Back to Angling Page

click here

See Fishing Tips

Dave Gladwell's Fishing Tips

TOP TIP OF THE MONTH - FLOATS Part 2

If you missed the first part, read it here!

Making a single 4" Crow Quill Fishing Float as part of an inexpensive but highly efficienty 4-or 5-Quill set!
(You can also use Pigeon or Hen-pheasant instead)

Making and fixing the bodies to your quill float

1. Choice of material:

Whilst bodies can be made from the traditional source of cork this medium is not easy to work with to achieve a good finish without purchasing a high quality, fine grain cork. Corks from wine bottles may serve for large sized bodies and have great bouyancy capabilities but are likely to be substantially pitted.
At the OPPOSITE modern end of the scale are the new polystyrene bodies attached to many commercially made floats. Again these require considerable fiddling about and mechanical assistance from a drill to achieve all round perfection with a high rejection level.

That which we are seeking to effect and produce is an article we will have fashioned ourselves by hand to respect and appreciate. Preserving something of the crafts and arts of the past. Introducing to our tackle range a long-term friend of which we will become fond and appreciate its powers. A float which will invoke optimism whilst it is being constructed as our minds run over past successes and future hopes. Time therefore is not of the essence when we seek to recapture the magic of our boyhood years spent upon banks and braes with radiant roach or rudd held gleaming in the hand.

Balsa is therefore an ideal medium to fashion and easily acquired from DIY or Modelling Shops in rounded lengths of dowel or squared wood shapes. Some tackle shops do sell already drilled and partially ready balsa bodies in packets for those wishing to bypass this early stage of production.

Tools required:
1. Stanley knife blade or scalpel. (Maybe find the Elastoplast's in advance!)
2. Three drills with thicknesses of (a) 1/32 of an inch; (b) 1/16 of an inch and then;
(c) out an 1/8 of an inch. For larger floats up from the Crowquill use thicker drills.
3. Three grades of sandpaper : fine, medium and rough.
4. Talculm Powder
5. Aruldite quick set
6. Nail varnish
7. Gloss or Matt finish varnish.

Method of Working:
(a) Cut balsa to 1.5 " or 2" length by running blade several times round outside edge of dowel until well through surface then press through carefully to sever. This is an important part because if a ragged edge is left on the central part of the wood it creates difficulties in the next stage.
(b) Take the thinnest drill and pierce the end of the balsa exactly centrally, by slowly pushing in about half and inch twisting with fingers as you go. Turn balsa and do same to other end paying attention to getting a straight un-angled entry.
(c) Enlarge these entries with the next sized up drill.
(d) Return to smaller drill and make the holes meet in the middle creating a tiny channel through the body.
(e) Providing the drill pushed through appears central and straight, then enlarge channel with next sized two drills twisting slokly but firmly with fingers. Some people will think of using an electric drill for this stage, and it is possible at slow speeds but can spin in fingers, although the true "Craftsman" (like us) is avoiding mechanical aids.
(f) Fit the quill into the body.
(g) Pair down the ends at a slight angle increasing until desired shaped achieved.
(h) Smooth down with roughest grained paper first then to fine.
(i) Smear and work in talc to take up minute perfections with damp finger tip.
(j) Work in a LITTLE nail varnish as a coat to the body lightly with end of forefinger.
(k) When dry, move body up half an inch, apply Aruldite at bottom, move quill down half inch, apply Aruldite around top. Then affix body in position between and smooth with slightly wet finger for finish. (see illustration of completed products for position).
(l) Next day, rub down for final smoothings and application of varnish. (Matt does not flash in the sun but wants to go on after the gloss coat which is more waterproof).

All this may take ages but you will have an individual float to be proud of. Do not however expect your first effort to be best. Make about six at once and be prepared to reject several as substandard in the course of experience. Patience will be rewarded and practice makes perfect. Remember at sixty-four I've been playing about like this since I was thirteen! Some may wish to used Humbrol paint and then put on a shotting requirements as shown on the body). Look at the range possible. Bouyant bodies and thick Goose quills for shallow streamy waters like the Wharfe and parts of Severn and Trent taking several AA and big bits of bread for chub. Tiny trotters for the slow moving waters of the Waveney to tempt its massive roach with a single caster, or laid on with the pole and small worm in still waters. Have fun!

www.bungay-suffolk.co.uk