Make your Own Float

When carp fishing, you need insight and creativity. That applies to both static fishing and float fishing. This way you can also make your own floats. Do you want to make a long or short float? Or a short or long stem above the float body? Anything is possible! In this article, I will explain step-by-step how to do that.

By Tjebbe Pieters

What you need:

(Balsa) wood for the body
Long skewers
Lathe (mini) (Home-made)
Drill press
Utility knife
Sandpaper
Paint and brushes
Galvanized wire
Nylon thread
Glue
3.5mm nail

Making the body:
Balsa wood is most commonly used for the body, also known as cork wood, because it is a soft type of wood.

Step 1: Shape the body to your desired size.

Step 2: Center the middle on the end face.

Step 3: Now drill through the body with a 3mm drill bit.

Step 4: Now cut the square into an octagonal block.

Step 5: Push the 3.5mm nail into the body and secure it in the lathe (mini).
Make your Own Float

Step 6: Time to use sandpaper!

– First with P80 (sandpaper grit) to shape the body.
– Then P150 to make the body a bit smoother.
– Finally P400/P600 to make the body smooth.

Step 7: Now take a skewer and cut it to your desired length.

Step 8: Now take the galvanized wire and the nail and wrap it once around the nail. Cut the wire to about 2 cm to create an ‘eyelet’.

Step 9: Now hold the custom-cut skewer between the two ends of the ‘eyelet’ and glue it in place.

Step 10: Once the glue is dry, you can start wrapping the nylon thread to secure the eyelet and possibly reinforce the skewer.

Now that the float is made, you can start finishing it with paint!!

Read the continuation here: Finishing the float; painting

Bert Altena

Since childhood, I have been found by the water. Around the age of 12, I learned carp fishing. What makes carp fishing enjoyable for me is the relaxation and preparation for the carp session, combined with a way of fishing that constantly requires innovation to surprise the carp again!