" The Last Straw "

This was a nice common Carp which I caught, on a recent visit to one of my favourite waters in Sandbach Cheshire.

This was part of a double figure net of fish which I mentioned in my previous post.

This was caught using an old fashioned Drinking straw float which I had made, with approximately a one inch length of eighth inch brass welding rod incorporated, and glued into the base .

The line is threaded through a three eighths inch piece of valve rubber. Then the float is just pushed into this, "simplicity in it's self" The top of the float is Sealed with a tiny piece of balsa wood, and then painted, these floats were used many years ago! and I believe were originally designed for fishing towards the far bank of Canals.

They don't seem to be used a great deal these day's! largely due to the development of long poles, and the introduction of loaded crystal wagglers.

But having said that they are a great float to use, and cost next to nothing to make.
The last person I can recall using one was "Angling legend", and former World Angling champion Kevin Ashurst.

It goes without saying if they were good enough for him, then they are a float well worth having amongst your collection. They are especially good when used on small still waters from two to five feet in depth I would say!

These floats are made with the majority of the weight built into the base, so that when they cock up in the water! there is about three quarters of an inch showing on the surface, this should allow for about no more than two number eight shot to be spread down the line.

This should then leave approximately an eighth of an inch showing on the surface, so you can then detect the shyest of bites.

In fact this was the float I used many years ago! to win my very first open match on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Yorkshire; with bread punch on the hook, before the introduction of long poles.

They are very simple to make! so if you have the time why not try them out? They are very sensitive, cast well! and a sheer delight to use . By the way they are also less costly and easy to replace.

so until next time bye for now and tight lines!