few questions on float fishing

[daveyboy]

Lads, just hoping some of you out there might be able to give me a bit of advice on float fishing. I usually use either 10lb mono or 20 lb braid for lure fishing. I've used the 10 lb mono before for float fishing and lost the float as the weight of the fload and weight must have been too much (I use those Shakespeare sea floats not sure what they weigh?) . I've used 20 lb mono since. I'd like to use the braid but if I tie a stop knot with mono the braid seems to cut through it. Any suggestions on how to use set a stop on the line if using braid?
Was also wondering whether there is any float fishing to be done after the macks are gone? Are there pollock and wrasse still about for a bit? (Dublin area)
Thanks in advance

[Preston]

rubber bands

[daveyboy]

rubber bands

yeah tried them but they kept snapping off?

[biker]

pollock are still around in my area anyway man ! rubber bands are the most popular, i use 20lb mono but my buddy uses braid and works for both maybe the bands were just dodgey !? nd if your float sank your weights are prob way too big

[yngkmd]

i use braid and use the rubber float stops you buy in packets
since braid is so fine you need to make sure you buy the small ones but if you are using a heavy float with a heavy weight it may cause it to slip
i use 5 inch floats that take a half or 3/4 ounce and have no problems

the float stops are shown here
as you can see they arent exactly expensive and does save the hassle of trying to tie a not
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-x-Float-Gum ... 3f09df2dc2

[Preston]

I use the bands for deadbaiting for pike and never a prob . I get a box of them from Easons and as long as you use a decent knot with the wider band and a bead below it they should work fine .

[eoghanb]

I only use mono for mackeral fishing,i have it on a small reel with a high ratio retrieve ,anyone that fishes the dublin harbours will vouch for me when i say that half the battle is hooking the mack then getting it away from the seals seems to be the hardest part,i use a float that will take a half inch bullet the macks have no problem pulling it under ,the bigger floats dont show up as well i think any way,i use power gum for my stop but heavy mono or elastic wirks grand,my set up is 12lb main line ,stopknot ,bead,float ,weight,another bead to protect the knot on swivel,then swivel,finally 8lb mono hook length,the reason i have a lighter hook length is if a seal takes the mack all i loose is the hook,that set up also works for wrasse and pollack but i use heavier main line and hook lengths

[daveyboy]

Thanks lads for all the info. The float I use is the same as the one in red and white here http://www.mullarkeys.co.uk/fishing/sea ... eare/9277/
not sure what weight it is tbh! I have some of those rubber stops. I hadn't fancied my chances of getting one on to the braid though! I'll give it a shot and if not, use a thicker elastic band.Thanks again.
Will wrasse and pollock be around a bit longer than the macks would you say?

[yngkmd]

the rubber stops are simple to put on
just feed the braid through the loop the stops are attached to
hold the the main part of the line and the loose end together
pull the stop over the end of the loop onto the line
then pull the loose end of the line back through the float stop
simples

[daveyboy]

the rubber stops are simple to put on
just feed the braid through the loop the stops are attached to
hold the the main part of the line and the loose end together
pull the stop over the end of the loop onto the line
then pull the loose end of the line back through the float stop
simples

I see says the blind man! I'll give it a go tonight. Thanks man..

[kevin o connor]

Try using at least two of the float stops together. They hold better in pairs.