Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Fish Assassin on June 09, 2006, 02:31:48 PM

Title: Favourite Float
Post by: Fish Assassin on June 09, 2006, 02:31:48 PM
Most of us know that Chris' go to float for steelheading is the Maple Leaf drennan. I'm currently using a balsa float. That float has been with me for over 40 trips spanning two years. It has seen many steelheads, cohos, chums and chinooks. God I'm going to miss her when she's gone.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: TrophyHunter on June 09, 2006, 03:06:57 PM
yeah I too am torn between Balsa and Drennen they are both great floats!!!  the ones that Merc uses are very nice, in fact I think I might start stealing them from him :)
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: THE_ROE_SLINGER on June 09, 2006, 03:16:27 PM
Balsa all the way. I find them great for pin rods because it adds a little more weight.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: MERC on June 09, 2006, 06:23:57 PM
yeah I too am torn between Balsa and Drennen they are both great floats!!!  the ones that Merc uses are very nice, in fact I think I might start stealing them from him :)

During spring season, it's dynks all the way, baby!  Otherwise, balsa is nice.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Big Steel on June 09, 2006, 06:32:17 PM
I would put another vote in Balsa's as well!!  Come Steelhead season, it is pretty much all I use!! :) May start using them in Coho seasn as well!!  But for Springs and any other salmon, I use 4" straight thru dink floats!! ;)
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: DionJL on June 09, 2006, 06:57:48 PM
i used to be a huge balsa fan. but i was converted to drennans. Although i havent come up with how to customize mine ;D
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: kellya on June 09, 2006, 07:06:01 PM
You guys are a bunch of fishing noobs! everyone knows real fisherman only use those red and white bobbers.  :P ;D
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Big Steel on June 09, 2006, 07:25:30 PM
I have only used a balsa a few times so I can not really comment however Drennans are way nicer on the drift they are stealthy and they produce less drag so You have more time to set. They also look really cool ;D :P
If you haven't really used them then how do you know that they are nicer on the drift, and stealthy?! :)  I have used both, and I know that everyone prefers different things, but I just liked the weight and the drift of the Balsa much more!!  Besides, with the green bottomed ones and the emerald water color, the balsa's are pretty stealty as well!! ;) :)
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: THE_ROE_SLINGER on June 09, 2006, 07:54:42 PM
I don't like the drennans as much as you need those bobber stoppers on the line. The balsa ones i have are easy to change the depth and no stoppers needed.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Coho Cody on June 09, 2006, 08:34:03 PM
nothing can seperate danny and his balsa's ;D ;D, and nothing can seperate sam and his drennans ;D ;D
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: kingpin on June 09, 2006, 08:36:44 PM
i personally dont care too much for drennans and balsa wood floats. their too expensive for one, (unless u make ur own balsa floats) and i find the straight thru floats i use with a toothpick are just as sensitive when trimmed down properly.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Xgolfman on June 09, 2006, 08:56:32 PM
what kind of balsa's are you guys using, i've tried a couple on really only use them with jigs for weight. Only semi thrilled with drens as well....oh well quess i'm in the minority with dinks and nothing for spoons...
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Big Steel on June 09, 2006, 09:05:58 PM
I think I have a pic of one somewhere!!!  I'll be back!! ;D
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Big Steel on June 09, 2006, 09:10:22 PM
Here is a pic of one and it is even an action shot!!! ;D ;D
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/Did-someone-say-Steelhead/Fighting_Steel_2.jpg)
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: stryker 07 on June 09, 2006, 09:24:38 PM
omg..... :o

look at that long leader,it must be at least 6 feet!!!!! ;)
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: THE_ROE_SLINGER on June 09, 2006, 10:33:24 PM
nothing can seperate danny and his balsa's ;D ;D, and nothing can seperate sam and his drennans ;D ;D
For red+white springs and chum this year I will be using foam. Those fish are too powerful and there is to big of a risk of losing a drennan. LOL. but other than that I will never use anything but a drennan
     ....Hey birdman I bet you would use dreenans for springs and chum if you won the youth writing contest ;D ;D
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: drift on June 10, 2006, 12:40:59 PM
I've never tried anything but foam,might have to try these balsa ones you guys are talking about.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: troutbreath on June 10, 2006, 04:40:33 PM
My favorite floats are the ones I found all 90 of them. I slice the foam ones into more stramlined shapes for improved strike indication. I lost a few drennens that I found and won't pay that kind of cash for them. Have lots of balsa's that work just as well....I guess.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Ribwart on June 11, 2006, 06:47:43 AM
The float big steel has shown in his pic, is one I use quite frequently, it has a great feel to it, but I do still use the foamies from time to time....can anyone offer a comparison of this balsa to a drennan? Would like to try the drennan, wondering how they compare.
thx,
rib
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: huntwriter on June 11, 2006, 08:40:52 AM
I am favor, and always have been, of balsa floats. I am very happy with them and use them for all my float fishing. It never occurred to me to even try a different type of float.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Eagleye on June 11, 2006, 09:48:43 AM
I generally use high density green foam floats but in ultra clear slow moving water I use the clear bobbers that twist onto your line and can be filled with water to add to your casting distance, if the water is clear with a fair bit of current or I'm doing a long drift that would make it difficult to see the clear bobber I use a small drennan.   I also use the large zepplers for getting down deep in fast water.  Here is a question for the drennan users which do you prefer pikers or zepplers?  Or do you use both but for different applications/water conditions?
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Fish Assassin on June 11, 2006, 10:23:02 AM
Depends on water conditions.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Eagleye on June 11, 2006, 11:25:11 AM
Depends on water conditions.

could you please elaborate?
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Fish Assassin on June 11, 2006, 12:26:09 PM
When you are fishing higher water ie. faster flow you need more weight to bring your lure down to the fish, therefore a bigger float. I prefer a Zeppler in those conditions. If the water level is medium flow I downsize, using lesser weight and therefore a smaller float. I use a Piker in those conditions.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Eagleye on June 11, 2006, 12:52:07 PM
I understand what your saying about needing more weight to get down to the strike zone in higher faster flows but both the pikers and zepplers come in various sizes and the largest piker will actually hold more weight than the zepplers.  Is the reason why you prefer pikers in slower water because they are more sensitive and do you think the large pikers would create too much drag/wake for the faster flows because they are longer?  Being shorter I would think the zepplers would be slightly more stealthy than the pikers since there would be less float protruding into the water.  Since I don't use drennans all that often I appreciate your input.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: kingpin on June 11, 2006, 01:49:50 PM
all 2 eh sam? ;D
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: frenchy on June 12, 2006, 09:47:26 AM
Only fished with foam so far, but I went on the Chehalis for the first time this week end to try to catch one early summer run steelhead. No fish, of course  ::), but I found a couple of float traps on the river... Results: 35 foam floats, 5 drennans and 1 balsa   :o. Not a bad day. Next time I will try the famous Drennan ;D.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: Fish Assassin on June 12, 2006, 11:32:44 AM
Results: 35 foam floats, 5 drennans and 1 balsa   :o.


You hit the jackpot  :)
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: cohokid on June 12, 2006, 04:46:56 PM
jackpot is right, I have yet to try, blalsa but i dont like the drenans, but with whites and coho, they break off to frequently.
Title: Re: Favourite Float
Post by: DaN ThE MaN on June 12, 2006, 07:12:21 PM
Ive tried all of the floats, but i would have to say hands down cork floats are MONEY!!! Corkers

Dan