New Ornamental Grass (Reed) Floats

[Keith Ritter]

I'm still trying to find out the name of this grass I found on the side of the road but it has a neat looking jointed stem and is completely hollow. No pith. I collected it a couple of weeks ago and let it dry. The joint are hard and the compartments are completely sealed. I'm going to make a few and try them out. See what y'all think. If it can float , it can be a float.

[Keith Ritter]

Another pic of the grass float.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

"If it floats, make it a float!"

Love it.

[Keith Ritter]

These three are the first grass floats I've finished. All they need is a dip in polyurethane. I started with small sections of the stem so I can figure out the buoyancy of this new material. I used a short piece of skewer in each end to save on weight. The larger sections near the bottom should take a solid stem, will make for a sturdier float in the end. If they get dry today I can at least water test them.

[Keith Ritter]

5 more from the same stalk. 8 total. Tested the smallest one and it cocked and held 1/64 oz split.

[Steve Wilson]

      Keith, from the pics,  it looks like it is ......Phragmitis

   Grows along along roads and is used some as an orrnamental.

   A lot stronger than it looks, we used to make atl-atl darts from it.

[Keith Ritter]

Yea Steve I've passed by it a million times never thought of trying it until recently. Someone was mowing some down and I decided to grab some. This is pic of the completed (set) from one stalk.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Who needs porky-pine quills, now?!

[Steve Wilson]

   Those are looking very good,  waiting to see it finished.

[carl hendrix]

definitely look good keith!!

[Keith Ritter]

First fish on new floats. My wife Beth caught this fat 8+ inch bluegill on a grasshopper under one of the new grass reed floats. We used one of the bigger ones so we could have enough weight to cast out to the little island in the corner of the pond. They worked great I am well pleased with them.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Perfection, maestro!

[Keith Ritter]

This cracker couldn't resist the grasshopper either.