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During the warm summer months there isn’t a better way to fish for carp than on the surface. Watching your floating hookbait disappear into the mouth of a carp followed shortly by the tightening of your line and the tip of your carp rod bending round can’t fail to get your heart beating that little bit faster. The other great thing about the tactic is that you have a realistic chance of catching a few fish in a short period of time. A few hours after work are all you need to put a fish on the bank.
When it comes to surface fishing, there is no place for beefy 3lb-plus test curve rods. Using too strong a rod with the small hooks and light lines required will leave you pulling your hair out with hook-pulls.
A rod with a test curve between 1.75lb and 2.5lb is much more suitable and will enable you to be much more accurate when flicking out light controller floats. A progressive action will help to absorb any last minute lunges at the net and reduce hook-pulls.
A hook-keeper ring is also a useful feature to look out for when purchasing a floater rod. When moving swims it is much easier to have your long 6ft hooklength fixed in place as opposed to it flapping around and catching on every bush you walk past! Numerous manufacturers now produce dedicated floater fishing rods which have been designed specifically for the tactic. Here’s our pick of some of the best...
Best floater fishing rods
1.
KODEX SPECIMEN SF
This quality all-round specimen fishing rod lends itself perfectly towards a spot of floater fishing. It is beautifully balanced, and the soft tip is ideal for teasing light controllers into the path of a surface-feeding carp. The slim cork handle is lovely to hold, and the minimal graphics and laser-etched butt cap, gives the rod a classy look and feel.
| Length: | 11ft 8in |
| Test curve: | 1.75lb-2.25lb |
| Guides: | Satin black SC |
| Reel seat: | Gunsmoke |
| Handle: | Cork |
| Keeper ring: | Yes |
2.
E-S-P MK2 FLOATER ROD
Lightweight and beautifully balanced, this rod’s soft tip and through-action acts as an excellent shock absorber enabling the use of light hooklinks and small hooks. The extra reserves of power in the butt section can be relied on to control bigger fish and prevent them reaching snags. The rod will handle everything from the smallest controllers up to 50g distance-casting floats.
| Length: | 12ft |
| Test curve: | 2.5lb |
| Guides: | Full SiC |
| Reel seat: | Fuji dps 18 |
| Handle: | Full duplon |
| Keeper ring: | Yes |
3.
GREYS SURFACE STALKING
Built on a lightweight high modulus carbon blank, the Surface Stalking rod has been designed with a medium fast action and a soft tip to help you flick out light controllers with long hooklinks. You’ll find a careful progression of power through the blank when you need to put on the pressure. It balances perfectly with a small carp reel.
| Length: | 12ft |
| Test curve: | 2.5lb |
| Guides: | Double leg SiC |
| Reel seat: | DNPS |
| Handle: | Full cork |
| Keeper ring: | Yes |
4.
WYCHWOOD EXTRICATOR MLT FLOATER
This dedicated floater fishing rod has been designed to offer unrivalled balance, power and performance. It is built using Wychwood’s exclusive Multi-Layer Technology to create a stronger, more resilient rod. The result is a sensitive tip while enabling the rod to be super strong with reserve power in the butt.
| Length: | 12ft |
| Test curve: | 2.25lb |
| Guides: | LS braid friendly TS rings |
| Reel seat: | Uplocking screw lock |
| Handle: | Full cork |
| Keeper ring: | Yes |
5.
Avid Carp Traction 2.5lb
The lightest rod in the popular Traction range is perfect for floater fishing work and can accurately flick out the lightest of controllers. It utilises a new Reactive carbon fibre technology, wrapped in matt 3K weave which offers a unique take on a traditional parabolic action.
| Length: | 12ft |
| Test curve: | 2.5lb |
| Guides: | Matt black |
| Reel seat: | 18mm Supa-lite |
| Handle: | Full Japanese shrink wrap |
| Keeper ring: | No |
6.
JRC COCOON FLOAT ROD
The Cocoon Float rod is the longest and lightest of all the rods in this guide. But don’t be fooled by its light test curve, it still has more than enough backbone to handle carp to well over 20lb, and the semi-parabolic action provides the ideal buffer for close-range angling situations. The rod is well-balanced and is comfortable to hold for longer periods.
| Length: | 13ft |
| Test curve: | 1.5lb |
| Guides: | Double leg SiC |
| Reel seat: | DPS |
| Handle: | Full cork |
| Keeper ring: | Yes |
7.
NASH SCOPE 10FT 2.25LB
Featuring a unique retractable butt section, this 10ft rod packs down to a mere 50in and will fit in the boot of any car. The shorter length also makes it easier to use in confined ‘parrot cage’ swims. The 2.25lb model is a brilliant tool for floater work and its classic progressive action makes it an absolute joy on which to play fish.
| Length: | 12ft |
| Test curve: | 2.25lb |
| Guides: | LS braid friendly TS rings |
| Reel seat: | Uplocking screw lock |
| Handle: | Full cork |
| Keeper ring: | Yes |