With all this talk about paint jobs on floats,it came to me that we could personalize our floats just like crests on arrows, that's what we are doing anyway, I like the coral snake colors . LOFR
Although I have enough porcupine quills to last the rest of my lifetime it is fun to try to improve on nature, last week I was in a kitchen drawer and found some bamboo skewers, I thought maybe I could make a float as good as a quill, but after a little research I concluded that it was too dense to float the way I like it without adding bulk in the middle which the fish could feel the resistance, so what I was trying to do was invent a porcupine quill that didn't come from a porcupine, remember quills are tapered at both ends like a boat tail bullet which slices through the air less resistance,just like a quill in water, so I'll stick with my qulls , but I may have a mechanical float on the drawing board. Here is a photo of a float that I dont think it will ever make it to water. LOFR
Although I never made them, I once had a homemade float that was made from a plastic soda straw. It was heated and crimped on each end and had some bb shot in it that rattled when the float was twitched. Just another idea for a homemade float.
I make my own from dowels, balsa and most often from other floats that I repurpose.
Nothing as elaborate as yours, Keith, but functional considering their purpose.
Nice idea for a group. Inspiring.
i like LOFRs idea.could take it a step farther and add some small veins on the top of the float.would it make the float cast better?i have used those wing it floats,they are supposed to be aerodynamic ,would a little fletching accomplish the same?
I've never used the winged floats but I could see how the would act as fletching stabilizing the casted rig. The weight would be the arrowhead the line between is the shaft.
If you could balance the float so the vanes were below the surface at rest, it's a gimmick that might work.
If they were left to waggle above the surface, every passing zephyr* would blow your float around.
yeah keith it might help to stabilize a long bobber that attaches at the bottom.i amm going to make some floats when i find some pop cane.they look similar to your golden rod floats.the pop cane is lighter than balsa sands down easily and has the hole thru the center.i used to use the shaft of a hook for the eye.i would free line with these.like a slip bobber with no stop .put line thru eye on float.tie on hook/jig.split shot up about 2-3 feet.cast out and feed it line .when it hits bottom line goes slack you reel up 10 feet then let it fall again.i use this method in mines and quarries with clear deep water and very spooky fish.vertical jigging at a diastance.i might have one og these floats left i will post a pic if i find 1
I've seen a guy on YouTube doing that LOFR, fishing for cats. "Uncle Steve" uses a large, round float for buoyancy. He then uses the rig to distance cast from shore, yet avoid tangling the near shore weeds and such. "Reach out and drop down," essentially.
He's an ass to correspond with, but the method works.
yeah david -i made these 20 years ago.used to belong to a club.we had 2 large strip mines.vodka clear water and you could not get closed to the fish.the banks were too steep to shore fish so you had to drag a small boat electric motor battery down a steep ravine.hard work.i forgot to put a stop on a slip float when rerigging.i used it without the stop and discovered a new tactic to get at the easily spooked gills and crappies that usually held at 18-20 feet.verticle jigging at a distance
thanks keith.i found some pieces of pop cane in the barn gonna make some floats .i went with black for stealth and just focused on the bright tip.some of the water i fished 20 yrs ago was so clear it was like fishing in an aquarium.i am thinking green or olive drab for my new ones with a brite tip
BTW, came across this group checking to see if anybody else was watching Uncle Steve videos on Youtube. (I find the videos entertaining, and they don't assume that I have no attention span...Although there's no substitute for going fishing, watching these videos is a fair substitute- second-hand fishing!) :^)
I've seen Uncle Steve - "Hello boys and girls... Of all ages."
I did message him a few times, but found him to be kinda standoffish. But he does offer an experimenters viewpoint.
Suzanne;; keith ritter;; is the one that made those gall floats!! just ask him -- how to!! he will gladly tell you im sure! several of us here make our own floats!!
Yeah, I'll ask Keith Ritter about those goldenrod floats. I'd heard about using the grub for bait, now I'd like to see about making a float. Next thing you know, it'll be golden rod fishing rods... :^)
Hi Keith. Made plenty of makeshift floats in the past, from drinking straws, to reeds found at the fishing sites, as well as some homemade designs. I'll try to make some and post them up as I can regain my quiet time away from the crazy kids and wife.
