The float is a constant companion of avid fishermen. This ancient invention is used in order to see the bite in time. Over time, the appearance, form and materials of which this tackle is made have changed a lot, but the principle of operation has remained the same.
For successful fishing, the choice of floats plays a crucial role. And in some cases it makes sense to make them yourself. Indeed, for certain weather conditions, depths, places of fishing, floats of various shapes, weights and sizes are used. If it is difficult to choose the optimal model, you can make a float with your own hands, or even several, as they say, for all occasions. For this you will need simple tools, improvised materials and, of course, your imagination.
Materials and Tools
For the manufacture of floats, you can not do without tools such as a caliper, a vice and a hand or electric drill. As materials, you can use polystyrene, tubes of different diameters, wire, paints, glue and much more.
Self-made floats made from natural materials such as wood, bird feathers, porcupine needles or balsa are very popular. When using feathers, it is very important to completely clear the surface of the fan and then to varnish, in order to prevent moisture from entering. Such homemade fishing floats are very lightweight and suitable for almost any body of water.
Homemade Float Requirements
In fact, making a float is quite simple, but this product must have certain qualities, otherwise fishing with it will be simply impossible. The basic requirement is sustainability. It is also necessary to make a float from bright materials or to cover with colored varnish. If this is not done, the gear will be poorly visible on the water. Home-made fishing floats should be strong enough, moisture resistant and durable.
Any product that meets all of the above requirements can be considered quite successful. Yes, there is one more condition. This is a high sensitivity, thanks to which you can catch even the slightest touch of fish to bait.
And the manufacture of a float should be quite economical. After all, if its creation requires rare tools or expensive materials, production will be inappropriate.
Making balsa float
Balsa is an ideal material for the manufacture of floats of various kinds. Among the advantages, high density, strength and durability should be highlighted. In addition, dried balsa is very soft, so special tools will not be required to work with it.
After manufacturing the body of the float, it is necessary to produce a high-quality coating. The fact is that balsa absorbs moisture very quickly, so it is necessary to perform the initial primer with an alcohol dye, and then thoroughly dry. And only at the end of all these manipulations can you start painting the product. If it is not good to paint over the entire surface of the float, then when it comes in contact with water, its carrying capacity varies greatly, which affects the functionality of the gear.
DIY balsa float is easy to manufacture, suitable for any kind of fishing and lasts a very long time.
Styrofoam float
The most popular material for the manufacture of floats is foam. It is recommended to use a material that has a high density. The fact is that such a foam with small cells is much easier to handle.
The structure of this material resembles wood. Therefore, upon contact with water, the foam will absorb moisture, which will negatively affect its functions. Therefore, after manufacturing the body of the product, it is necessary to carefully coat it with varnish. But you should avoid contact of the material with solvents that destroy it.
Sometimes, in order to make a high-quality foam plastic float with your own hands, it is recommended to burn the body of the product a little, reducing its water permeability. And to seal the structure, the material can be rolled between two boards.
Manufacturing procedure
To begin with, a preliminary drawing should be made to subsequently comply with the dimensions of the gear. Then you need to cut the workpiece, focusing on the dimensions of the layout, while it is desirable to make them several millimeters more.
It is most convenient to carry out this work with a machine with an electric saw. It is necessary to fix a wire or a bicycle spoke in a stationary drill to make a hole. For the manufacture of body tackle is best to use a chisel. To make homemade floats not inferior to factory floats, sand them carefully with sandpaper.
A wire is used as a keel, which must be tinned to protect it from corrosion, and then coated with epoxy glue and inserted into the body of the product. It remains only to paint our float. To do this, it is best to use dark nitro paint and light fluorescent. And for the antenna, white, red and black paint is suitable.
Feather float
If you want to make a float with maximum sensitivity, then you will not find a better material than a goose feather. Due to its keel shape, such a tackle is able to convey the slightest touch of fish to the hook.
To make such a float with your own hands, you need to clean the feather from the fluff, leaving only the core. It is very important that during the cleaning process it remains integral, otherwise water will enter inside. Therefore, it is best to scorch the fluff over a small fire.
Next, you need to put on the lower part of the pen a rubber ring, which will serve as a mount for fishing line. In order for the float to be clearly visible in the water, you should paint its upper part in a bright color. A great option is a combination of contrasting tones, for example, red and green or black and orange. You can only use waterproof paint, and on top of the product must be opened with a layer of transparent varnish.
Plastic tubing gear
Among the ways to make a float with your own hands, one of the most popular is the manufacture of gear from plastic tubes. Such material is similar to natural feathers, but more even and aesthetic. The float from the tube has such qualities as strength, high sensitivity and ease of manufacture.
