Shortfloating or Short fishing is a

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

method that has been employed in running water by river anglers for many decades, and is also used by lake anglers. The method that allows the angler to selectively target species of fish by controlling

hook A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...

length. Short floating is used in the river pools alongside runs, where resting fish have time to consider and take bait.

Description

Short fishing methods controls the

length. A shorter hook length can be an advantage in the colder part of the season, although a bottom weight can have the same effect. Short fishing is a rig that entices fish that are

opportunist Opportunism is the practice of taking advantage of circumstances – with little regard for principles or with what the consequences are for others. Opportunist actions are expedient actions guided primarily by self-interested motives. The term ...

feeders, as opposed to species like carp that tend to test their food, have a routine search route, and rarely take "on the drop", for which the long rig presented on the bottom is usually best.

Use

The morphology of a

river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of w ...

which is very complex and forever changing, making short float tactics effective for targeting species. Lake beds tends to be static in its geography, though fish targeting is still employed by lake anglers. A river can be divided into sections known as runs and pools. Runs are medium- to fast- flowing sections while pools are slower, deeper sections. Short floating is used in the pools, where fish rest to conserve their energy as they move upstream. Short floating allows resting fish time to consider and take bait that is not going to rush away. Species such as chub may prefer disturbed water, and a stick float may be held against the flow to improve results.

References

Fishing techniques and methods {{fishing-stub