Do you love big bluegill?

New Ornamental Grass (Reed) Floats

I'm still trying to find out the name of this grass I found on the side of the road but it has a neat looking jointed stem and is completely hollow. No pith. I collected it a couple of weeks ago and let it dry. The joint are hard and the compartments are completely sealed. I'm going to make a few and try them out. See what y'all think. If it can float , it can be a float.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Keith Ritter on September 10, 2014 at 5:35pm

Another pic of the grass float.

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Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 10, 2014 at 5:48pm

"If it floats, make it a float!"

Love it.

Permalink Reply by Keith Ritter on September 14, 2014 at 9:18am

These three are the first grass floats I've finished. All they need is a dip in polyurethane. I started with small sections of the stem so I can figure out the buoyancy of this new material. I used a short piece of skewer in each end to save on weight. The larger sections near the bottom should take a solid stem, will make for a sturdier float in the end. If they get dry today I can at least water test them.

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Permalink Reply by Keith Ritter on September 14, 2014 at 11:32am

5 more from the same stalk. 8 total. Tested the smallest one and it cocked and held 1/64 oz split.

Permalink Reply by Steve Wilson on September 16, 2014 at 11:43am

Keith, from the pics, it looks like it is ......Phragmitis

Grows along along roads and is used some as an orrnamental.

A lot stronger than it looks, we used to make atl-atl darts from it.

Permalink Reply by Keith Ritter on September 16, 2014 at 5:20pm

Yea Steve I've passed by it a million times never thought of trying it until recently. Someone was mowing some down and I decided to grab some. This is pic of the completed (set) from one stalk.

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Permalink Reply by David, aka, "McScruff" on September 16, 2014 at 7:05pm

Who needs porky-pine quills, now?!

Permalink Reply by Steve Wilson on September 16, 2014 at 6:55pm

Those are looking very good, waiting to see it finished.

Permalink Reply by carl hendrix on September 16, 2014 at 7:20pm

definitely look good keith!!

Permalink Reply by Keith Ritter on September 21, 2014 at 6:14pm

First fish on new floats. My wife Beth caught this fat 8+ inch bluegill on a grasshopper under one of the new grass reed floats. We used one of the bigger ones so we could have enough weight to cast out to the little island in the corner of the pond. They worked great I am well pleased with them.

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