Porcupine quill bobbers

[Charles E. "Skip" Bird]

I have been having trouble locating some of my favorite quill bobbers: natural quills, wire loop at the bottom, small rubber band around the middle of the quill. Does anyone have any good sources for these?

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Sharon, I could make you a Crimson Topped Boogieman Special that says in bold letters BAMA , sorry we dont do them in Longhorn Orange, thats a personal thing after spending time on the field in the old Southwest Conference, or I can make you one so you can show your support for our Arkansas RAZORBACKS.

[Dave Campbell]

you can find them at inkminers.com if you're still looking!

[William Allen]

Bass pro shops carried them at one time. The selection (1dz) included 3 sizes which I liked because the large ones(8-9 inch)were hard to find. Check the master catalog. I haven't needed any in a while so I'm not sure they still carry them.

[Charles E. "Skip" Bird]

Yes, I got some from them some years ago, but they are no longer in their catalog.

[kip noblitt]

I saw them listed on the h&h tackle site, but I think they were out at the time. these are the same folks that make the cajun spin, cajun crawler, and the cutie pie, and spin. yes they are very hard to find.

[bluegillboogieman]

You can buy them in store in Bass Pro in Prattvile, Al and Spanish Fort, AL. Probably other southern Bass Pro shops. I couldn't find it in their online catalog. H & H Lures from Louisiana sells them, or did. There may be some kind of endangered species thing or Native American tradition thing that is causing a supply problem. I bought a dozen in a going out of business bait shop locally. That may be the real problem, not enough demand!!! At the same store, there were balsa floats shaped almost as thin and obviously made to imitate natural quills. I tried one, but the real deal is a little better I think.

You can find plenty of African porcupine quills on Ebay. Make your own! They are sold for craft making, necklaces and earrings and so forth. There are even some made up fishing quills, but the makers are real proud of them, if you know what I mean.

If you wanted to bid and make your own, go for the fatter ones in the 6" to 9" size. When you get them, cut the straight part of a long shank hook off and super glue that to the smallest, most tapered end, with the eye just below the bottom. Let that dry, then wrap the end with thread, OR with 0.20 lead thread from a fly ting shop. The lead thread helps the quill stand upright in the water, with less "sinker" weight needed on the fishing line. You'll have to experiment to get the right amount wrapped. Then super glue the wrapped part. Paint the top with waterproof paint, preferably as described by LOFR. The "O" rings he describes are available at Lowes in the plumbing section. ASk for help and get the tiny ones. They stretch a little, and don't rot as easily as what comes on the store bought variety, when you can find them. I have even used size .60 Run your line through the "O" ring and roll it down from the top painted part, then through the eye at the bottom. Tie on your hook and use the least sinker possible to get the float to stand up vertical, with just the top part out of the water. If you use lead thread to wrap the eye, don't use so much that it stands up no matter what. You want it to lie flat if your bait is on the bottom, stand up when it's not. These methods were taught to me by LOFR, right here on BBG.com. I have to agree with him, you really can tell if a bluegill just licks your bait with one of these.

[10.5" RES Sharon]

I got a couple of packages of "Thrills" at Bass Pro. Going to try them out today. Later, I will fix them up like you said.

[bluegillboogieman]

Thills ain't quills Sharon. Thill is a name brand of mass produced floats of various sizes and styles. I have used a few slip floaters from them and they were fine. The real deal quills are better for the so called cane pole fishing I do. That's an opinion, but it's a strong one.

You said thrills. You may have intentionally misspelled thill or quill to mess with the Boogieman. I'm not sure. I don't have to be. I do have to get you back. Wonder when is all you have to do.

[10.5" RES Sharon]

I understood when I bought them they were artificial quills, but it was the closest thing I could find. I'll let you know how well they work. ME, mess around with your head????

[bluegillboogieman]

Report back to me about them after use. Why do they have the fat part on the underwater end?

[10.5" RES Sharon]

The fat part has a hole through the tip for the fishing line and hook. I think it is supposed to help balance the bobber upright, but I still had to add 1 split shot weight to get it straight. The clerk in the store seemed to think it was supposed to lay on it's side, but what's the point of that? I didn't think it's any better or worse that any other bobber.

[bluegillboogieman]

Did you catch any because of it? That is something I can honestly give credit to a real quill for. Last time out, half the gills I caught the quill never went under, but it told me they were there. Now that is what it means to be a sensitive float.

The float needs to be standing up with just an inch or so above the water line. Keep your eye on it for subtle lifts or tilts. Those are the ones you never know are there. If it goes down under, of course you set the hook. But if it just winks at you, wink back while you're hooking one.