Floats

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Originally Posted by funbun

Yeah, that's what I noticed. The floats in the Wally World are for a general audience. The wagglers and other designed don't fit into the American way of thinking.... Most people look at British floats and don't get it.

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It baffles me. I caught the Euro float bug over twenty years ago and refuse to use anything else.

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Originally Posted by no luck

This what I use most of the time tell me what you think? bluegill is about all I fish for

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That style of float is called "body up". That means the buoyancy (the fat part) is at the top. They are good for rivers but not so good for lakes/ponds.

For casting on lakes/rivers, nothing beats a waggler, IMO. For still fishing, the Thill shy bite is perfect.

we use porcupine quill floats on our cane poles. fishing 12ft deep you cant even add any sinkers. the hook and line are enough to stand them up.

Attachment 242001these

I balance all my floats to detect all lite bites.
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/panfi...r-gills-5.html

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Originally Posted by Bob/MN

I balance all my floats to detect all lite bites.

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... as do I.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsoM3egrIjE

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Originally Posted by Alphahawk

Take a look at some Gapen floats......best I have seen.

Regards

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I agree. I have been using Gapen floats for a few years now and they are great. I think I may have heard about them first on this forum. I just joined to hopefully steer some others to these bobbers. I have no relation to the company other than being a happy customer. But I think these may have helped me catch fish more than anything else.

I used to use Thill floats. But what I like most about the Gapen floats is the way you attach them to your line. You can use a slip or fixed float technique, and remove and attach them VERY easily. I don't know of any other bobber with this system. If there are others, please let me know.

I also like the wide range of different shapes and sizes they come in. Here are some long thin ones (their "Pencil" style and "Panfish" style) that are very sensitive:

http://cdn3.volusion.com/gxdjm.htxme...T-PENCIL-2.jpg


http://cdn3.volusion.com/gxdjm.htxme...-PANFISH-2.jpg

Pozidriv

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Originally Posted by Pozidriv

I used to use Thill floats. But what I like most about the Gapen floats is the way you attach them to your line. You can use a slip or fixed float technique, and remove and attach them VERY easily. I don't know of any other bobber with this system. If there are others, please let me know.

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The Thill floats have a similar system but, for some unknown reason, Lindy never mentions it. (I don't think anybody at Lindy understands the Thill floats very well.)

You just need to use a float adaptor like this:


http://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/media...t-adapters.jpg



If you use these, you can switch floats in seconds and never have to retie your rig. Lindy used to sell these, but I can't find them on their website anymore. You can get them online. Here's a video of how they works:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pJ6-p4A5QQ

Very good video on the "tell tale shot".


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmmvShxbmBU

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

The Thill floats have a similar system but, for some unknown reason, Lindy never mentions it. (I don't think anybody at Lindy understands the Thill floats very well.)

You just need to use a float adaptor like this:


If you use these, you can switch floats in seconds and never have to retie your rig. Lindy used to sell these, but I can't find them on their website anymore. You can get them online. Here's a video of how they works:

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Thanks for posting that deathb4disco. But if I understand its use correctly (from watching the video), that piece must stay on the line at all times, even when the bobber is removed.

With the Gapen bobber, once you remove the bobber, there is nothing that stays on the line (other than the bobber stop and bead). I'm surprised the Gapen bobbers are not more widely used.

Pozidriv

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Originally Posted by Pozidriv

... that piece must stay on the line at all times, even when the bobber is removed.

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Not necessarily.

By keeping it on the line, you can swap out different floats without retying anything. If the fish move farther out, you can easily switch to a bigger float and not miss a beat.

However, if you prefer, you can leave the adaptor attached to the float when you remove it, so there is nothing left on the line.

has anyone brought up the Rocket Bobber ?, I use a lot of different floats and have found a very good use for it.

I use a Rocket Bobber. It lays down on the water and stands up when I get a bite. Helps me out. I also like Pegged Floats.

Remember: Orange for cloudy days, Yellow for sunny days. ;)

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Originally Posted by glasseyes

has anyone brought up the Rocket Bobber ?, I use a lot of different floats and have found a very good use for it.

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Sorry, didn't see this before posting. Yes! I use them faithfully. They work really well, and ..... you can cast out further from the bank!

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Originally Posted by Mamba334

Sorry, didn't see this before posting. Yes! I use them faithfully. They work really well, and ..... you can cast out further from the bank!

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just saw something about them and bought a couple, along with bigger weighted bobbers. at my lake always a breeze with waves across water and need to get my jig out a long way and then be able to detect the light bites. So going to give them a try along with Thill's and others.

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

That style of float is called "body up". That means the buoyancy (the fat part) is at the top. They are good for rivers but not so good for lakes/ponds.

For casting on lakes/rivers, nothing beats a waggler, IMO. For still fishing, the Thill shy bite is perfect.

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Very interesting topic, I also use the thill shy bite and the mini shy bite


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by deathb4disco

The Thill floats have a similar system but, for some unknown reason, Lindy never mentions it. (I don't think anybody at Lindy understands the Thill floats very well.)

You just need to use a float adaptor like this:


http://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/media...t-adapters.jpg



If you use these, you can switch floats in seconds and never have to retie your rig. Lindy used to sell these, but I can't find them on their website anymore. You can get them online. Here's a video of how they works:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pJ6-p4A5QQ

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Where can I get some of these???? everywhere I look they are discontinued.


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You can make your own with heat shrink tubing and stem swivels.

You can also cut off any straight shank hook and run the shank up the stem of the shy bite, to leave the hook eye at the bottom of the float.

You can still rig it with the rubber tubing as normal, or use the hook eye as a slip float. I super glue the last 1/8" of hook shank before pushing it all the way flush with the bottom of the thill shy bite.

Size matters, I prefer smallest that I can get away with for Brim/Bluegill. That perfect balance for easy detection is what you need to try and get.

I've experimented with the float & fly (uplift) type floats. Betts makes two that are good but I make my own. I've taken the 2 inch weighted cylinder float and modified it to have weight on top also. When balanced perfectly you can detect the slightest bite especially the up lift one. I'd like to start making a few of my own. PM me if you have any information on this setup.

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Originally Posted by warmouth

You can also cut off any straight shank hook and run the shank up the stem of the shy bite, to leave the hook eye at the bottom of the float.

You can still rig it with the rubber tubing as normal, or use the hook eye as a slip float. I super glue the last 1/8" of hook shank before pushing it all the way flush with the bottom of the thill shy bite.

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Here is what I was talking about with the Thill Shy Bite.

Use any old aberdene style hook shank and run it up the stem to be able to use it as a slip float.

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psl8hoak0p.jpg

These are rated 1/16 oz and 1/32 oz.

The cheapest cigar floats I can find on ebay. I've got them from 3/8 to 14".

:ThumbsUp:ThumbsUp

Here is my experience with "size matters". While in Canada catching blacks, we had to improvise on the fly. Fish were biting extremely light. Feeling any resistance they would drop it. While searching for a lighter float in the tackle box we came across some ear plugs. You know the kind you roll around in your fingers to make it smaller? That did the trick. Just large enough to see but easy to pull under. We started hooking fish after that. That day size mattered without a doubt. :dono

Good article on Mick Thill and float fishing in this month's In-Fisherman.

Great thread. Thanks to all. The problem I have with the waglers is that a lively minnow will pull it down. And I like my minners lively.

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Originally Posted by JD1

Great thread. Thanks to all. The problem I have with the waglers is that a lively minnow will pull it down. And I like my minners lively.

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Use a bigger waggler or just leave more of the tip out of the water. I've used live bluegills under a waggler for bass fishing, and they can't pull the float under. :)