Dave Harrell Our river expert helps you pick the perfect waggler rigs

From ‘subtle presentation’ through to ‘take no prisoners’!

ACOUPLE of weeks ago we looked at six of my favourite early season ‘top-and-bottom’ rigs. Judging by the response I’ve had since, many readers found them useful.

This week we’re looking at wagglers. The question I always ask myself when I’m trying to decide which waggler to use is: “Am I looking for sensitivity or for buoyancy?”

Somewhere along the way between these extremes there will be a correct balance between the two.

This will be dictated by the target species, speed of flow and visibility at distance.

THICK INSERT WAGGLER

If you need a degree of sensitivity but still a reasonably thick top, this will probably be the float for you.

Here I’ve chosen a 4AAA model in 4ft of water. Most of the shot is used to lock on to the line, with three No6s and a No8 resting on top of the hooklength.

This is a great float for catching all species in relatively shallow water and, like the Insert Peacock float, it’s easy to see due to the hollow insert in the top of the float.

Mainline choice is 4lb (0.16mm) or 5lb (0.18mm) Pro Float and hooklengths would be 0.10mm up

INSERT PEACOCK WAGGLER

Use this float on rivers when the flow is slight and fish are shy.

It’s available in sizes from 2AAA up to 5AAA, and this week we’ve chosen a 2AAA model, which you would use for distances of between 15m and 20m.

Line would be 3lb (0.14mm) and I would put most of the shot around the float.

Beneath the float, I would space three No8 shot equally, with a No9 shot resting on top of a short hooklength of 0.08mm to 0.12mm.

Sometimes you will need to dot this float right down in order to connect with bites in the early stages of a session.

No1 (THIN) SPECI WAGGLER

This is a brilliant float to use when you might want to drag the hookbait on the bottom a little.

The buoyancy in the float tip helps it to pull the bait along, rather than the float constantly being pulled under when the hookbait catches the river bed.

This 5AAA float, fished in 8ft of water, has most of its shot locking it on to the line. Down the line there are four No6s, and one No8 on top of the hooklength.

Mainline would be 0.18mm or 0.20mm Pro Float with hooklengths from 0.12mm up to 0.16mm.

No1 TRUNCHEON WAGGLER

If you’ve never used a Truncheon Waggler, you are in for a pleasant surprise! They cast like a dream, and work really well in situations where you need a fair bit of buoyancy.

That’s similar to the No1 Speci Waggler, but there is far more buoyancy in this float so you can drag even more line along the bottom if you wish.

Here we are using a 5AAA float in 6ft of water with three No4s and two No6s below the locking shot. Mainline is 0.18mm or 0.20mm and hooklengths from 0.12mm up to 0.16mm.

No2 TRUNCHEON WAGGLER

This float is the one to use when you’re faced with very pacey water and depth.

In the diagram, our 4SSG float is set to tackle the 8ft deep swim with five No4s and two No6s down the line.

Because it’s essentially a big fish float, you’ll need to fish lines to suit, and for the 4SSG float in the diagram I’d use 6lb (0.20mm) or 7lb (0.22mm) Pro Float mainlines with hooklengths from 0.14mm up to 0.18mm.

There might even be a case for tying a strong hook direct to the main line if big fish start to show in any numbers.

No3 (THICK) SPECI WAGGLER

This is a superb little float to use in very fast water, and here is a definite ‘take no prisoners’ rig with mainlines of 6lb (0.20mm) or 7lb (0.22mm) in conjunction with hooklengths from 0.16mm to 0.20mm.

Strong hooks are the order of the day and, as you can see from the diagram, the shotting is simple – our 3SSG float in 3ft of water has just three No4s down the line.