Floats for Steelie Jig Fishing

[Duckie]

Any recommendations for types of floats to buy to use for Steelhead jig fishing? I looked at Thill and there's lots of different shapes and sizes. Any suggestions or help would be appreciated! Thanks!

[ampersat]

i say pick whatever you think looks prettiest. some guys are going to tell you round cork is best, others will espouse thill bobbers and the like. for the simple reason that i get tired of watching $4 float down the river after i get hung up again, i make my own using wine corks and coffee stirrers. a regular wine cork floats just about right with a quarter ounce of weight. it doesn't take long or cost much of anything. also, the extra weight of the cork helps me cast longer and more accurately.

and, yes, i've tried the "tie a bobber stop below the bobber" trick. for some reason, it doesn't work for me. it's not because my bobber knot is slipping; my top knot is always good and only gets loose if i adjust it a lot.

[ 07-17-2002, 07:46 AM: Message edited by: ampersat ]

[Hummingbird]

Duckie,
You could do a search on this on ifish,. There are several topics about jigs and floats.
Mark from First Cast jigs is also a member on this board . He helped me out tremendously last year. I ended up buying a whole slew of different jigs and floats. You could e-mail him as well.
There are others here as well that also have great products such as Rainbow jigs, who also have a great Jig. I beleive Osprey has jigs as well. I hope this helps . Bobber Down!!! ight Lines , Tom

[blacktail]

Personally, I prefer Thills and West Coast floats.

Amperstat, add another boober stopper below your float and it should eliminate losing your floats.

Mike

[DanS]

In the Thill line, the Turbomasters are my preferred model, but pricey. :shocked: TBM-3 or TBM-5 sizes.

The Thill Steelheaders are also good floats (7/8" or 1"), but I cut the sleeve in half and slide half on top and use it like a Turbomaster so you don't have your line in that goofy notch on the stem.

Good luck.........

[chuck 'n' duck]

In typical steelhead colored water, I go with a West Coast Float (rigged as a slider). With very clear water, I use a plastic water bobber, again rigged as a slider.

CnD

[Sand Shrimp]

The round cork floats rigged fixed work for me and they are easy to see without painting them.

[First Bite]

Duckie,

I carry a large assortment of floats to choose from and right now I'm having a close out sale on several of them. The Thill Premium Steelheader floats are popular as are the small round cork floats.

If you have any questions about float selection, send me an e-mail and I'll try and help you out.

Mark

[toblerone]

Try those flexable black foam ones with the red and white top. You thread your line through two holes and wrap once as you go. I like the one that is slightly larger than a pencil diameter cause it floats just right with a jig. Canadian bobber and jig rig is what STS called it and I did buy mine up in BC so I'll call it that too. I have seen them at GIJoes for 2 bucks and they last forever( short of a break off above the bobber which I don't thing has happened yet to me.) They are adjustable and don't create to much surface drag. Hey, buy some pink rubber worms while your there and switch in the same hole from a jig if nothing picks up the jig.
Another canadian tactic that seems to be catching on local streams too!

John
Team Meg Ryan Skin Cream

[periwinkle]

Golly gee ------no Drennan float advocates down there??? Top of the line ----- Use a braided line (poly pro) they float and don't break.....

[choppers]

ampersat, is it because you drink a lot of wine. i'd be intrested to see how you put the stirrer in the wine cork. [img]graemlins/idea.gif[/img] better yet just bring the bottle.

[Duckie]

Thanks for the help everyone!