Binka Bobbers… The first attempt!

[binka]

Well,

They won’t win any beauty contests but they will prove to be good, robust floats that will catch me a few fish, I did say I would post up my first ever attempt and so here they are…










I avoided paint in favour of stain and varnish where possible to reduce the likelihood of chipping and the tops are brush finished on a white base coat and not dipped due to the fact that the acrylic paints I bought from my local art and crafts shop are the size of nail varnish bottles, as I don’t intend moving into full on mass production I’m happy to stick with that.

A bit rustic maybe but I’m happy enough with the finished articles and I think that it will become a house style for others which I have planned, including some huge bodied wagglers.

The tip colour is scarlet and I will do a full set of black and another set in yellow.

The stems are sarkanda reed which just need trimming to length, sanding their entire length and sanding to a dome at one end for the tip and the bodies are pre-formed balsa, as opposed to being hand whittled from oak bedpost finials belonging to a mythical virgin princess.

I’m just awaiting some eyes and deep maroon whip and they will be ready for their first outing.

I’ve seen some very nice home made efforts on FM over the years, most if not all that pale my initial attempt into insignificance but I will say to anyone thinking making their own… Do it, I worked out that if I make a float from all of the materials I have they will work out at 32p each!

You’ll have fun for the sake of what are really very minimal requirements…



I found it quite therapeutic to be fair and very enjoyable, I just need to get out and bag a decent perch on one now for that trophy shot

 

[barbelboi]

Perch????? You mean your not going to use them for the tiny tinca competition..................

 

[binka]

Perch????? You mean your not going to use them for the tiny tinca competition..................

I've got a varnished matchstick ready for that Jerry

 

[thecrow]

They look the dogs dangly bits to me Steve, really nice

 

[tigger]

Well at least you didn't binker them...crackin' job Steve!

 

[103841]

Those Binka Bobbers are Bloomin bonkers!

If one should help you land a mystical four, nobody will be happier than me.

 

[thecrow]

Question is how many sticks will have to come out of the boxes to accommodate them ?

 

[lambert1]

Very nice indeed Steve. Glad your injury last season does not appear to have given your hand the shakes. Much neater than I can manage

 

[Tee-Cee]

I suggest you do yourself an injustice around your float making skills Binka......If they be your first attempt at it, then you can be more than pleased with the result !

Really great stuff !!

It will be a special feeling when you catch your first big perch on one - that's for sure !

 

[flightliner]

Where'd you get the sarkandas reed from Steve, I need some bad???.lovely perch bobs btw!.

 

[binka]

Thanks for the kind comments gents, I'm spurred on!

Where'd you get the sarkandas reed from Steve, I need some bad???.lovely perch bobs btw!.

The stems and bodies came from here Mick, he's currently out of 5mm stems so I went to Ian Lewis on Ebay for those but he has the 3mm and possibly everything else you can imagine...

� � � � � � � � � �Keiths Fishing Tackle - Home

5mm stems...

Sarkanda reed for DIY float making / fishing floats 3 /4 /5 mm 30cm x 20 per pk | eBay

Both suppliers are well packaged and promptly despatched.

 

[S-Kippy]

Very nice, Steve. Not too sure about the toffee apple bung sized one but the smaller ones look cock on to me. All I need is a perch water like yours and I might have a go meself.

Just a thought......is that sarkandas going to be robust enough ?

 

[binka]

Very nice, Steve. Not too sure about the toffee apple bung sized one but the smaller ones look cock on to me. All I need is a perch water like yours and I might have a go meself.

Just a thought......is that sarkandas going to be robust enough ?

The toffee apple is just the thing for a 2oz livie Skip

I've saved some steel spokes off an old brolly so I might try those instead of the reed stem, a kind of self cocking version

 

[S-Kippy]

The toffee apple is just the thing for a 2oz livie Skip

I've saved some steel spokes off an old brolly so I might try those instead of the reed stem, a kind of self cocking version

Yobbo ! Livebait indeed.....I'll have the Gudgeon Liberation Front on you, sir !

 

[binka]

Yobbo ! Livebait indeed.....I'll have the Gudgeon Liberation Front on you, sir !

Are they any worse than Friends of the Worm?

I'm already on the run from them... I'll soon be surrounded

 

[flightliner]

Are they any worse than Friends of the Worm?

I'm already on the run from them... I'll soon be surrounded

The moles are on your case also, Nicepix could be your only hope!.