I'd been away from the computer for most of this summer, but now that I'm landlocked I'm watching Uncle Steve on YouTube for some second-hand fishing trips- and found this: Uncle Steve is also working with goldenrod galls!
Uncle Steve - cool videos, but don't try to make any suggestions. I did, and he read me the riot act. Made it clear he is a one man show.
He's got a good approach, though.
Oh, I can't recall. It was maybe 4-5 years ago. I had been watching a lot of his little productions at the time. I liked his scientific approach, and his crackpot mannerisms.
I'm no expert but I've been fishing since I was six... I do know one or two things.
When I suggested he might want to try this or that, he got nutso. Told me I wasnt sh!t if I wasn't doing videos of my own. It didn't matter to him that I had no camera and didn't really intend to get into it.
I even suggested I might come visit him, all friendly and such, since I was around his area of NC at the time. That made it worse. THATS WHEN HE SAID, "I WORK ALONE!"
So I quit bothering with the old coot. He had good ideas and was willing to try anything, not knowing right from wrong about fishing. I still use one technique I saw him try. But he's such an arrogant, ornery cuss that he ain't worth messing with.
I'd forgotten- he told me the same thing when I had a suggestion for pickling worms: make a video of it yourself! The tone wasn't rude, and at the time, I thought it would be a good challenge...but I don't get along well with cameras. (At least, not standing in front of them!) So I never bothered. I only ever use fresh worms anyway.
Yeah, Uncle Steve is a great character on the screen...maybe less so in real life!
Hey Keith! I'd like to know how to make dowel stick bobbers or quill bobbers to cast with my fly rod. Damon's 2-part video should do that, I hope. I just need to know if I will be able to cast dowel stick bobbers with my fly rod. And, the size of dowel I need, length, circumference, etc., to cast for gills, crappie and perch. Plus, all the parts I need to buy. Again, I hope the videos will explain all of that. I don't think it could be too complicated.
If I can do it Bruce it can't be complicated. I don't know what you have in mind when you say dowel stick bobber. My discussion Easy Quill Bobbers has the basic instructions for goose quill floats. I can fill in any gaps. The ones I make with sticks have some sort of body like cork or corn cob. These may be too heavy to cast on a fly rod.
Experiment. We don't know everything you'll need. That's how I learned to make float. There was no one to tell me what size, what materials. It was a developmental path.
How are you using your fly rod, with spinning gear or fly gear? If you're going to be backcasting and roll casting, I know my floats would be too heavy. I'd start with balsa or basswood.
Remember no one told the Wright Brothers everything they needed to fly. They had to experiment.
My videos are nothing more than a document of the journey I took:
I don't cast my dowel floats with fly line.
I USE a fly rod as a light spin-casting rod.
The floats are simple to make - sometimes we over think these things. But they are ungainly and heavy; not suited to fly casting
Well, Damon, I wasn't asking you to make them for me. I just want to know the basic mechanics of how they are put together. I certainly can make them myself.
I am just getting started with a fly rod. Been laying with it off and on for a bit. So most of my fishing is with an open face reel. for the real light jigs I tie, I came up with a weighted float that detects bights that lift the bait. I'm sure I'm not the originator of this style float, and not trying to take the credit for originality. I took some used wine corks I got from a local winery after a taste testing they had, bought some colored craft dowels at Walmart, and drilled a hole as close to center as the cork would allow. secured the dowel in the through hole with 5-minute epoxy, and let dry.
After they were good and dry, chucked it in my bench top drill press, some 80 grit sandpaper strips, and turned them down to about the size of the Styrofoam ones on Walmart. marked one side a little above center, and estimated where 1/3rd quadrents would be and drilled holes to the center at these three locations. Theen took some squeeze weight,( not sure the size as the print is worn off the bag), but a size or two larger than BB size. Again using epoxy, put a dab in the hole, then squeezed the weight in. Let that dry. I then took a paperclip and fashioned a small hoop and using thread tied that to the un weighted side, I did this so when it's not being messed with it will stand up, but should a fish come along and hit it from below, and actually go up with it, as crappy will often do, and have had other fish do it as well, the float lays down when the bait is lifted.