It is necessary to cut off a piece of the desired length from the tube and solder the ends so that water does not get inside. One end of the tube heats up, a hole is made in the wire into which the fishing line is threaded. You can wear a nipple. The float is painted in bright colors and varnished.
For the manufacture of such gear, expensive materials or tools are not needed, and the whole process will take only a few minutes.
Wooden float
For the manufacture of gear from wood will require certain skills. This type of float is one of the most difficult to manufacture. In addition, if in the manufacture of equipment from foam or tubing it was possible to do with improvised means, then when working with wood, special tools will be required.
An electric drill is required to tackle the body of the gear. In addition, the finished float must be thoroughly sanded and painted. As for wood, there are no restrictions on the choice of its varieties. Very often, fishermen use bamboo, as it is quite easy to process. But even working with such simple material will take a lot of time and require patience and perseverance. If you are first trying your hand at this art, do not grab the stars from the sky. First, try making a simple float. With your own hands you can create a real masterpiece that can compete with store models. But be prepared for the fact that this will not work right away. Everything has its time.
How to make sliding floats with your own hands
For long casts or in case the length of the fishing rod is insufficient, sliding floats are usually used. Such tackle easily moves along the line between the two locks that limit it.
The manufacturing process is quite simple. You can use a float made of any material, for example, tubule, polystyrene or balsa. At the same time, locks can also be made independently. Although they cost a penny, it is therefore best to simply purchase this item in the nearest fishing shop.
The fastening of such a float should allow it to move freely along the fishing line. In addition, it should be such that the stopper does not crawl into it. The best option is to create an ear of wire, which attaches it to the gear. If you put a fishing line into it and set the stoppers at the required distance, the sliding float will be ready for use.
Long casting gear
For the manufacture of such products, you can use cork, plastic, feathers, polystyrene, wood and much more. However, reed is the ideal material in this case. A homemade float for long casting from reeds has a number of advantages, for example, it lies quietly on the water, is convenient for catching light fish, and is resistant to currents and waves.
The manufacturing process is as follows: with the help of a clerical knife, we make cuts on the workpiece and sharpen them a little. Next, you need to cook a stick, which will subsequently be inserted into the workpiece. As an option - a long wooden skewer.
On the other hand, it is necessary to throw a few pellets that are used to regulate the loading of the product. They must first be greased with glue. Bonding areas must be well treated with adhesive and rewound with thread. The antenna of the float is painted in any bright color, most often nail polish is used for this purpose. Finally, we reveal our beauty with varnish for wood.
Glowing float
For fishing at night, floats with chemical elements are most often used, however, such devices are disposable and their cost is quite high.
Therefore, it is possible to make a luminous float, in which an LED operating on two batteries will be used as a light emitter. The body of such gear can be made from an ordinary disposable syringe. The upper part of it must be cut off and an LED inserted, to which the wires should be soldered and batteries connected.
We cut off the piston rod. We securely fix the fishing line. To do this, make a hole in the piston and put a rubber tube on it. All joints are carefully coated with epoxy glue so that water does not get into the product.
LEDs are very economical, so two batteries last for a few night fishing. In addition, such a light source operates at any temperature, so it is suitable for use at any time of the year. The choice of color of the LED bulb depends only on the preferences of the fisherman.
Winter fishing float
Quite often, homemade fishing tackle is more functional and convenient than branded fishing gear. But how to make a do-it-yourself float that is suitable for winter fishing?
To do this, just take the helium pen case, a plastic tube and two pins. The body of the future float will be made of a tip and a handle plug that stick to each other.
Next, you need to cut two pieces of a plastic tube of 0.5 cm each. Round the edges and grind. Pins lubricated with glue are inserted inside. The result should be an articulated system having a link connection.
One of the tubes should be smeared with glue and inserted into the hole at the bottom of the float body. Using a marker or varnish, you need to draw a black line just below the top of the product. The upper part of the gear should be painted in any bright color with nail polish.
Instead of an afterword
For a real fisherman, preparing fishing tackle is no less fun than fishing. They are ready to do this watch! And if you can independently make tackles that are ideal for a certain type of fishing, then there will be no limit to the joy of the fisherman.
There are a lot of ways to make a float. Choose the option that you prefer. As you can see for yourself, the manufacturing process of these products is not particularly difficult, but it allows you to save money. Especially when you consider that in the evening you can make more than a dozen different kinds of floats. Therefore, stock up on everything you need, confiscate nail polish from your spouse or ladyβs heart, be patient and ... As they say, neither your scales, nor your tail!