Making my own Blackfish floats

[rikkigilbey]

Ok so last week when the rains were hitting us hard, i had a few days off and planned to go fishing, i braved it one day, but stayed in the next and thought what fish related thing could i do, so i sorted all my tackle and decided to have a go making my own blackfish floats.

so using things i found around the house i got some gear together. i found an old diused bike helmet sporting some very nice hard polysteryene and some cheap ass chopsticks in the draw.

so i peeled off the outer layers of the helmet to reveal the polystyrene

i then carved it up with my penknife (it was pretty tough so i had to saw it) into managable chunks and squeezed them on the chop sticks.

then using sciccors a knife and a file i whittled them down into float shapes.

then i got the next stage sorted, where i needed some swivels, fishing line and paints.

i carved out little grooves at the top and bottom of the floats, and using the fishing line i attached the swivels to the floats, heres a close up of one.

and so i was now ready to paint.

and so using some $3 acrylics i painted them in different colours, and finished them off with my girlfriends nail varnish top coat to make them water proof.

now to try them out! and lets hope they work, i cant wait.

[PM79]

Let us know how they went.

When I was making my own I used the cork from a champagne bottle.

I put a hole through the cork, put a piece of dowl through, put it into a drill, turned the drill on and shapped it with some sandpaper.

I got to the stage where I needed to paint them and make eyelets for the line, I just never found suitable stainless wire to make them from and I gave up.

Edited July 26, 2011 by reLapse

[fishythings]

Let us know how they went.

When I was making my own I used the cork from a champagne bottle.

I put a hole through the cork, put a piece of dowl through, put it into a drill, turned the drill on and shapped it with some sandpaper.

I got to the stage where I needed to paint them and make eyelets for the line, I just never found suitable stainless wire to make them from and I gave up.

If you can’t find stainless steel wire then you can use copper wire/ electrical wire which is a bit thick and stiff. It won't get rusty.

[luderick59]

cut the shank off old hooks and use the eyes on your floats

peter

[arpie]

Well done with your floats - great idea to use the swivels instead of wire ..... I think i'd use strong braid to tie them on tho?

...I got to the stage where I needed to paint them and make eyelets for the line, I just never found suitable stainless wire to make them from and I gave up.... I bought a small roll of 200lb (I think) Stainless Steel leader - it folds nicely - just cut a suitable length, fold it in half & snug up the top 'width' with pliers ....... then, holding the top 1-2cm in the pliers - fold the other 2 bits away & voila! Eyelets!! They will fit snugly on any width of 'pole/chopstick' & then I just use Red Nail Polish to varnish them (I use strong braid to tie them on) & protect the binding.

They will catch fish, no worries!!

Roberta

[rikkigilbey]

first fish on my home made float! love it.

both floats worked a treat. will never buy a float again

[JimT]

I use small brass safety pins. Pull the pointy end back on itself to make a straight line with the circle part in the centre and cut off the other end (clasp) then bind on then epoxy then paint........

[Basil D]

very clever

[JimT]

[rikkigilbey]

the swivels worked perfectly, no glue, epoxy anything, just mono, swivel and a good knot

[FRITZABU]

Very interesting post . Will also soon try and make me some new floats.Our bream season is starting soon .Then I can go and try them .