Does its sensitivity and stability justify its cost?
By Rodney Hsu

There are several factors that determine whether a float is good or not. They are stability, sensitivity and colour. In the last several years, the UK-based company Drennan has introduced a line of floats called Pikers. They have been praised as the deadliest floats used for driftfishing in salmon streams. This year I have had the opportunity to try them out during several outings and I have mixed opinions on these highly priced gadgets.

Most of the Drennan river floats have a clear plastic body, a signature that makes them so unique. The purpose of a transparent body is to be stealth, minimizing the chance of spooking fish in clear water condition. Whether that holds any truth or not, one can only find out from the fish's point of view.

The tip of the Piker is brightly coloured, making it extremely visible especially under low light condition. One thing that I love about the Piker is the colour does not fade away, unlike some of the cheaper floats.

The Piker seems to have a thrive in the stability department as well. A well balanced Piker does not wobble easily in turbulent water, or submerge for no apparent reason. This is a crucial advantage as it allows an angler to make decisive moves when watching the Piker drifting down the river.

Pikers are sensitive, this is definitely their biggest advantage. Due to the streamline design, it appears a Piker will sink down much faster than a conventional float. This has two benefits. It allows us to spot a strike faster and more precisely. The fish will also hold onto your hook one or two seconds longer because the float is creating minimal amount of drag. These small differences don't seem that much, but it can certainly change the outcome of your fishing day at times.

With so many pros, why isn't every single angler using a Drennan Piker during the salmon season? The reason is simple, cost. Each Piker is sold at between $6 and $10 at your local tacklestore, for many this cost simply doesn't justify their urge of catching fish. A conventional foam float only costs around $1 each, much more reasonable for a bite indicator. That extra cost can be used to purchase more important terminal tackle such as sharper hooks or stronger fishing line.

Secondly, a Piker is fragile and it needs to be fished with care. An impact against a rock can easily shatter the float. If you accidentally step on it, it will also be crushed. It is understandable that majority of the angling population choose not to use an expensive item that needs to be constantly replaced.

Drennan Piker comes in five different sizes to match the flow and depth of the river where you are fishing. Give it a go. It's definitely a luxurious toy for the riches, not a must if you do not rate your fishing day based on your hookup ratio.