The second advantage to this float is it casts a country mile compared to a 1/32 or lighter bait. I will include a pic of the finished float shortly. It's on my phone, not this computer yet.
Lord of the Fly , Rods
With all this talk about paint jobs on floats,it came to me that we could personalize our floats just like crests on arrows, that's what we are doing anyway, I like the coral snake colors . LOFR
Mar 18, 2014
Jeffrey D. Abney
I love to see the creations.......Although I don't make any myself I want to be able to comment on the ones that are posted here........
Mar 18, 2014
carl hendrix
LOFR I did at one time have one quill painted like a barber pole!!
Mar 18, 2014
Lord of the Fly , Rods
Although I have enough porcupine quills to last the rest of my lifetime it is fun to try to improve on nature, last week I was in a kitchen drawer and found some bamboo skewers, I thought maybe I could make a float as good as a quill, but after a little research I concluded that it was too dense to float the way I like it without adding bulk in the middle which the fish could feel the resistance, so what I was trying to do was invent a porcupine quill that didn't come from a porcupine, remember quills are tapered at both ends like a boat tail bullet which slices through the air less resistance,just like a quill in water, so I'll stick with my qulls , but I may have a mechanical float on the drawing board. Here is a photo of a float that I dont think it will ever make it to water. LOFR
Mar 18, 2014
carl hendrix
hahahahha LOFR!! it might work better if it was a bud light!!
Mar 18, 2014
carl hendrix
still think I will have to get another lath to make some floats!
Mar 18, 2014
Vince Fusco
Although I never made them, I once had a homemade float that was made from a plastic soda straw. It was heated and crimped on each end and had some bb shot in it that rattled when the float was twitched. Just another idea for a homemade float.
Mar 18, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
Nothing as elaborate as yours, Keith, but functional considering their purpose.
Nice idea for a group. Inspiring.
Mar 22, 2014
jim cosgrove
i like LOFRs idea.could take it a step farther and add some small veins on the top of the float.would it make the float cast better?i have used those wing it floats,they are supposed to be aerodynamic ,would a little fletching accomplish the same?
Mar 22, 2014
Keith Ritter
Mar 22, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
If they were left to waggle above the surface, every passing zephyr* would blow your float around.
*[I like that word- zephyr]
Mar 22, 2014
jim cosgrove
yeah keith it might help to stabilize a long bobber that attaches at the bottom.i amm going to make some floats when i find some pop cane.they look similar to your golden rod floats.the pop cane is lighter than balsa sands down easily and has the hole thru the center.i used to use the shaft of a hook for the eye.i would free line with these.like a slip bobber with no stop .put line thru eye on float.tie on hook/jig.split shot up about 2-3 feet.cast out and feed it line .when it hits bottom line goes slack you reel up 10 feet then let it fall again.i use this method in mines and quarries with clear deep water and very spooky fish.vertical jigging at a diastance.i might have one og these floats left i will post a pic if i find 1
Mar 22, 2014
jim cosgrove
i see your point mcscruff-but it also might make the bait dance a little if you keep the float low on the stem like a pencil float
Mar 22, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
He's an ass to correspond with, but the method works.
Mar 22, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
It might, at that. Incorporate the balance weight withy the float and you would have a casting dart - classic bit of fishing gear.
Mar 22, 2014
jim cosgrove
Mar 22, 2014
jim cosgrove
here is the type of float i used to make.i free line the jig on these.made from pop cane and i believe a small bamboo shish k bob stick
Mar 22, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
Mar 22, 2014
jim cosgrove
yeah david -i made these 20 years ago.used to belong to a club.we had 2 large strip mines.vodka clear water and you could not get closed to the fish.the banks were too steep to shore fish so you had to drag a small boat electric motor battery down a steep ravine.hard work.i forgot to put a stop on a slip float when rerigging.i used it without the stop and discovered a new tactic to get at the easily spooked gills and crappies that usually held at 18-20 feet.verticle jigging at a distance
Mar 22, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
Good story.
