy work of casting a big float and constantly striking.
Sliders generally are large floats carrying a minimum of 2/3 swan, although in shallower waters of about 8ft to 14ft a small straight haggler could be used, with one and a half swan.
This lighter slider can produce bites, when conventional floats can’t. This is due to the still- ness of the float and of the sliding shotts, whereby it becomes very stable in the water and resists water and wind skim.
Bob Nudd and the English team used this lighter slider with great affect in the World Championships home Pierre Point Nottingham, England 1995. Using this method with sticky- bloodworm winning Individual and team gold medals.
The big slider can account for some great performances in match fishing. The late Billy Lane was one of the anglers first to recognize its potential and perhaps went on to develop this method more than any one else, for which he owes some great successes. Ian Heaps used the slider to win his gold medal in Poland 1975, England used the slider in Italy on the River Arno 1985 to win their first World Championships.
