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So I’ve got a little range of bolo floats.

Richard Isaacs

Senior Member & Supporter
I’ve wanted for ages to make some floats. As 80% of my fishing is done with trotting floats on rivers, Ive used a lot of different floats and it’s nice to eventually put some together like I want them.

Theres not really a long list of things that I look for in a float for long trotting, just afew very simple things that make big impacts.

So my floats are classical Avon type bodies in 6/8g that I buy in and modify to suit my heavy duty stems and big tips. These are balsa wood bodies that I varnish up to make them harder and suitable to be in the water.

The tips are 5&6mm diameter and nice and tall so you have the option to run it down a long way with a long stick out or dot it down shorter for closer fishing.

The stems are slightly thicker than you see on other bolo floats being 3mm diameter 5*** series aluminum.
This is something I like a lot particularly if I’m holding a float back hard the additional weight in the stem helps prevent the float from pulling back horizontally yet it’s still more than thin enough for the river to cut through it

I changed quite afew of my bolo floats over to 3mm stems and I’ve found on faster pace rivers you do see an improvement in the floats stability particularly when holding back.

I noticed the other day when Alan’s son was using one to catch chub on the far bank of the nene he was lifting the unmended line up off the water and putting it nicely back behind the float which didn’t budge off the line. This again is a nice trait that goes with a slightly heavier stemmed float.

There’s the durability also. We’ve mentioned the thicker wire stem which goes more than half way into the float body, the body has several coats of durable varnish and the tips are quite tough being large diameter plastic.

I think these make the near perfect float for long trots, pacy rivers and they are brilliant for holding back.

I need to do more testing on the Trent
IMG_7265.jpeg
IMG_7310.jpeg
first before I can offer them but please share your interest if you would like to try some and I’ll know what sort of numbers I’m making up.
 
I would love to give one of those a go on the Thames at some point :)

Wire stemmed bolo floats are always something I’ve struggled to find, I’ve got the DH carbon ones but no alloy.
 
Always interested in a set of new floats for long trotting so you can put me down for some, depending on size (cocking weight) and tip colour.🙂


Dave
I can tell you all that David no problem.
Stem length can be whatever you want
6g and 8g are what I’m sticking with at the moment regarding weight to set the float and tip colours are red and yellow as shown.
 
I’ll do some further testing with them this week and just make sure I’m 100% happy with their performance and durability then I’ll offer them out.
I need to work out the costs but based on rough numbers and typical market prices they are going to be around £2.30 each ish.

Starting from left to right I’ve got the following options

6g 5mm tip yellow in natural balsa
6g 5mm tip red in natural balsa
6g 6mm tip yellow in dark oak
6g 6mm tip red in natural balsa
8g 5mm tip yellow in natural balsa
8g 5mm tip red in dark oak
8g 6mm tip red in natural balsa
8g 6mm tip yellow in dark oak
IMG_7311.jpeg
 
Just one suggestion - have you considered interchangeable tips or is that not practical/ too expensive?


Dave
It’s possible yes but I’m not going to offer it for 2 reasons.

1 it’s something Andrew Burt does with his floats and I’m going to leave that well alone for to him to offer .
2 the interchangeable tips are a fair bit smaller than i personally want to offer on these at 3 and 4.5mm.
 
It’s possible yes but I’m not going to offer it for 2 reasons.

1 it’s something Andrew burt does with his floats and I’m going to leave that well alone for to him to offer .
2 the interchangeable tips are a fair bit smaller than i personally want to offer on these at 3 and 4.5mm.
Fair enough and understandable. I will certainly order some when they are ready.👍🙂


Dave
 
I’ve wanted for ages to make some floats. As 80% of my fishing is done with trotting floats on rivers, Ive used a lot of different floats and it’s nice to eventually put some together like I want them.

Theres not really a long list of things that I look for in a float for long trotting, just afew very simple things that make big impacts.

So my floats are classical Avon type bodies in 6/8g that I buy in and modify to suit my heavy duty stems and big tips. These are balsa wood bodies that I varnish up to make them harder and suitable to be in the water.

The tips are 5&6mm diameter and nice and tall so you have the option to run it down a long way with a long stick out or dot it down shorter for closer fishing.

The stems are slightly thicker than you see on other bolo floats being 3mm diameter 5*** series aluminum.
This is something I like a lot particularly if I’m holding a float back hard the additional weight in the stem helps prevent the float from pulling back horizontally yet it’s still more than thin enough for the river to cut through it

I changed quite afew of my bolo floats over to 3mm stems and I’ve found on faster pace rivers you do see an improvement in the floats stability particularly when holding back.

I noticed the other day when Alan’s son was using one to catch chub on the far bank of the nene he was lifting the unmended line up off the water and putting it nicely back behind the float which didn’t budge off the line. This again is a nice trait that goes with a slightly heavier stemmed float.

There’s the durability also. We’ve mentioned the thicker wire stem which goes more than half way into the float body, the body has several coats of durable varnish and the tips are quite tough being large diameter plastic.

I think these make the near perfect float for long trots, pacy rivers and they are brilliant for holding back.

I need to do more testing on the Trent View attachment 32569View attachment 32570first before I can offer them but please share your interest if you would like to try some and I’ll know what sort of numbers I’m making up.
I’ll do some further testing with them this week and just make sure I’m 100% happy with their performance and durability then I’ll offer them out.
I need to work out the costs but based on rough numbers and typical market prices they are going to be around £2.30 each ish.

Starting from left to right I’ve got the following options

6g 5mm tip yellow in natural balsa
6g 5mm tip red in natural balsa
6g 6mm tip yellow in dark oak
6g 6mm tip red in natural balsa
8g 5mm tip yellow in natural balsa
8g 5mm tip red in dark oak
8g 6mm tip red in natural balsa
8g 6mm tip yellow in dark oak
View attachment 32574
You might want to look at 2 pack acrylic paints. I have quite a few 1980/90's polaris floats which are shinny black and have an extremely hard paint finish. They do not crack, obviously hard wearing too. I use them extensively, much superior to the later models, balsa etc. Inquiries of a float maker revealed they were 2 pack acrylic which are available in spray cans. Also Pollard floats does some interchangeable tips in 4.5 x about 50mm. Orange and or yellow, on some floats which may save you some work. I really like what you are doing. Your suggested pricing seems most reasonable.
 
You might want to look at 2 pack acrylic paints.
Not particularly Alec. The finish I’m getting is a lot harder than the uncoated wood and I can apply it at speed keeping costs to a minimum.

Interchangeable tips I’m not doing. It’s a great idea but that’s Andy’s bag and I’m leaving it well alone.

Unless something dramatic happens like they sink after several hours or break after several fish fights I’ll be leaving them as they are but most testing required this week before I start to rehome any of them.
 
They look great, Richard. What sort of depth are these mainly used for ? I fish the lower Itchen , a fast river but not very deep in places . What would happen if you was to shorten the wire stem on them ?
 
They look great, Richard. What sort of depth are these mainly used for ? I fish the lower Itchen , a fast river but not very deep in places . What would happen if you was to shorten the wire stem on them ?

I know you've asked Richard, but I imagine shortening the wire stem will mean you'll need a little more weight down the line and the float may not be quite so stable in choppy flow.
 
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