The ideal lift float
- Olly
- Wild Carp
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- Location: Hants/Surrey/Berks borders.
Re: The ideal lift float
SENSAS do a range of removable fluorescent paints - applicable in 3 colours for different light conditions.
A sunken float - in a video by John Hofgartner - shows a slightly different use of the 'lift method'.
Peacock quills - I have a few full feathers next to me - go as thin as or even thinner at the end than many others!
When buying cut lengths of peacock some can be quite thick - - an inch or two insert of the end of a peacock quill negates that. As used Ray Mumford and later by Bill Rushmer and myself - plus many others I suspect!
A sunken float - in a video by John Hofgartner - shows a slightly different use of the 'lift method'.
Peacock quills - I have a few full feathers next to me - go as thin as or even thinner at the end than many others!
When buying cut lengths of peacock some can be quite thick - - an inch or two insert of the end of a peacock quill negates that. As used Ray Mumford and later by Bill Rushmer and myself - plus many others I suspect!
- Duckett
- Tench
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Re: The ideal lift float
That’s a good point about the tips of peacock quills. I’ve only ever prepped about a dozen, all in the last 6 weeks, and found them far tricker than goose and seagull to trim the feather off to the very end. I clearly need more practice!Olly wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 2:16 pm SENSAS do a range of removable fluorescent paints - applicable in 3 colours for different light conditions.
A sunken float - in a video by John Hofgartner - shows a slightly different use of the 'lift method'.
Peacock quills - I have a few full feathers next to me - go as thin as or even thinner at the end than many others!
When buying cut lengths of peacock some can be quite thick - - an inch or two insert of the end of a peacock quill negates that. As used Ray Mumford and later by Bill Rushmer and myself - plus many others I suspect!
Phil
From "... the wilds of the Wirral, whose wayward people both God and good men have quite given up on ...".
- Ryeman
- Roach
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Re: The ideal lift float
Try sandpaper.Duckett wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:09 pmThat’s a good point about the tips of peacock quills. I’ve only ever prepped about a dozen, all in the last 6 weeks, and found them far tricker than goose and seagull to trim the feather off to the very end. I clearly need more practice!Olly wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 2:16 pm SENSAS do a range of removable fluorescent paints - applicable in 3 colours for different light conditions.
A sunken float - in a video by John Hofgartner - shows a slightly different use of the 'lift method'.
Peacock quills - I have a few full feathers next to me - go as thin as or even thinner at the end than many others!
When buying cut lengths of peacock some can be quite thick - - an inch or two insert of the end of a peacock quill negates that. As used Ray Mumford and later by Bill Rushmer and myself - plus many others I suspect!
Phil
Alan
- Aitch
- Pike
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- Location: The Shades, Essex
Re: The ideal lift float
4" of plain peacock quill held on with a double float rubber at the base and 1 AAA... all you need
Just one more cast love, and I'll be on me way home
Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures and memories
Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures and memories
- Duckett
- Tench
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- 6
- Location: Stratford E15
Re: The ideal lift float
Thanks Alan. I’ve been trimming with very sharp scissors, then sanding (with very fine emery board actually as that’s what I use for my railway modelling) but I clearly need to try sandpaper as a gentle alternative on the tips.Ryeman wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:24 pmTry sandpaper.Duckett wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 4:09 pmThat’s a good point about the tips of peacock quills. I’ve only ever prepped about a dozen, all in the last 6 weeks, and found them far tricker than goose and seagull to trim the feather off to the very end. I clearly need more practice!Olly wrote: ↑Sun Dec 18, 2022 2:16 pm SENSAS do a range of removable fluorescent paints - applicable in 3 colours for different light conditions.
A sunken float - in a video by John Hofgartner - shows a slightly different use of the 'lift method'.
Peacock quills - I have a few full feathers next to me - go as thin as or even thinner at the end than many others!
When buying cut lengths of peacock some can be quite thick - - an inch or two insert of the end of a peacock quill negates that. As used Ray Mumford and later by Bill Rushmer and myself - plus many others I suspect!
Phil
Alan
Phil
From "... the wilds of the Wirral, whose wayward people both God and good men have quite given up on ...".
- Ryeman
- Roach
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Re: The ideal lift float
Hi Phil. You don't need to cut the feather off with scissors. Just get a small sheet of good quality abrasive paper. 150 or 180 grit. Lubrisil is good. Fold it into three, and simply sand the feather off. This works on all quills -goose, seagull, - not just on peacock. At the thin end , rest the quill on the bench.
Alan
Alan
- Duckett
- Tench
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Re: The ideal lift float
You know how I like to elaborate things Aitch
From "... the wilds of the Wirral, whose wayward people both God and good men have quite given up on ...".
- Catfish.017
- Eel
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- Location: Fradley Junction quite often!
Re: The ideal lift float
The "Lift Method" and Tench are inseparable,though other species are catchable too! Crucians particularly can fall more readily to this method when in a tricky mood. But to come back to the Tench, the reason Fred J used a swan shot close to the hook was to minimise the wafting effect of the fishes pectoral fins moving the bait around, pinning it down effectively so the Tench don't have to chase it around. So if a swan shot or more is employed there is nothing to gain from using fine tipped ultra sensitive floats. The time honoured short length of peacock quill works admirably, is very visible and supports the weight of the shot as it lifts so the fish feels nothing until the float is flat on the surface by which time I have always struck the bite, never waiting as some suggest until the float recocks and slides away.
- Banksy
- Brown Trout
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- 8
- Location: East Yorkshire
Re: The ideal lift float
I too would opt for a 4” length of peacock quill, but attached by the bottom end only, so as to sink the line a bit and help to reduce surface drift.
I admit that it’s thrilling to watch half a yard of multicoloured float tip rising from the surface like a Polaris missile, but it ain’t necessary.
I admit that it’s thrilling to watch half a yard of multicoloured float tip rising from the surface like a Polaris missile, but it ain’t necessary.
- OldRod
- Grayling
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Re: The ideal lift float
Lots of good information there chaps. Thanks to all who contributed, and as ever, tight lines!
At the end of the game, the pawn and the King go back into the same box........