Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Do you love big bluegill?

That's looking more like it:

Determine the length of the "stem" and insert it into the body:

Pressing a glass bead into the stem. I despise the plastic beads used on most slip floats, as the wear too easily and pinch my line. Also, the glass beads have a smaller hole in their center, which does away with the need for the bead included with the bobber stop:

 

All that's left is to apply a finish, and weight the float using the washers and an o-ring. I haven't decided on a finish yet, as I'm still experimenting with shape and sizes. So for now, I just go with white, and a brighter color on top for visibility. I intend to airbrush the colors when I'm satisfied with the floats themselves. here's a few I'm currently working with. And they even catch fish!....

 

 

 

Views: 657

Comment

You need to be a member of Bluegill - Big Bluegill to add comments!

Join Bluegill - Big Bluegill

Comment by carl hendrix on March 18, 2014 at 6:09am

those look real good tony!!  glad to hear there are guys that just like to make their own floats!  another type of plastic I like to use at times;; is from convience stores where you buy gas;; go to the coffe area;; and those little coffee stiring sticks!!  those are also good when I make my stops for slip bobbers!!

Comment by Bryan Russell on January 18, 2013 at 8:34am

Very nice! What kind of plastic tube is that?

Comment by Leo Nguyen on January 14, 2013 at 6:30pm

LOL Thanks for the inquiry. Been quite busy with projects and family. Just want a bit of down time to jettison the full mind of headaches by surrounding myself with fun again.

Interesting approach Tony. I'm still favoring metallic grommets and eyelets. However, there are more materials being made nowadays that will last under intense torturous conditions..aka..mono/braid rubbing. Have you considered in using surgical grade glass tubing? I've seen quite a few over here at the local medical store I visited that use surgical grade glass tubing for siphoning blood samples, which is extremely durable, smooth, and easily cut and smooth with a bit of heat and dremel diamond blade.

Comment by Tony Livingston on January 14, 2013 at 6:19pm

Leo! good to hear from you! I was inquiring about you just recently....glad to hear everything is OK, and good to have you back..

You're right about the line cutting into the tubing, and my first generation floats utilized glass beads top and bottom to prevent this. Trouble is, you then need a bobber threader to string them on your line. Then, I switched to a metal grommet for the bottom of the tube...larger opening compared to the bead, easier threading, but still problematic.

Now, I'm using a different type of plastic tube on the gen 2 floats..it's quite hard, so I'm hoping that the line won't cut into it...still running trials!

Comment by Leo Nguyen on January 14, 2013 at 5:56pm

Excellent approach. Wouldn't the tubing get cut up by the mono or braid? Incoporating a copper/tin washer to prevent the line from cutting into it? There are eyelets sold at the arts and crafts stores that fit the tubing perfectly.

Comment by wag on January 11, 2013 at 1:46pm

 

      I use the small red straw that comes with  WD 40   (and other spray cans)  for my float stem.  

Comment by Tony Livingston on December 30, 2012 at 5:52pm

Vince I'm using 3/16" rigid aquarium tubing. It took awhile to find the right material.

Comment by Vince Fusco on December 30, 2012 at 3:50pm

What are you using for a stem on your slip floats? 

Comment by Vince Fusco on December 30, 2012 at 3:32pm

Those floats look really good Tony. 

Comment by John Sheehan on December 30, 2012 at 12:39pm

That away Tony, looking good!

 

Latest Activity

Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

The Big Browns Are Always Sunning in April…..4/7/2025

"Whoa, that does look big. You say it's a brown snake? Poisonous? Around my part of PA we watch…"
1 minute ago
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Wow! Thanks. I'll have to make a note to to tune in on Saturday Sunday."
4 minutes ago
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Cody Had the Bass Bite Covered….4/7/2025

"Thanks Bruce….looking forward to the Bassmasters Elite series tournament this…"
13 hours ago
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
14 hours ago
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Caught Some Slabs Today….4/5/2025

"Although black crappie tend to run smaller than their cousins the white crappie , this is a great…"
Monday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Last Fish of the Trip….4/6/2025

It was already 84 degrees headed to 90 today….
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted photos
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a status
"We knew it was going to be tough today with gusts over. 30 knots.but good surface temperatures of 68 helped…couldn’t fish where I was 4/5/25"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's status
"Just a perfect day….water level…..perfect color…….a little…"
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Thumbnail

Very Nice Perch This Morning……4/5/2025

"I agree Bruce, the bands seemed very distinctive on this one…."
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sunday
Bruce Tomaselli commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's status
"Amazing numbers and good variety!"
Sunday
John Sheehan commented on Jeffrey D. Abney's photo
Sunday
Jeffrey D. Abney posted a photo

Very Nice Perch This Morning……4/5/2025

These fish were hitting very shallow as well….
Saturday

© 2025   Created by Bluegill.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service