Gold Medal Floats

Wine Bottle

🪶 Wine Bottle Float

The Wine Bottle pole float is essentially a miniature version of the German Barrel, featuring a distinctive shoulder and rounded body. It’s designed for slow to medium-flowing rivers and canals, offering superb control and presentation when holding back in the flow.

📜 A Little History

I first saw this float in action on a small canal in France and was immediately impressed with how well it held back and eased the bait’s pace to about a quarter of the natural flow.

Later, during a Home International practice session on the Trent Embankment, I spotted Bob Nudd using the same float — and catching well with it. That was all the convincing I needed.

🧪 Design and Features

  • Shape: Like a wine bottle — rounded barrel body with a defined neck

  • Eye position: On the shoulder, allowing excellent control when holding back

  • Sizes: From 4 × 18 up to 1 g

  • Brands: Originally made by Milo, Trabucco, and WaterQueen — now also produced by Gold Medal Floats

  • Colour: Varies by manufacturer, but all are compact and neat in design

This shape gives the float a stable hold in the water, allowing the angler to slow the presentation without it rising or drifting out of the swim.

⚖️ Shotting and Presentation

The Wine Bottle float is best shotted with a bulk down and a string of dropper shots. I prefer:

  • A string of No. 8 shot rather than an Olivette, as this gives a more pliable shape and direct contact to the business end.

  • The shot string can be moved up or down to fine-tune the presentation.

This float settles quickly in the water, making it ideal for groundbait tactics, where it’s important to get fishing over the feed right away.

🎣 Best Uses

  • Perfect for shallow swims and deeper swims up to around 8 ft

  • Excellent for gudgeon bashing and fast fishing where quick presentation matters

  • Can also be adapted for close-in rod and reel work or whip to hand fishing

✅ In summary:

  • Mini version of the German Barrel float

  • Ideal for slow to medium flows on rivers and canals

  • Excellent for quick, controlled presentations

  • Stable, sensitive, and fast to settle

  • Great for groundbait and gudgeon work

  • Versatile — works with both pole and short rod setups

Illustration from the book

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