Anyone tried techniques like this here in TX? I must admit my jaw dropped when he talked about using hot dogs...and that corn was his least favorite bait.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6X5Tgxwh83c

Could i just use a regular bobber? It would make sense that it would work - i was getting the middle fin thrown at me Sunday from 15 feet away - if they are up on the surface that close, maybe i could bait close and just try floating a bait under a bobber?

Yep, I float fish all the time. The technique works great in ponds. I'd not recommend hot dogs here. They can use meaty baits there without having to deal with turtles and channel cats.

Popular baits and particles are small boilies, corn, tiger nuts, hemp seed, pellets, compressed bread and groundbait that leaves a cloud of flavor and attractors but not much in the way of food. Other particles you could try are peanuts, birdseed, chickpeas and soybeans

It says chub but I forgot to mention how well bread works for carp.

Float fishing is one of my favorite methods for carp too.

I don't see why a standard bobber wouldn't work but you probably won't get the fine detection that you get with a waggler. I'd recommend picking up some Thill TG body wagglers from Bass Pro or Cabela's. I'm not sure if Academy or Dick's carry them, never looked there but it's worth a try.

I normally just use sweet corn on the hook and chum about half a handful around my hook every time I cast out.

If you can find a small canal system, they are ideal places to learn to float fish as there are usually carp present and they usually have a uniform profile and depth so once you set your float depth, you should be good to go for the rest of the day.

Good luck!

Also, I don't recommend fishing the corn (or bread or whatever else) suspended under a float. Yes, you may catch carp but you're more likely to be driven insane by sunfish. Carp are bottom feeders and the bottom is the easiest place to get them to bite.

That's why waggler floats are good, you can adjust the float up or down easily to find the bottom. You should have your depth set so the bait is on the bottom and just the tip of the float sticks up above the surface. Often, when you get a fish who's interested, he will actually make the float pop UP instead of sinking it when he mouths the bait. Again, wagglers give the most sensitive and fine bite detection you can find.

EDIT: This link will give you a good idea of ways to float fish for carp. The very top animation is exactly the way I do it. Instead of locking the float in position like the video you posted shows, just use a stop knot and bead to set your depth. This is much easier and better on your line as well.

Academy does not carry thill bobbers, at least the two stores I was in last weekend.

I love float fishing, it is a bit tough for me with my crappy vision but still very rewarding.

Ben is giving very good advice.

BPS sells the thill waggler its the way I fish most of the time when around dallas ft/worth travel light and move around.

that pond I told you about in lewisville is a great place to float fish

very cool! Lonestar - we are already planning a return trip and will probably fish one rod with a boilie and one rod with an adjustable float and see which one wins out. According my hummingbird, it was about 10' where we were getting our bites so i can set the stop knot and bead for that.

Do you have to had a rod long enough to be able to set the hook straight up? i imagine that you set when you see him mouth it. this would be ideal to keep the 11yr old busy

If you only fish one way, sure keep it on the bottom. But for schooling, active feeding Carp, they will quite often be seen sucking at insects, etc, at the surface. Any location where peeps feed ducks is a great place to float fish for carp. That's the perfect time to fly fish or place a bread ball on a line with no weight, etc.

As far as river fishing, countless times I've seen Carp cruising the shores slurping up anything on the surface. You can hear the slurp sound before you see them!:) lol...

I use a 9' rod and have for years, I find that the longer float rods are to cumbersome.

you don't have to fuss over trying to get the the shot right with the waggler just stick enough on there to sink it then slide your float stop up the line to about 10' when you cast out you want the float to be laying on its side then you load it by slowly winding in I do this by hand turning the spool until just the tip of the float is sticking out of the water...when a fish picks up the bait the float pop's up when it pops set the hook.