Carp marker float

How do you set up a fishing Marker-Float?

You’ll need a carp rod that’s stiff enough to punch out a fairly heavy lead, a reel preferably loaded with braid, a braid shock-leader, maybe a PVA bag, a marker-float and some rubber beads.

Setting up a basic marker-float is very simple, simply tie your shock-leader directly to the marker-float with a running lead being able to run freely up and down the carp shock-leader and mainline. Then tie the other end of the shock-leader to your mainline. It’s advisable to make up a 30cm/12inch link between the lead and a run-ring (or large swivel) that slides on your shock-leader and mainline. This link helps to keep the shock-leader and mainline above any weed that may be present.

How do you use a Marker-Float?

Once you have set up your marker-float it’s time to explore your swim. If you’re searching for a known feature then choose a point of reference on the far side of your swim or horizon, like a tree, pylon or church spire.

Cast out your marker-float, overhead style, beyond where you think the underwater feature is by aiming for your chosen point of reference, say a tree on the far bank. If you don’t have any prior knowledge of your swim then fan out your casts in an arc to eventually cover the whole swim, making note of a point of reference for each cast.

Once the lead hits the surface of the water quickly flick over the bail-arm and wind up any slack so that you’re in direct contact with the lead and marker-float. Keeping the rod tip high, let the rod gently lower as the lead pulls the tip down.

Feel the lead and marker-float dropping through the water, this is where a braid shock-leader and main-line is advisable. When the lead touches down on the lakebed you’ll feel the vibrations traveling up the braid and down the rod to your hand.

Mono has too much elasticity and suppresses the vibrations. A coated lead will also suppress vibrations so either remove the coating or use a non-coated lead.

Using a marker float with a carp rod

 ‘Feelings’

The feel of the touch-down on the rod depends on what the lakebed consists of in that place, for example if you feel a ‘donk’ then you’ve probably found gravel.

If you feel a firm ‘thud’ then you’ve found clay.

If you feel a soft ‘thud’ then you’ve found silt.

If you feel the lead gently coming to rest on the lakebed without a ‘thud’ then you’ve found weed.

Once the lead has touched down you then turn side on to the water pointing the rod at 90 degrees to the marker-float and tightening up. Then, by using the rod only, pull the lead and marker-float along the lakebed about 3 yards at a time.

Carp float

The feelings/vibrations that come up from the lead will give you an indication of what the lakebed consists of. For example, if you feel a constant ‘donk’, ‘donk’, ‘donk’, then you’re pulling the lead across gravel and the rod tip will bounce quite violently.

If it feels like the lead is ‘sticking and skipping’ across the lakebed, then you’re pulling the lead across clay.

If it feels like the lead is being pulled through ‘porridge’, then you’re pulling the lead through silt.

If the lead starts to snag up and gets harder and harder to pull along, then you’re in weed; you can actually feel the strands of weed snapping as you do this.

When you’ve found say gravel, you can then explore how long or wide it is by casting past it or either side of it using your points of reference on the far bank or horizon and by using the line-clip on your spool.

Depths when fishing for carp

You can also check the depth of that particular spot on the lakebed by pointing the rod in the direction of the marker-float and tightening up on the lead, then paying off line a foot at a time until the marker-float surfaces. Don’t forget to add the 30cm/12inch link to your depth.

This works because the lead is ‘running’ on the shock-leader and main line, and will allow the float to rise when given line.

Using this method you can find gravel bars, plateaux, ledges and drop-offs by feeling along the bottom and then allowing the marker-float to rise. Note the depth and repeat on the next spot.

PVA bags mesh string

Once you have found your carp spot the its a simple case of casting a PVA mesh to the desired area and topping up with boilies, pellets or whatever you chosen bait.