With the use of marker floats we can learn more about the water's bottom and can help us find underwater features such as thick silt beds and bars. Although marker floats are useful in certain situations there are some reasons why you may decide to not use one. This guide will cover everything you need to know about marker floats and help you decide whether you should be using them or not.
Although using marker floats is a great way for feature finding, in some situations it can be less effective. During short sessions there might not be any point flinging around a marker float and lead spooking fish. Also sometimes it's better to just visually look for features and see where the fish are feeding are sunning in the shallows.
WHAT LINE SHOULD I USE?
The only mainline you should be using with a marker float is braid. Braid has little to no stretch which increases its sensitivity and makes feature finding much easier. Although braid is the most expensive type of line, it can last longer than regular mono and is definitely worth the money if you're serious about using a marker kit. A good breaking strain is about 15 to 20lb but some companies are now selling dedicated braids for marking.Â
The only time you'll want to use mono for marking is if you're creating a leader. Mono is much smoother than braid, so having a mono leader can allow the line to pass through the float's run ring easier.Â
THE LEAD
The best leads to use alongside a marker float will be a specially designed lead which has prongs or rounded lobes. Having prongs or lobes on the lead will increase its contact with the bottom and allow you to have a better feeling.Â
FLOAT SIZE AND COLOUR
If you're feature finding under 90 yards then you can get away with using some of the micro marker floats. The better micro floats will be clearly visible by their Hi Viz tops and will be crafted from a strong injection moulded plastic.Â
The most common coloured marker floats are orange. However on darker waters yellow can stand out slightly more. Also on more open lakes where there is a high amount of reflected light, the best colour will be black. Some marker floats are also available with changeable colours such as the ESP Marker Dart.
CHOOSING A ROD AND REEL
Although there are rods designed specifically for marking, some anglers will prefer to use one of their spare rods instead. Marker rods have a responsive tip with a powerful casting action, however a regular fishing rod with the correct float and weight setup with braided mainline can work just as well. If you're going to use a regular fishing rod then it's recommended to have a 12ft rod with a minimum of 3lb test curve.Â
When choosing a reel for marking a free spool design can help when feeding the line from the spool to mark different depths. If you're using braid then small reels can still allow you to cast good distances. However, by using a larger spool you can reduce the retrieval time and will give you more line for further distances.