If you want to fish with a pole but aren’t sure how much shot your chosen pole float requires, you’re in the right place. This quick and easy guide will give you all the information you need to shot your float accurately.
The pole float shot conversion chart below will help you convert your float size (styl weight) into grams and choose how much shot is needed.
Pole Float Conversion Chart
Pole Float Size | Weight | Shot Equivalent |
3 x 10 | 0.10g | 2 x No. 10 Shot |
4 x 10 | 0.15g | 3 x No. 9 Shot |
4 x 12 | 0.20g | 5 x No. 10 Shot |
4 x 14 | 0.40g | 6 x No. 8 Shot |
4 x 16 | 0.50g | 8 x No. 8 Shot |
4 x 18 | 0.75g | 3 x No. 3 Shot |
4 x 20 | 1.00g | 4 x No. 4 Shot |
5 x 20 | 1.25g | 5 x No. 3 Shot |
6 x 20 | 1.50g | 6 x No. 3 Shot |
It’s important to remember that while the above pole shot conversion chart is accurate and should work in most cases, not all floats are made the same.
Some floats may be more buoyant than others and will take additional smaller shot to get the float to sit in the water exactly how you’d like. The opposite can also apply, and you may need to adjust the weight slightly by removing /replacing a shot with a smaller one if the float is sitting too low. The type of bait you are using can also affect how the float sits, so be prepared to alter your rigs on the bank to get them exactly right.
The shot weight chart will help you convert the shot size description into the weight of the shot in grams. The shot equivalent column will allow you to replace shot with smaller alternatives if you want to use different shotting patterns on your rigs.
Shot Weight in Grams
Shot Size | Weight | Shot Equivalent |
SSG | 1.60g | 2 x AAA |
AAA | 0.80g | 2 x BB |
BB | 0.40g | 2 x No. 4 |
No. 1 | 0.30g | 3 x No. 6 |
No. 3 | 0.25g | 2 x No. 6 |
No. 4 | 0.20g | 3 x No. 9 |
No. 5 | 0.15g | 2 x No. 8 |
No. 6 | 0.10g | 2 x No. 10 |
No. 8 | 0.06g | 2 x No. 11 |
No. 9 | 0.05g | 5 x No. 13 |
No. 10 | 0.04g | 2 x No. 12 |
No. 11 | 0.03g | 3 x No. 13 |
No. 12 | 0.02g | 2 x No. 13 |
No. 13 | 0.01g |
While most mass-produced shots/stle (stotz) are well made and consistent, you may find that they aren’t always 100% accurate. Be prepared to play around with the number of shots required to sit your float perfectly.