Mar 22, 2014
Keith Ritter
Mar 22, 2014
jim cosgrove
thanks keith.i found some pieces of pop cane in the barn gonna make some floats .i went with black for stealth and just focused on the bright tip.some of the water i fished 20 yrs ago was so clear it was like fishing in an aquarium.i am thinking green or olive drab for my new ones with a brite tip
Mar 22, 2014
Suzanne Lazar
The picture for this group is a bunch of floats made out of goldenrod galls, right?
What an idea- I can't wait to try that.
Is there a how-to already on this forum?
May 16, 2014
Suzanne Lazar
BTW, came across this group checking to see if anybody else was watching Uncle Steve videos on Youtube. (I find the videos entertaining, and they don't assume that I have no attention span...Although there's no substitute for going fishing, watching these videos is a fair substitute- second-hand fishing!) :^)
May 16, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
I did message him a few times, but found him to be kinda standoffish. But he does offer an experimenters viewpoint.
May 16, 2014
carl hendrix
Suzanne;; keith ritter;; is the one that made those gall floats!! just ask him -- how to!! he will gladly tell you im sure! several of us here make our own floats!!
May 16, 2014
Suzanne Lazar
Heh, yeah, Uncle Steve is quite a character...I'd like to check out the one with the flat float. I haven't watched any of his catfishing videos yet.
Interesting method using drinking straws...I wonder if a hollow bamboo stem would work or would they just get waterlogged.
May 19, 2014
Suzanne Lazar
Yeah, I'll ask Keith Ritter about those goldenrod floats. I'd heard about using the grub for bait, now I'd like to see about making a float. Next thing you know, it'll be golden rod fishing rods... :^)
May 19, 2014
Keith Ritter
Sep 11, 2014
carl hendrix
hey Keith you think that tobacco knife will work cutting those galls for ya!! hahahahahaha
Sep 11, 2014
Leo Nguyen
Hi Keith. Made plenty of makeshift floats in the past, from drinking straws, to reeds found at the fishing sites, as well as some homemade designs. I'll try to make some and post them up as I can regain my quiet time away from the crazy kids and wife.
Sep 11, 2014
carl hendrix
GOOD LOOKING FLOATS KEITH!!!!
Sep 14, 2014
Suzanne Lazar
Hi everybody!
I'd been away from the computer for most of this summer, but now that I'm landlocked I'm watching Uncle Steve on YouTube for some second-hand fishing trips- and found this: Uncle Steve is also working with goldenrod galls!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZioWjLlo_aM
There's a video of him fishing with one, but I haven't watched it yet.
(I still haven't tried making one myself)
Sep 18, 2014
carl hendrix
welcome back Suzanne!!
Sep 18, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
He's got a good approach, though.
Sep 18, 2014
Suzanne Lazar
David, that's hilarious! Yeah, I noticed Uncle Steve doesn't permit comments anymore!
I thought it might be because locals were tracking him and trying to mess with him (such here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODPYGPZxxXs)
What video did you comment on that set him off?
Sep 21, 2014
David, aka, "McScruff"
I'm no expert but I've been fishing since I was six... I do know one or two things.
When I suggested he might want to try this or that, he got nutso. Told me I wasnt sh!t if I wasn't doing videos of my own. It didn't matter to him that I had no camera and didn't really intend to get into it.
I even suggested I might come visit him, all friendly and such, since I was around his area of NC at the time. That made it worse. THATS WHEN HE SAID, "I WORK ALONE!"
So I quit bothering with the old coot. He had good ideas and was willing to try anything, not knowing right from wrong about fishing. I still use one technique I saw him try. But he's such an arrogant, ornery cuss that he ain't worth messing with.
