Gold Medal Floats

Sliding waggler

🎯 SLIDING WAGGLER

(The Float That Conquers Depth)

This float can catch fish when other floats can’t. Whether in 8 feet or 28 feet of water, the sliding waggler can present a bait far more effectively at depth than any fixed float ever could.

The sliding waggler is typically used when a fixed float simply won’t cope with the depth. It’s essentially a body waggler with a small eye at the base that allows the line to pass through freely and stop at the required depth with the help of a stop knot.

Long before long 20 ft rods, Bolognese rods and roach poles became common, the sliding waggler was the standard method for deep water fishing. And even today, in modern match angling, the slider still has its place.

🧰 Design & Features

  • Body: Balsa or peacock (ideal combination for stability and casting)

  • Stem & Eye: Small eye whipped at the base for line to run freely

  • Antenna: Long and sensitive for excellent visibility at range

  • Stop Knot: Special half-loose blood knot (two knots recommended)

  • Loading: Semi-loaded base for smooth casting and controlled descent

This design allows the float to slide up the line to a preset depth and settle naturally when the stop knot is reached. It’s ideal for fishing deeper than the length of the rod.

🌊 Why It Works

  • 🪝 Perfect for presenting baits in very deep water

  • 🌊 Stable against wind drift and tow thanks to its body shape and shotting

  • 🧭 Excellent long-range casting control

  • ⚖️ Semi-loaded base reduces tangles and improves presentation

  • 🌀 Ideal when fixed wagglers simply won’t reach the fish

The slider excels in windy or unsettled conditions and when fishing over deep water, giving a still and balanced presentation that often produces bites when everything else fails.

🏆 Clive’s Match Memory

🎣 Venue: River Taff, Cardiff (Deep Peg)
I first learned the value of the sliding waggler when fishing deep pegs where fixed wagglers simply couldn’t present the bait. Once set up correctly with a soft stop knot and semi-loaded float, the presentation became effortless. I caught steadily all day while others struggled.

International match history has proven its worth, too.

  • Bob Nudd and the England team used a light slider to win individual and team gold at the World Freshwater Angling Championships 1995 at Pierrepoint, Nottingham.

  • Ian Heaps famously used the slider to win his gold medal at the World Freshwater Angling Championships 1975 in Poland.

  • England used the slider again on the River Arno, Italy, in 1985 to win their first World Championships.

  • The late Billy Lane was among the earliest to recognize its potential and helped develop the method into a match-winning technique.

🧭 Pro Tip

  • Use a semi-loaded slider for better casting and smoother line travel.

  • Always feather the line during casting to prevent tangles.

  • Keep the bail arm open as the float lands to allow it to slide down naturally to the stop knot.

  • Use two stop knots to prevent slippage when striking repeatedly.

  • Light sliders can be deadly in 8–14 ft of water, especially in windy conditions.

🕰️ Classic Float Heritage

“The sliding waggler is one of the most adaptable floats ever made. It’s as useful in today’s match fishing as it was 50 years ago.”
— Clive Branson

🎨 Illustration Box

🪶 Float Type: Sliding Waggler
🌊 Ideal Venue: Deep lakes, reservoirs, slow deep rivers
🐟 Target Species: Roach, skimmers, bream, hybrids, tench
🪝 Rigging Tip: Semi-loaded base, two stop knots
🧪 Key Advantage: Perfect bait presentation at extreme depth

🪵 Materials Timeline

  • 🕰️ Early Years: Cork or balsa bodies with brass eye

  • 📈 Refined: Peacock and balsa combination with improved eye fittings

  • 💡 Modern: Lightweight composite sliders with semi-loaded bases for long-range control

Illustrations from the book  
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