Sticks

    A favourite choice when exploring the swim using long trotting techniques, the balsa stick has the right shape to aid line mending without disturbing the path of the bait, as well as offering the opportunity for holding back to make the bait lift and flutter enticingly.

    The stem on these floats acts in a similar way to a loading, enabling them to perform well not only on smooth glides but also on swims that feature more turbulent stretches, thus aiding stability in the flow - and when using a shirt button shot pattern the stems create metronomic predictability as the float settles with each shot on the line. Any hesitation indicates a bite, giving  detection from the moment the float finds the water.

    Of classic proportions these wire and cane stemmed floats each have bold coloured dome shaped tops for excellent visibility. The floats illustrated here are 5", 6" and 7" long, carrying shot loads of 3BB, 5BB and 4AAA respectively. The turned balsa bodies have steel wire or tonkin cane stems inserted at the base to which a hand coiled brass wire line eye is spiral whipped with fine silk thread.