Sep 21, 2014
Suzanne Lazar
I'd forgotten- he told me the same thing when I had a suggestion for pickling worms: make a video of it yourself! The tone wasn't rude, and at the time, I thought it would be a good challenge...but I don't get along well with cameras. (At least, not standing in front of them!) So I never bothered. I only ever use fresh worms anyway.
Yeah, Uncle Steve is a great character on the screen...maybe less so in real life!
Sep 22, 2014
Adam Rink
Never saw this group until you mentioned it, Keith. Looking forward to learning some new things as I'm new to making floats.
Feb 12, 2016
Damon Toney
Yeah, Kieth is like the Master Yoda around here.
Feb 12, 2016
Keith Ritter
Welcome Bruce to the Group. Now you can see first hand how little we know about making Floats. If I can help just ask.
Jun 20, 2016
Bruce Tomaselli
Hey Keith! I'd like to know how to make dowel stick bobbers or quill bobbers to cast with my fly rod. Damon's 2-part video should do that, I hope. I just need to know if I will be able to cast dowel stick bobbers with my fly rod. And, the size of dowel I need, length, circumference, etc., to cast for gills, crappie and perch. Plus, all the parts I need to buy. Again, I hope the videos will explain all of that. I don't think it could be too complicated.
Bruce
Jun 20, 2016
Keith Ritter
If I can do it Bruce it can't be complicated. I don't know what you have in mind when you say dowel stick bobber. My discussion Easy Quill Bobbers has the basic instructions for goose quill floats. I can fill in any gaps. The ones I make with sticks have some sort of body like cork or corn cob. These may be too heavy to cast on a fly rod.
Jun 20, 2016
Damon Toney
Experiment. We don't know everything you'll need. That's how I learned to make float. There was no one to tell me what size, what materials. It was a developmental path.
How are you using your fly rod, with spinning gear or fly gear? If you're going to be backcasting and roll casting, I know my floats would be too heavy. I'd start with balsa or basswood.
Remember no one told the Wright Brothers everything they needed to fly. They had to experiment.
My videos are nothing more than a document of the journey I took:
Jun 20, 2016
Leo Nguyen
Well done Damon on the documentation. Keep those kind of videos coming.
Jun 20, 2016
David, aka, "McScruff"
I USE a fly rod as a light spin-casting rod.
The floats are simple to make - sometimes we over think these things. But they are ungainly and heavy; not suited to fly casting
Jun 20, 2016
Bruce Tomaselli
Well, Damon, I wasn't asking you to make them for me. I just want to know the basic mechanics of how they are put together. I certainly can make them myself.
Jun 21, 2016
Eric Pierce
I am just getting started with a fly rod. Been laying with it off and on for a bit. So most of my fishing is with an open face reel. for the real light jigs I tie, I came up with a weighted float that detects bights that lift the bait. I'm sure I'm not the originator of this style float, and not trying to take the credit for originality. I took some used wine corks I got from a local winery after a taste testing they had, bought some colored craft dowels at Walmart, and drilled a hole as close to center as the cork would allow. secured the dowel in the through hole with 5-minute epoxy, and let dry.
After they were good and dry, chucked it in my bench top drill press, some 80 grit sandpaper strips, and turned them down to about the size of the Styrofoam ones on Walmart. marked one side a little above center, and estimated where 1/3rd quadrents would be and drilled holes to the center at these three locations. Theen took some squeeze weight,( not sure the size as the print is worn off the bag), but a size or two larger than BB size. Again using epoxy, put a dab in the hole, then squeezed the weight in. Let that dry. I then took a paperclip and fashioned a small hoop and using thread tied that to the un weighted side, I did this so when it's not being messed with it will stand up, but should a fish come along and hit it from below, and actually go up with it, as crappy will often do, and have had other fish do it as well, the float lays down when the bait is lifted.
The second advantage to this float is it casts a country mile compared to a 1/32 or lighter bait. I will include a pic of the finished float shortly. It's on my phone, not this computer yet.
May 13, 2022
Eric Pierce
Well it will be a bit, I have to download the pic to the computer to put on here. For some reason, I'm not seeing the add a pic on my phone app.
May 13, 2022