How long a line should you use?
IT’S IMPORTANT to use the right length of line between float and pole-tip when you’re pole fishing if you’re to get the most from your session – and there are several factors that influence this.
How windy is it? Are you fishing against an island? Is there any tangle catching vegetation? How deep is the water? What elastic are you using?
In a nutshell, once you’ve plumbed up you’ll need to trim down the length of line between pole-tip and float, and this needs to be done accurately.
You need enough of a gap to allow you to control the rig under the prevailing conditions, but it also needs to be short enough so that is encourages you to lift into bites, not strike wildly.
If you strike and miss a bite there is every chance you will lose your hookbait and have to ship back, which will waste time.
A gentle lift will mean you still have the hookbait on if you miss the indication, but this movement is also more than enough to set the hook.
In good conditions I will have 6ins of line between tip and float, 9ins in breezy conditions and 12ins when it is windy.
I always use a ruler to get the distance spot on.