Stick Float Fishing - Finessing the Shotting

[@paulbryan1094]

Those John Dean floats, I find with advancing years I can’t see the finer tips once it gets a few yards down stream. My go to now are the larger tipped DH floats. Not such a strain on the peepers. 😁

[@MarkWintleFishing]

I've worn glasses since I was 21 and varifocus for about 20 years, and the last time I changed glasses I got them elsewhere from Specsavers, more expensive but far better, and I can spot bites on a dotted down stick at 30 yards.

[@andrewjackson9603]

Interesting vid Mark.

[@terrycousins3015]

Always good to see your videos 🎣

[@RichardHorne-mx3jr]

Insightful video Mark thanks for making it.

[@brianreed1451]

Fished above Fiddleford last week. Had a few but hard work

[@felgate11]

Hi Mark, I make a lot of my own floats by "Stripping Out" Company Logo, Clicker Pens (sawing off bits I can't use) with Bamboo Skewer stems and Sight Tips. I also Load some of them using Drilled through, Air Rifle Pellets up the Stem with a bit of Epoxy !!

[@robertreid7221]

Thing is Mark, I cant see the splits in no 8's, as for 10's to13's forget it. Brilliant video all the same ! ✌❤ Bob.

[@borderlands6606]

Headless nails held on with a few float rubbers can work. A lot easier to slide up and down the line than a string of shot, too.

[@MarkWintleFishing]

Are you describing a bulk shot type arrangement? The finesse of using easily-slid lead no. 8s allows for not just moving the shot but also changing the size of the groups of shot. For bulk shot arrangements I like using tungsten olivettes which can be moved and are smaller because of their density than nails.

[@borderlands6606]

@@MarkWintleFishing Yes, bulk shot substitute typically on Avon floats in winter conditions.

[@MarkWintleFishing]

That's a whole new video!

[@Walsallgrower]

Great to see an old Mitchel match reel Mark, I agree you may have done better moving downstream 10 yards...

[@MarkWintleFishing]

I probably didn't persevere long enough to do better but having considered where to sit at the beginning I thought that it was easier to film ten yards upriver as it was flatter on the bank.

[@brianreed1451]

Is that a Ringwood stretch above Blandford

[@stuabo8613]

Put my stick floats on large pole float winders at home saves loads of time

[@jancundy4810]

Hi Mark, nice session . You've probably done this previously, but could you give the lowdown on the camera set up please? Camera make? battery life? Spare Batteries? video setting 1080? Tripod? external mic? video editing software? .......Thanks for your time.....

[@MarkWintleFishing]

I use a spectrum of gear but Sony camcorders give me upwards of 2 hours on a battery charge with spares on hand, set on tripods and filmed in 4K. Mics are Sennheiser, stereo 440 for background, radio mic AVX for Lavalier, wind noise is problematic. I edit using Davinci Resolve which is pro level editing software. I also have a studio setup with lights and a boom. It's a bit like stick float fishing. Having the gear - in this case far more expensive than that needed to fish a stick float - is only a starting point. I film lots of sessions (probably 250 so far) that never make it to KZbin just to become proficient in using the gear. Getting good sound can be a bugbear, the wonderfully 'quiet' countryside is full of traffic, aircraft, chainsaws etc. and software rarely rescues bad sound. Finding swims where I can achieve my fishing goal on the day, be able to get camera angles and not either annoy other anglers or be annoyed by their constant chatter can prove difficult - you begin to appreciate why Gone Fishing is filmed on private estates far from anywhere. Editing is a whole skill set in itself. I've been using DR for close on 5 years and still learning. Markus Pix has good videos on gear on KZbin.

[@jancundy4810]

@@MarkWintleFishing Thanks Mark that's great advice and just what I was looking for. I'm a river Kennet/Trent man myself, but a trip to the Trent is a 3hr drive, plus 3hrs back... whereas kennet is 15 mins away....but alas as we all know the Kennet is a hard water, but if one wants a specimen Barbel ....double figure up to 17lbs, then Kennet is the place to go and while away those lonely hours. Last few seasons I've been down to the Wye on the passport (2hrs), and its been relatively good. Best day was 13 Barbel from one swim in an 8hr session, up to 9.5lb. In the summer, 100lb of chub is realistic. I only pleasure fish, club fishing with poles on commercials holds no attraction for me personally, obviously great for some. So, my thoughts are to share some of these trips with everyone, especially those that cannot make it to those rivers, and those that cannot get out of the house at all. I'll be trying some of the older methods as described in books and magazines of yesteryear, although I draw the line at par boiled potatoes. Ivan Marks Pacemaker and Zoomers maybe, Billy Lanes Duckers, Archie Braddock's stinking baits on the tip.....I'll be digging out my old "Coarse Fisherman" mags from Dave Hall....see what the old match anglers said in the day....Clive Smith and Ken Giles et al. Interesting to see your switch down to 22 got more bites....no fools those old stick float anglers....although like Mick Vials says, those big fish in the Trent have probably always been lurking but the match anglers never got them out....these days they target them with the stronger gear and sacrifice the smaller stuff...all or nothing. In terms of the Dorset Stour on day ticket, I wont be filming but I fancy a go on the stick float and its about 2hrs away. Thanks again Mark....

[@MarkWintleFishing]

Even more so than fishing in video buy cheap, buy twice. Make sure your camcorder has audio inputs. I also have a field recorder for sound. I suspect the Wye could be challenging to film as the banks can be steep. My two Kennet trips brought big perch.

[@jancundy4810]

@@MarkWintleFishing Ah yes....I guess you need the audio inputs to plug in the external mics.....I am investigation action cameras, as you say looking to buy cheap...not so much that I need to watch the pennies, just that I don't know how this will pan out....may find it too onerous to bother with it after a while....

[@brianreed1451]

I can get Peacock feathers if anyone wants some😊