Thread: Floater ?

Originally Posted by wicklundrh

I purchase Thill floats with weights already on them. They have a small lead collar held on by a rubber "O" ring. Most of the time, I don't use sinkers but I'm also not throwing a slip float. I use a longer steelhead rod and have little issue casting a static float set 10 feet above the bait. Those weighted floats also help you cast further.

You can also do like one other said and wrap some coiled solder around your floats. I figure, why reinvent the wheel when someone already makes them. Wal-mart sells em pretty cheap.

I started out using the Thill weighted floats and found they did cast quite well. The down side they were weighted to only float vertical. I could not tell if my lure was on the bottom or detect a up biting fish as the float remained vertical. A float properly balanced will up set to a horizontal position indication up bites and bottom.
I my area twenty five percent of the crappie bites are up bites.

Good point Bob.

I forgot to mention that during the spring time, I actually don't use any weight what so ever. Not on the line and not on my float. I use a steelhead float and detect the bite by the movement of the bobber or it standing up on occasion. It works great for me in some areas but this is shallow we are talking and the fish get spooky when they feel resistance of pulling the bobber under. With this method, I see it stand up and set the hook before they get scared off.

I have made a lot of floats for float and fly fishing for smallmouth bass in the winter. They work real well for crappie fishing and they balance with a 1/16 oz jig.

They're real easy to make and you can use a weighted round or cigar float.

Here is a video of Triton Mike Bucca making some:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAuxGB5J8F8