It could be said that what I am about to write might be considered old hat, but I doubt it...
The information I have dates back to 1977 when this particular float was in its development stage and is taken from an excellent little book entitled 'Successful Angling' Course fishing Tackle and methods put together by Richard Walker, Fred Taylor, Hugh Fulkus and Fred Buller.
It is my belief that the eventual 'Driftbeater' (originally named Windbeater) offered to the public was as a result of work done by Walker and Peter Drennan, BUT I may well be wrong on this.......
Pages 119 through 112 of this book is devoted to this particular float and offers the various ways in which it can be fished. Primarily it was designed as a float for lift bite fishing and particularly good in rough conditions. The most significant paragraph in the book, and I quote:
"The driftbeater float is comprised of a main body, an unusually long antenna and a buoyant sight-bulb which is one of the most important properties. As its name suggests the Windbeater will cope with rough conditions, BUT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO ATTACH THE FLOAT, GUESS THE DEPTH AND LEAVE IT AT THAT! IT TAKES TIME, PATIENCE AND IMAGINATION TO RIG THE WINDBEATER CORRECTLY, BUT ONCE THIS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED THERE IS NO BETTER FLOAT FOR THIS PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
He )Walker) goes on to say "It works best with lines of about 3lb bs but, because of its special properties, the large Windbeater can be used comfortably with lines of 6lb bs".
The book goes on to offer further info on this float but this far too long to repeat here....
As I have already said, this float was designed primarily as a lift bite float and having used it on dozens of occasions I can vouch for the fact that seeing the long antenna rise up out of the water is a bit special. It DOES take an age to set up but once done a lovely float to use under given circumstances. Many will be put off by the fuffing around it takes to get the shotting right but is is well worth the effort!!
I would add that in addition to rising up out of the water, the float will also suddenly disappear without warning even when set up for the lift bite. Walker mentions this but offers no arguement as to why it happens. (Fish sucking in the bait and swimming off it one movement??)
The set of three original Driftbeater floats I have range from a very small one up to one of 21/2 swan shot which is the one I have always found the most useful. In strong wind and with the correct shotting it casts very well, BUT I, and this is personal preference, only use it close in, where I believe it works best......
I know binka has a beautiful range of these floats of his own design and just by sight I know they would also do a similar job to the originals in very difficult conditions. However, don't be put off by the 'difficult conditions' bit as they work a treat in still calm waters.
PLEASE NOTE!
IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN HAVING A COPY OF WALKERS WORDS ON THIS FLOAT, FROM THIS LONG OUT OF PRINT BOOK, I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEND/EMAIL ONE TO YOU IF YOU GET IN TOUCH.
ps I don't generally keep up with other publications so likely as not the above info (or similar) is probably available via other sources, but I have never seen it. Perhaps binka has seen something.
pps Regarding the amount of antenna protruding from the water; In very windy conditions I ALWAYS dot the float down to the sight bulb or even just part of it. However, it is my opinion (in benign conditions) this is not absolutely necessary as sufficient antenna is still available to rise up.
I also think some of binka's floats (with a very, very long antenna) would add stability to the float in very rough water where the main body would be well below the surface and consequently even more stable and unaffected by water movement. Only my opinion, though....................