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Terminal tackle · River floats · Our take
Drennan Crystal Avon Floats
Set of four river floats
A cracking set of four tough Avon floats for trotting fast rivers, keeping your bait tracking sweet and your presentation steady when the flow’s got a bit of grunt.
- Set of four floats in 3AA, 4AA, 5AA and 7AA sizes.
- Designed for fast-flowing rivers and trotting.
- Buoyant hollow plastic body and tip with a long, non-buoyant stem.
- Line attaches top and bottom using silicone float rubbers.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the Drennan Crystal Avon Floats set, supplied in 3AA, 4AA, 5AA and 7AA sizes.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A solid, river-focused float set that puts durability and control ahead of delicate presentation.
- Product Quality9/10
- Performance9.1/10
- Impact on Fish Catching8.8/10
- Ease of Use8.9/10
- Value for Money8.8/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- River float anglers trotting for chub, dace, roach and barbel. The stable Avon shape and choice of sizes suit moving water where you need the float to track cleanly.
- Anglers who regularly damage balsa floats. The plastic body resists line cutting in and is better suited to the knocks and scrapes of busy river fishing.
Maybe skip if
- Stillwater anglers fishing delicate rigs. These are built for flow and control, not ultra-subtle presentation in flat, calm water.
- Anglers wanting a single all-purpose float. The set is river-focused, so it won’t cover every shallow, deep, waggler or canal situation.
The lowdown
Introducing the Drennan Crystal Avon Floats
A cracking set of four tough Avon floats for trotting fast rivers, keeping your bait tracking sweet and your presentation steady when the flow’s got a bit of grunt.
- Set of four floats in 3AA, 4AA, 5AA and 7AA sizes.
- Designed for fast-flowing rivers and trotting.
- Buoyant hollow plastic body and tip with a long, non-buoyant stem.
- Line attaches top and bottom using silicone float rubbers.
Quick verdict
Verdict
A really handy river float set for trotting. The four sizes cover a good spread of flow conditions, while the tough plastic construction should shrug off the usual bank-side knocks rather better than balsa.
They’re not delicate canal or stillwater floats, and that’s the point. If you fish fast-flowing rivers and want a stable, repeatable setup without loads of faff, these are spot on.
A solid, river-focused float set that puts durability and control ahead of delicate presentation.
- Product Quality
- 9/10
- Performance
- 9.1/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 8.8/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.9/10
- Value for Money
- 8.8/10
Tough plastic construction, hollow body and tip, and a stable stem make this a well-targeted piece of river tackle.
The buoyant body and long non-buoyant stem are well suited to tracking through fast-flowing water.
Reliable control helps keep the bait in the right line, though the chunky Avon profile isn’t built for ultra-fine presentations.
The four sizes and top-and-bottom silicone-rubber attachment keep setup straightforward once the rig is matched to the flow.
A set of four useful river sizes and durable plastic construction give it strong practical value for regular trotting.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
Drennan
Drennan Crystal Avon Floats (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the Drennan Crystal Avon Floats
If you’re trotting a proper river, the float has got a big job to do. It needs to hold its line, show what’s happening down the swim and stay visible when the water’s pushing through. That’s where an Avon comes into its own. The Drennan Crystal Avon Floats are built for exactly that sort of graft, with four sizes in the set and a tough plastic construction that’s ready for regular river work.
Inside the pack you get 3AA, 4AA, 5AA and 7AA floats. That’s a useful spread rather than a load of near-identical options. The 3AA is the lightest at 2.4g, while the 7AA comes in at 5.6g. In between, the 4AA weighs 3.2g and the 5AA 4.0g. So you can match the float to the pace, depth and amount of shot your swim needs.
That range makes sense on the bank. A gentle glide might only need the smaller float, especially when the river’s clear and the fish are a bit cagey. Push into a deeper crease or a quicker run and a larger Avon gives you more presence and control. You’re not trying to make the float disappear here. You’re trying to keep the bait fishing properly while it travels through the feed line.
The construction is the main talking point. These floats use tough, buoyant plastic, with a hollow plastic body and tip. The upper body provides the lift, while the long stem is non-buoyant. That combination helps the float sit correctly instead of wobbling about like a cork in a washing machine. When you’re trying to run a rig through broken water, that stability is proper useful.
The top-and-bottom attachment also suits the job. Silicone float rubbers hold the line at both ends, giving the float a controlled connection to the rig. Set the rubbers neatly and you can make small adjustments to get the float tracking how you want. That matters when you’re holding back slightly, slowing the bait over a crease or running it through a faster channel.
There’s a practical advantage to plastic over traditional balsa, too. Line can cut into softer float bodies if the attachment is under tension or the float gets knocked about. The Crystal Avon’s plastic body resists that sort of damage. It won’t make the float indestructible, mind, but it should cope better with the usual tackle-box bangs, bramble snags and hurried rig changes.
On the river, that means less faff. You can choose a size, thread in the silicone rubbers and concentrate on feeding, depth and presentation. The float isn’t trying to be clever. It’s a dependable tool for keeping a bait moving at the right speed. Pair one with a sensible bulk-and-droppers shotting pattern, a line you can control and a hook bait that matches the target fish.
