slip floats

[Steven Popp]

I'm looking at getting into making my own floats. I'm thinking about trying to make slip floats. What could I use as the center pole.

[Tony Livingston]

Steve, I use 3/16" rigid aquarium tubing.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

The center shaft? Anything.

I use thin bamboo skewers, because I have a bunch of them. I don't generally use slip floats that pass the line through the center; I usually use slip floats with eyelets at the bottom. This keeps the line down in the water and not out in the wind. The bamboo is tough and about the thickness of a tooth pick.

Long fireplace matchsticks would work, too, and with a coating of super glue would be tough enough for the job. The thinnest hardwood dowel availiable might also work. Old shafts from artists paint brushes, maybe? Sure, why not?

If you want through-float centers, those little cocktail straws or coffee stirrers come to mind. They are maybe a little fragile though if you extend them too far. So another one I've used is the plastic centers from those cotton swabs that have them. These are more solid, but are only about 3" long. I know you can get polystyrene tubing from craft and hobby suppliers so that is another option.

[carl hendrix]

hey steven;;  get with keith ritter!!  he makes all kinds of floats!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Another idea is the long cocktail toothpicks, fir a straight shaft.

[Steven Popp]

Hey guys thanks for the in put and I'm looking to make all kinds of floats

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

What do you fish for, by species?

[Steven Popp]

Gill, crappie and catfish sometimes

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Okay that makes it easier.
For the panfish, a good lite bite float and something a bit heftier for deeper water and rougher conditions is needed. More can be had but aren't really necessary.
Here's the general idea:
http://www.bentleyfishing.com/products/Expert-Floats/images/202-34-...

For catfish, large cigar shaped types are my favorite:
http://i.walmartimages.com/i/mp/00/04/50/63/10/0004506310104_P64654...

...but pole floats are also useful:

http://bottomdwellerstackle.com/gallery/american_spirit/balsa_wood_...
All of these can me made as slip floats, with only the proper balancing for each being required.

[Steven Popp]

Thanks Dave I think I like the panfish float the best as its what I fish for the most

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Good for you! Long and thin is what you are looking for, then.
To long and they impede good casting, unless you get into some specialized tackle, i.e, long whippy rods and free running light lines.
I tend to go shorter. Some guys here go the other way, using long "Waggler" type floats. Once in the water they are okay, but I find those to be a pain to work with OUT OF THE WATER. I usually use them only when fishing close and casting is at a minimum.
For bluegill, the aim is to signal what is sometimes a gentle take. Many times bluegill will snatch a bait and run, but at others they eyeball it, sidle around for awhile and finally approach to gently suck it in. This sort of timid behavior means you need a float that has a chance of responding. I favor a 4" pencil-style float in calm waters. I make them from dowels or balsa, with skewers and toothpicks on either end. One end will be the top, or "flag," and the other will be the eye support.
In more open water I reach got a more pear-shaped version, with more floatation, because it handles chop better.
For each I use just enough weight so they balance upright, with only the top 1/3 above the surface. They are then sensitive and able to signal a bite more readily.
Up til now you've heard me make a fuss out of the eye at the bottom, too. Unless I'm fishing telescopic poles, I invariably pick a float with a bottom eye. This provides a more direct connection to the hook, and keeps your line down and out of the wind..