 

[Tee-Cee]

I think I would be a little concerned about the sarkandas reed...A lovely material to work with and normally very straight, but its waterproofing qualities are questionable as it is the devils own job to apply any form of paint or varnish. NOT to say it cannot be done as I have many myself, but they are prone to chipping if mishandled. Having said that, Binka's floats, being ensconced in velvet lined float boxes, would probably be fine !!

Binka......If you really want to get into making some really specialist floats ; I'm reading ( yet again ) about the exploits of J W Martin ( Trent Otter ) along various lengths of the Trent back at the tail end of the 1800's which is a must read for anyone interested in the Trent of old.
In one chapter ' A day's winter fihing on the lower Trent' he talks of a stretch at Dunham and of one particular area known as the Dunham Dubs which had depths of between 20 and 40' deep. He fished for bream using a slider float of his own design which he describes as follows : " My own slider float was made of three large pelican quills whipped and bound together , and ringed, as usual with one tiny ring at the bottom and a larger one at the top. This float would carry 12 / 14 large SWAN shot AND a heavy pike lead, which was not one whit too much for the stream we had to fish "
He also mentions a ' Charlie Hudson ' a local professional fisherman who kept a boat near the hole which he baited regularly with all sorts including, in one season, 20,000 large worms before he took a single fish !! The book goes on to say that catches of up to two hundredweight were made form that hole......Like Gerry's worse nightmare I should think !!!

He doesn't say how long these floats were, unfortunately, but he does say he only used a 12' rod !

Anyway, I don't know about anybody else, but I don't recall seeing Pelican quills on ebay so obviously not readily available, although they seem to do a good job !

I look forward to seeing a few pics at some time in the not too distant, Binka................but I wont hold my breath !


ps Re the sealing of the reed ; Are you able to say how you are thinking of doing this ? I haven't used this material for some years so maybe quality sealing no longer an issue ??

 

[flightliner]

Tee cee, re the sarkandas, you're correct about its failings with paint being hard to adhere too.
I cracked the problem years ago, a primer of superglu seals the reed perfectly, any paint applied afterwards stiks like the proverbial to a blanket.
Charlie Hudsons boat was right by the bridge at Dunham, a good swim even today, he spent his winters residing in the bridge inn close by. I,ve had many a pint in there by the lounge fire in winter, a spot where both himself and the "otter" must have chewed the fat.
It's closed right now, hopefully to open shortly.

 

[binka]

ps Re the sealing of the reed ; Are you able to say how you are thinking of doing this ? I haven't used this material for some years so maybe quality sealing no longer an issue ??

Great post Tony, thanks.

Regarding sealing the stems, I gave them a light sanding and quickly applied some all weather wood dye which soaked straight in and, when dry, doesn't rub off under finger nail pressure as it becomes part of the surface layer instead of sitting on the surface.

It then makes a nice matt surface for the varnish to adhere to.

Proof of the pudding will be in the eating of course but I'm 100% confident in them having had a good scratch around this morning and not managing to make any impression on them.

 

[robtherake]

Well,

They won’t win any beauty contests but they will prove to be good, robust floats that will catch me a few fish, I did say I would post up my first ever attempt and so here they are…










I avoided paint in favour of stain and varnish where possible to reduce the likelihood of chipping and the tops are brush finished on a white base coat and not dipped due to the fact that the acrylic paints I bought from my local art and crafts shop are the size of nail varnish bottles, as I don’t intend moving into full on mass production I’m happy to stick with that.

A bit rustic maybe but I’m happy enough with the finished articles and I think that it will become a house style for others which I have planned, including some huge bodied wagglers.

The tip colour is scarlet and I will do a full set of black and another set in yellow.

The stems are sarkanda reed which just need trimming to length, sanding their entire length and sanding to a dome at one end for the tip and the bodies are pre-formed balsa, as opposed to being hand whittled from oak bedpost finials belonging to a mythical virgin princess.

I’m just awaiting some eyes and deep maroon whip and they will be ready for their first outing.

I’ve seen some very nice home made efforts on FM over the years, most if not all that pale my initial attempt into insignificance but I will say to anyone thinking making their own… Do it, I worked out that if I make a float from all of the materials I have they will work out at 32p each!

You’ll have fun for the sake of what are really very minimal requirements…



I found it quite therapeutic to be fair and very enjoyable, I just need to get out and bag a decent perch on one now for that trophy shot

Told you it was easy. Just a quick hint: if you want a smoother finish on the bodies, give them a light rub with a fine-grade wet and dry between coats. Nice effort, Steve.