These aren’t delicate little floats for sipping roach in a glassy canal. They’re more at home when there’s pace, depth and a bit of colour, and when you need the rig to behave itself. For chub and dace on a steady trot, or roach and barbel when the river’s on the munch, the set gives you a cracking starting point.
The main limitation is simply the design brief. An Avon is a chunkier, more stable float, so it won’t offer the same subtle presentation as a fine-bodied stick float in calm water. But if your fishing revolves around fast-flowing rivers and controlled trotting, the Drennan Crystal Avon Floats are a bob-on bit of terminal tackle. Tough, useful and refreshingly free of unnecessary faff.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Pack contents
- Set of four river floats
- Sizes
- 3AA, 4AA, 5AA and 7AA
- Weights
- 3AA: 2.4g; 4AA: 3.2g; 5AA: 4.0g; 7AA: 5.6g
- Construction
- Tough, buoyant plastic; hollow body and tip
- Stem
- Long, non-buoyant stem for stability
- Attachment
- Line attaches at the top and bottom with silicone float rubbers
Specs checked with Drennan, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The angle
This is a workmanlike set built around control. The buoyant upper body helps the float ride properly, while the long non-buoyant stem gives it stability as the rig trots through broken water.
The big win is durability. Plastic doesn’t let the line bite into the body like softer balsa can, so these should handle regular use, awkward swims and the odd clumsy moment when you’re sorting tackle on the bank.
What you’re buying
A tough set for keeping a trot on track
The pack contains four hollow plastic Avon floats: 3AA, 4AA, 5AA and 7AA. Their buoyant upper bodies and plastic tips give them the lift needed for moving water, while the long non-buoyant stems help them sit steady as the rig travels downstream.
Line attaches at the top and bottom through silicone float rubbers. That’s the standard sort of setup you want for controlled river work. Position the rubbers carefully, then adjust your shot and depth until the float runs at a tidy angle rather than skating or lying over.
Worth knowing. Plastic is the big durability play here. The body resists line cutting into it, making these more forgiving than traditional balsa designs when you’re changing depths, moving swims or dealing with the odd clumsy knock.
Best on the bank
Made for proper moving water
These are aimed squarely at river anglers who trot a bait through glides, creases and faster runs. The smaller 3AA and 4AA sizes suit lighter work, while the 5AA and 7AA give you more control when the river is deeper, quicker or carrying extra pace.
They’re a good shout for chub, dace, roach and barbel tactics where keeping the bait in the feed line matters more than making the rig ultra-fine. Use a sensible bulk-and-dropper arrangement, keep the float moving at the right speed and stay ready for a proper screaming take.
Worth knowing. Don’t reach for these just because you’re fishing a float. On a calm canal or stillwater, their stable Avon profile can look a bit agricultural. They earn their keep when the flow is doing the pushing.
Quick answers
The bits you’ll want to know
Which size is best? Start with the 3AA or 4AA for a manageable trot, then step up as the flow, depth or amount of shot increases. The float needs enough buoyancy to carry your rig without being dragged under every time you hold back.
Are they ready to fish straight from the packet? You’ll still need to fit the silicone float rubbers, thread your line through correctly and build the rig around the conditions. The floats provide the platform; your shotting and depth settings do the rest.
Will they handle rough treatment? They’re made from tough plastic and resist line cutting into the body, so they’re better suited to regular knocks than traditional balsa floats. Still, look after the tips and don’t chuck them loose in a box with hooks and shot.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Four useful sizes cover a broad range of river flow and shotting requirements.
- Tough plastic construction resists line damage and everyday knocks.
- Long non-buoyant stem gives good stability while trotting.
- Top-and-bottom attachment suits controlled river presentations.
Worth knowing
- The chunky Avon profile is less suited to shy bites in calm, clear water.
- A four-float set may leave you wanting extra options for very shallow or ultra-deep swims.
- You’ll need to set the silicone rubbers carefully so the float tracks at the angle you want.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01What are the Drennan Crystal Avon Floats designed for?
What are the Drennan Crystal Avon Floats designed for?
They’re designed for trotting on fast-flowing rivers. The buoyant body keeps them riding properly, while the long non-buoyant stem helps them stay stable as the rig moves through the swim.
02How do you attach Drennan Crystal Avon Floats?
How do you attach Drennan Crystal Avon Floats?
Attach the line at both the top and bottom of the float using silicone float rubbers. That gives you a secure, controlled setup and helps the float track properly during a trot.
03Which size should you use?
Which size should you use?
Use the 3AA in lighter flow or when you want a more delicate setup, then move through the 4AA, 5AA and 7AA as the river gets deeper, faster or more coloured. Let the flow and required shotting tell you which one earns a place on the rig.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: verdict. The strongest reasons to choose it are four useful sizes cover a broad range of river flow and shotting requirements. and tough plastic construction resists line damage and everyday knocks.; the main trade-off is the chunky avon profile is less suited to shy bites in calm, clear water..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Four useful sizes cover a broad range of river flow and shotting requirements.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “River float anglers trotting for chub, dace, roach and barbel: The stable Avon shape and choice of sizes suit moving water where you need the float to track cleanly.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “The chunky Avon profile is less suited to shy bites in calm, clear water.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate Drennan Crystal Avon Floats
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