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Float Makers Bench

From cork to quills this group is here to exchange ideas for the best results on our homemade floats.

Members: 45
Latest Activity: May 13, 2022

Discussion Forum

Goose Quill Float 2.0 5 Replies

My latest batch of quill floats have less paint to show more of the natural quill colors. I used large copper loops to accommodate fly line. I used a satin finish to reduce glare. They are pictured…Continue

Tags: made, floats, hand, Floats, Quill

Started by Keith Ritter. Last reply by carl hendrix Feb 23, 2017.

How to Use Stem Swivels For Float Making 8 Replies

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Started by Damon Toney. Last reply by Damon Toney Jan 3, 2017.

Varnishing Floats 11 Replies

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Started by Damon Toney. Last reply by Keith Ritter Jul 16, 2016.

Homegrown Reed Floats 22 Replies

I made a few floats from my first crop of ornamental grass/bamboo/reeds I transplanted to my yard summer before last. I painted these but I wish I hadn't, the body material is very slick and the…Continue

Started by Keith Ritter. Last reply by carl hendrix Jul 5, 2016.

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Comment by jim cosgrove on March 22, 2014 at 10:54am

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

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 22, 2014 at 10:41am
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.

*[I like that word- zephyr]
Comment by Keith Ritter on March 22, 2014 at 10:17am
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.
Comment by jim cosgrove on March 22, 2014 at 9:27am

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?

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on March 22, 2014 at 8:20am
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.
Comment by Vince Fusco on March 18, 2014 at 4:39pm

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.

Comment by carl hendrix on March 18, 2014 at 3:57pm

still think  I will have to get another lath  to make some floats!

Comment by carl hendrix on March 18, 2014 at 3:55pm

hahahahha   LOFR!!  it might work better if it was a bud light!! 

Comment by Lord of the Fly , Rods on March 18, 2014 at 3:20pm

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

Comment by carl hendrix on March 18, 2014 at 2:27pm

LOFR  I did at one time have one quill painted like a barber pole!!

 

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