By Rodney Hsu

Driftfishing with a large foam float that is balanced with a pencil lead is a popular method to use when targeting salmon and steelhead. Foam floats are inexpensive and hard to break, but they become ineffective in shallow, clear waters where fish can be spooked quite easily. Such a setup can also be an overkill when fishing for cutthroat or dolly varden.

An alternative to suit these conditions is to use a smaller float. One such float that I have been testing out is Drennan's Crystal Avon. Most BC anglers are familiar with Drennan's Pikers and Zepplers, but this British tackle company also carries a huge range of floats that may suit all types of water conditions.

The Crystal Avon is a coarse fishing float that is designed for fishing in rivers or canal that has a steady low flow. Its crystal main body blends in the water, reducing the chance of being detected by fish. If the river depth is only one or two feet deep, any other float will be noticed by the fish as the presentation is so close to the float. Its widened mid-body increases stability in turbulent waters, reducing the wobbling effect. The thinning of the float's tail increases its sensitivity by reducing the friction when being pulled by a fish.

For gear anglers, the Crystal Avon can be used to drift in small streams for cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and dolly varden. Ideally, this float should be used in two to six feet of water that has a slow current. Your other gears should match the float therefore light line such as 4lb test and small weights should be used.

My experience with the Crystal Avon has been very productive. I like the simplicity of its setup. Its sensitivity allows the smallest bite to be detected, yet it does not submerge when following by eddies. Differentiation between a bite and a snag is very easy with Crystal Avon, a feature that a foam float can not deliver. The Crystal Avon does have an disadvantage. When fished far, its visibility is poor due to its small tip.

The Crystal Avon comes in four different sizes. The largest size is ideal for the small streams in BC, whereas the smaller ones can not withstand the current of most streams. Ask your local tackle stores about them now.