I really like the concept of the Thill 'Steelheader' float that quickly snaps on and off, as a stationary float. This allows you to quickly switch between floatfishing egg clusters or shrimp over to driftfishing them; depending on the water fished. The problem is the biggest one offered is only about an 1 1/8th" version that is just too small to use with sufficient lead weight much of the time. They work OK for up to 1/4 oz. jigs. But they need to make a 2" version for heavier things, as mentioned. Anyone know how to contact them to suggest that to them? Any alternative ideas for a quick change snap on float option? Thanks.

RT

RT,

Link to Lindy Little Joe
http://www.lindylittlejoe.com/products/thill/default.htm

Give them a holler. They're just now figuring out that there is a fairly large market for their floats out here and they might appreciate some feedback.

rt mick thill doesnt make thill floats for lindy anymore, he makes custom floats that are far above anything else. you can email him and maybe talk him into letting you feild test some of your ideas. he is a great guy and we should support him in his quest to make quality floats. he seperated from lindy a couple of years ago because they were not producing quality floats anymore and didnt want his name on them. i dont know his email or web site so just search mick thill.

RT, I talked to them and they are considering working on a larger float. Hang in there!

Try attaching the foam type floats with two rubber bands, that will allow for a quick change over and also is easy to adjust the depth.

[ 04-19-2001: Message edited by: stever in everett ]

[ 04-19-2001: Message edited by: stever in everett ]

[ 04-19-2001: Message edited by: stever in everett ]

Thanks Jigman. Tell them to hurry for us before next fall on some bigger ones! ...

And Stever, that's a good idea to try some experiments with both foam and cork floats jeririgged on with a rubber band, so that it can be taken right off for driftfishing w/o having to waste time re-tying. Thanks.

RT

Stever, your suggestion helped me think of an idea for a float that will allow quick change back and forth from floatfishing eggs to driftfishing them (or whatever you're using).

I like the old fashioned round cork floats for both castablity and clearwater stealth. Using the plastic stem plugs at both ends of the cork will work as follows: cut about a 2" piece of 15 or 20 lb. mono and lightly plug both ends into one side of the cork and it's at your ready. When the driftfishing gets snaggy then hook on this float fixed to your mainline at the depth you want to fish by doubling about 1/4" of your mainline into the other cork hole and plugging it in with the plastic stem. Buy a cheap bag of stems because a fish on will likely pop it out into the water. An alternative to losing stems would be to paint several of them black and just run your driftfishing mainline thru it with the tapered end downward and leave it nestle against your swivel/lead. This small black stem shouldn't distract the fish and it's there to bring up the line to plug into the cork as mentioned above. Before you cast take out the short piece of line in the other cork end and encircle the mainline then plug both ends into the corkhole tightly with the plastic stem. This will retain your cork as it slides down to your swivel/lead rigup during the fish fight. The key to having it stay on is using a thicker mono (or perhaps a section of rubber band) very tightly plugged into the other hole with the plastic stem. Should work fine. Any ideas to improve this idea guys? Thanks.

RT

Hey Guys. The rubber bands work great for dinks, but you have a solution for the balsa and cork stem floats right under your nose. Just cut a couple of pieces of surgical tubing about 1/4" long, and run your line throught them when you rig up. Secure them over the top and bottom stem of your float, and you have a very quick way to change depth without line abrasion, and also a quick way to switch between floats. Been doing it for years, and it works great. Also great for light line, when you got the kids out somewhere fishing for sunfish or crappies with a float. 6 inches of tubing will last you most of the year. Good luck

RT:

Thanks for the skinny on the Wind.

After reading this post on bobbers I went out and grabbed a cork float and some black surgical tube.

I came up with a variation of what you and Hawk were describing that will work on the cork floats you like.

Run your main through two small pieces of tube. Snip a small section off the top of the plastic cones. Just enough to lessen the diameter so you can fit surgical tube over it. Not too much or you wont have enough for the tube to grab. Insert the cones into the bobber just enough to snug, leaving
half the cone sticking out. Slip the tube over the cones, the same way the old schoolers do with pencil lead.

Big Stew and I are going down the Wilson on Sat. Ill let you know how the bobber rig works.

Great post guys. I am fairly new to steelheading and this is the kind of info that really helps. I tried float fishing a bit this winter, but would have done so more except for having to retie the whole rig. I will definitely experiment with these ideas next time I go.