The fisherman and his floats.
We all go fishing for different reasons and choose to fish in our own distinct way. However, I feel we are united with a passion for living water and the atmospheric places where anglers are lucky enough to find themselves.
It could be those early summer dawns, mist rising gently from a favourite river or lake, lifting as if wraith-like sentinels. Maybe the satisfaction that if we tread carefully, we can merge gently between the seams of reality and a world indifferent to the stresses of everyday life. I am proud to be a fisherman and often contemplate how mere mortals can pass through this world only experiencing the physics and certainty of a real world.
As we also have to exist in the ‘real’ world I think there is almost a compulsion within the angler to collect and harbour the accoutrements required to take us closer to our pastime. It helps us pass the time, like treading water between fishing trips. For me it is floats; like a child drawn to sweets, I rarely leave a tackle shop without a few sticks, wagglers or chubber floats. I know its obsessive, but I don’t care – I must have hundreds.
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I suspect Andrew’s inspiration for using feathers |
More and more I am finding that the float has become a central part of my fishing pleasure. In a way I am not surprised! I have always loved the way that a float connects effortlessly between our earthly existence and the watery realm below. On many occasions I have felt that the presence of a float tip resting on the surface draws deeply on my inner conscience, focussing time and space into a singular point where anything real and tangible fails to exist – almost an inner Zen!
Andrew Field floats.
Andrew is very much a rising star in the artisan world of the traditional float maker. His style is very distinctive and most of his designs feature feathers sourced from old fly tier’s kits; the effects achieved are nothing short of breathtaking!
I came across Andrew Field’s web site through a FishingMagic forum post and felt it appropriate to produce a product review to share my experiences of commissioning a float order. Andrew’s website is laid out with stunning photographs showing examples of commissioned work to date, which is, as I found out, is updated regularly.
My first order comprised a chubber, fluted Avon (inlaid with kingfisher feathers) and a plainer Avon float. Simply cutting and pasting the images from the blogs and a quick email, I was able to communicate the type and style of floats I wished to order. Communication was excellent; I received an email pretty much straight way clarifying some of the finer details and a further email to inform me that my order was to be started right away!
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| ‘It’s a big float with a lot of varnish to cover the gold leaf bar to the front. But it is an incredible float.’ |
The lead time for floats is typically three weeks, but it is not unreasonable to expect a little leeway due to order volume. In fact my first commission from ordering to the floats being dispatched was well within the three weeks. The floats were delivered in a protective tube, Royal Mail next day, special delivery. The complete process was flawless. So impressed, I made a further order that included some insert wagglers and one of Andrew’s stunning pike Gazette floats.
The first thing people mention when they cast an admiring glance over Andrew’s floats is the rich, almost glass like gloss varnish finish. The feathers just effortlessly rest against the float body and remarkably do not affect the final finish. The varnish is nearly completely clear with no yellowing which allows the vibrant colours to really stand out. What is equally remarkable is that this stunning finish is achieved in merely 2 to 3 coats, essential so as not to affect the performance of the float. I think it is fair to say that each individual float is a standalone piece of art, unique – yet truly functional.
Andrew can produce just about any type of float in any size, Avons, fluted Avons, wagglers, Insert wagglers, darts, chubbers, perch bobs, Gazette floats, Dennis Pye dumbbell floats, crow Avons, swan quills, goose quills and most bodied floats from cork or balsa on wood or cane stems with a selection of tip colours. The whipping on the floats is perfectly finished using finest quality silk; balsa and cork bodies are of the finest quality to ensure efficient buoyancy and good shotting capacity – the cork on my chubber and Avon floats is nearly flawless.
Of course floats can be created without the feathers; I remember on the thread that this was seen as a little fussy by some posters to the forum. This is a fair point as this style may not appeal to everyone. I personally feel the presence of a feather or two adorning my coarse fishing tackle is appropriate to my taste and suspect Andrew’s inspiration for using them harks back to the stunningly beautiful hand tied Salmon and Trout flies in rare and exotic feather.
Prices range from £7.50 for small chubbers and insert wagglers, but the Gazette float is a bit more expensive at £20. It’s a big float with a lot of paint; the finish is very deep and needs to have several coats of varnish to cover the gold leaf bar to the front. But it is an incredible float. Now this is a lot of money for floats that could potentially end up half way up an alder, or tethered to some far bank reeds. But in terms of the hours of craftsmanship and almost obsessive level of detail and thought that goes into each masterpiece they offer a truly unique and affordable investment! Indeed, I was in two minds whether to actually fish with mine, as they look tremendous in a display cabinet.
Andrew Field can be contacted on andymx2@hotmail.co.uk or call 07899996190 to discuss your requirements. If you wish to dream or drool, the website address is http://handmadefloats.blogspot.com/.
Christian Barker
