I need some info on floats.What do you all feel is best?And is a stationary float ok or should I go with a slip float? if so what kind or should I make my own?TM

stationary.... Is my fav....

TM,

Fixed or sliding depends on your targeted water. Anything less than about 10 ft, and I'll go with a fixed float. Deeper water or faster water, where you need the presentation down fast, a sliding rig would probably be better.

For fixed floats, the dinks are cheaper, but the light balsa floats (Thill Turbomasters) are better. The weight of the jig alone will stand them up straight, and ANY sniff of your jig by a fish will get the float either dancing of dunking. Just remember that you need to mend your line to get the float standing straight up and down so the jig/bait is floating "true" through the drift.

Good luck in your float fishing adventures.......

Fish on........

I've always liked the dink floats. But that's mostly because I can never find the Thills at my local tackle shops (Outdoor Emp, Salmon Bay). Where can I pick up the thills?

Also, there was a great tip in the last STS I think. When using the fixed dink floats instead of wrapping the line around the float just run it straight from the top tube and into the bottom one and then use a small rubber band to hold the line against the float and keep the depth consistent. With this setup you won't slice your floats in two when you hit those snags and have to point the rod.

Anyway, where can I get those Thills?

Bruce

[This message has been edited by B. Gray (edited 09-05-2000).]

I prefer the fixed dink floats the most but I've never tried the balsa ones because I can't find them. B.Gray thanks for the tip on how not to slice dink floats.

Bruce,

You can get the Thill floats direct from Lindy Little Joe at 218-829-1714 (or go to lindylittlejoe.com) They're in Minnesota, so factor in the 2 hour time difference. For 1/8 oz jigs, the Turbomaster III is ideal. For 1/16 oz. jigs, the Turbomaster II is better. And for float "boondogging" the Brute Force 5" model works well. Sportco has the Turbomasters most of the time, and reasonably priced.

All these floats come with silicone sleeves to hold your line against the float body for easy depth adjustment. But thy're not cheap, so mind your depth setting and watch out for submerged sticks and logs.

If you call Lindy, they'll send you a catalog with their full float selection.

Hope this helps.........Good luck

Fish on.........

Hey B.Gray Ssalmnon BAy Tackle has Thill rt now, I was in their the other day and he had a few.

Bruce, if your down in the south end they have a good selection of Thill floats at Auburn Sports, though I usually order mine directly from the manufacturer.

They usually have the Thill floats in at Sportco in Fife.

My vote goes for fixed also,it's easier to extend the drift with fixed I normally use the dinks but have been experimenting with the thill I really like the way they float and react to the slightest nudge or fish fart
Sportco has a good selection but they go fast
I also caught the article about float fishing in STS...I need to try the rubber band thing
Tight Lines

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Row Quietly and fish a Cataraft }<<(('>----<'))>>{
Release all Wild Fish

OK guys, I've got my dink foam float, pink wiggly worms, jigs and I'm ready to go. I'm just wondering how you guys like to weight this float system. I've seen pict. of using split shot spaced all the way to the leader, or pencil lead attached at the beginning of the leader. What do you guys find that works the best?
When I used my set up last it seemed it was very light and really needed a little more weight to get it casted out for a good drift.

Thanks

Duke

Bruce -

Teds Sport Center at 156th and 99 (Lynnwood) has Thill floats. I use a sliding Thill when salmon fishing deep pools (<10ft) and a fixed dink float for about all other occasions in shallower water.

duke,

It depends on the weight of your lure (worm/jig/bait) and the speed of the water. In slow to moderately fast water I usually use the lead attached to a snap swivel at the top of the leader. When the water's moving faster, split shot closer to the lure will get it down faster so you're not out of the holding water before your offering gets down there.

When using the Turbomasters and a jig, I generally don't use any additional weight, but you'll need extra weight to get a dink float to stand upright. I've see accomplished float fishers use both methods you described, so you'll have to play around with it to see which works best for you.

Give it a try and let us know what kind of results you get.......

Fish on.......

I know I have said it a bunch of times before, but you have to check out the hand made cork floats at www.rodworks.com

They are very durable, well balanced, and come in different painted color tops (chartreuse/orange). Good prices too, in comparison to balsa floats

I got a new shipment in a few weeks ago, and they are awesome. Everything from little water to the stuff like the Skagit. They even have clear Drennan floats for those finicky, geeked out summer runs. Great stuff, and Paul Currie is a great guy to deal with. He is a very knowlegable float fisherman, and will help you any way he can.
He and his partner are also manufacturing a precision Canadian float reel, so he only checks his e-mail every few days.


Hope this helps you guys out. I can post a phone number if you are interested.

try making your own. I get some large round foam and jam coffee straws through them (you know, the double barrel really small straws that are red and white...). Then slap some neon paint on the tops and you are set. Don't need a lot of float for most jigs. They can be made pretty cheap...

To make them like they have for sale, vary the angle of the "jam" and trim to fit.