Antenna/Dart floats

An antenna float, also known as a waggler float, is best used in windy conditions or when fishing for fish that feed off the bottom and lift the bait, creating a lift bite. The long, thin antenna provides increased visibility in choppy water and helps prevent the float from being dragged under by wind or surface currents.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Windy Conditions:
Antenna floats are designed with a long, thin antenna that offers less resistance to the wind compared to floats with a larger, bulkier body.
This reduced resistance helps the float stay afloat and visible even in windy conditions, preventing it from being dragged under or pulled off course.
The thicker, bulbous tip of the antenna is also easier to see in choppy or wavy water.

Fishing for Lift Bites:
When fish feed off the bottom and lift the bait, they often lift the weight on the line, causing the float to rise or “lift.”
The antenna float’s design makes it easy to detect these lift bites, as the thin antenna offers little resistance to the upward movement of the float.
Anglers targeting fish like Tench, which are known to feed in this manner, often use antenna floats to detect these subtle bites.

Sensitivity:
The thin antenna of a waggler float can also make it more sensitive to subtle bites, as it offers less resistance to the fish when it takes the bait.
This sensitivity can be particularly useful when targeting smaller fish or when fishing in shallower water where a more delicate presentation is needed.
Types of Antenna Floats:
Insert Wagglers:
These floats have a thin, removable antenna, allowing anglers to adjust the float’s visibility and sensitivity based on the conditions.
Straight Wagglers:
These floats have a fixed antenna and are generally used when there is a surface tow and the angler wants to fish over-depth.
Glow Tip Antenna Wagglers:
These floats have a buoyant, fluorescent tip that glows in the sunlight, making them highly visible even in low light conditions.