Stuart / Lewis
I do not think it is the shot or the pattern but rather the way you lay the tackle on the water, it is important to lay the line gently or “feather” the line down.
I find the best way to do this is to lay the rod to one side in a graceful motion as the line come off the revolving spool of the centre pin, this ensures the “lay” of the tackle as it hits the surface.
Sorry this all sounds a bit strange and for sure it would be far easier to show you!
As for which float etc, it rather depends on wind direction and strength as well as depth and flow and of course how far you are casting, I tend to ask myself how much weight I would need to fish a particular swim and then choose the float accordingly.
As a rule of thumb if you are just starting out with a pin err on the heavier side rather than the lighter, heavier tackle will fish better and cast better, being heavier it will iron out many of your faults and even a heavier float will plunge under if it is shotted correctly.
There is nothing better than practice and after a few sessions you will be able to lighten up a bit and you will also start to do things automatically and thus fish without thinking about some of the aspects of line control as you will do them without realising that you are doing it.
So try a heavier float than you are currently using, get used to that and learn from the experience.
Steve
Having re-read my post I may give the impression that I don’t fish for fun, I do and I always enjoy my trips no matter which species I fish for.
I am exceptionally lucky in that the fishing club I am a member of has several waters that contain some very big Chub, I love to fish these waters and I prefer to fish for the bigger fish, I don’t refuse smaller Chub if they come along but I would rather fish somewhere I know has better fish and possibly blank, than go to a swim that I know contains smaller fish.
I am sure there are many others on this forum that think that way I do, but they are probably a bit better at expressing themselves.
Tight Lines Chaps…….. No matter how big.