Deciding on fishing equipment is important and often tricky because there are so many options to choose from. This review, by Simon Day, is a review of the most common fishing floats in today's market.

Float fishing is very popular but the range of floats grows constantly.

1. Light-up at night float

This float has a second hole on the top to enable you to place night light stick. A good float but quite heavy. You can't cast great distances and it makes a lot of noise when it hits the water so you may scare away fish. See the tip on float three for another way of night float fishing.

2. Polystyrene float

These cost more than all other floats but unlike "3" it doesn't crack after a short amount of use. These are also good for distance casting because they are quite aerodynamic and use a quite heavy weight so good casting distances can be had.

There is however, just like all the others, a problem with this float. I have found that this float scrapes the line and slowly weakens it. If you don't check every couple of hours or so you'll find on a cast or reeling in a fish that your line will snap.

3. Plastic float

As mentioned above these floats tend to break and crack very easily. There is however a version the same size as "4" which is much smaller and an excellent one to use in calm waters when the need for distance casting isn't required.

These floats are very sensitive to bites and a little tip for you here. When you get one that cracks you'll find you have a big gap at either the top or bottom or both. If the gap is at the top then buy a night light which comes with it's own small plastic light holder. Now tie it to the top gap with line and tape Once the break has happened it won't happen again and you can then use this float for months to come for night fishing!

4. The tiny float

If you are fishing a clam sea and distance isn't an issue these floats are great but the smaller version of "3" is better still. These floats are so sensitive you can easily detect the smallest of bites. These are harder to use because there isn't much top showing but if you can get used to them you'll grow to love them. I will often use the "3" of this size because I catch more fish.

THE VERDICT

When distance and money come into things "2" wins hands down. Hard to break, lasts a long time and aerodynamic. It's possible to cast huge distances with this float.

When catching or detecting the smallest of bites matters the smaller version of "3" is a great float to use in calm waters.

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