which float to use ?

Ideally you will have a selection of straight floats in your fishing kit. If you have, then select the second largest. If you don’t have any plain straight floats, then use any straightish float that has an eye in the bottom for the line.

Attaching a normal float to the line

With the fishing reel attached, thread the line through the middle of all the rod rings. Then thread the float onto the line, through the eye in the bottom of the float. Select two medium sized sinkers [split shot], put one either side of the float, with the float about 18 inches (45 cm) up the line.

The sinkers should have a slit cut into them. Place the line in the slit and squeeze the sinker shut around the line. Close the sinker between your fingers, please don’t use your teeth or pliers.

Attaching a loaded float to the line

To hold a loaded float in place, rubber float stops are used, sinkers would add too much weight to the setup. Float stops come mounted on a loop of wire. Pass an inch or two of line through the loop and pull the first float stop off the wire and onto the fishing line. Next thread the float onto the line, then a second rubber float stop. The float should now be trapped between the two float stops, slide all three 18 inches (45 cm) up the line.

attaching a hook

some fishing sets come with hooks tied to a length of line with a loop at the end. To join the hook line and the main line, tie a loop in the end of the main line using a figure of eight loop knot. Do not use an overhand knot, because they weaken the nylon line too much.

The strongest way to join the two loops together, is to pass the main line through the loop in the hook line. Then pass the hook through the loop of the main line. Other methods will weaken the lines too much.