Classic Floats for Sale by: ‘Pat Regan Handcrafted Floats’
A journey into the mists of angling time....
Photos © Pat Regan
Here is a small selection of my vintage-style floats that is have for sale. I also sell my floats on eBay and other outlets from time to time. I have been making these for over 45 years and do it mainly for the pleasure. These are the 'real' thing and not cheap copies.
If you wish to purchase any floats then you will need to send your name and address, along with your 'clearly stated' order to me at: reganclan@hotmail.com
I shall then send you an invoice for your floats.
Fancy a bid on Ebay?
Here are some of my floats on Ebay...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/earlyolive?_trksid=p2047675.m145687.l151929
NB. The colours and whipping scheme may vary a little from the illustrations, as these are handcrafted floats and not mass – produced items. If you are seeking plastic straws off an assembly line, for pennies each, then you are unfortunately in the wrong place!
HAND-CRAFTED LANCASHIRE PERCH/GRAYLING BOB FLOATS
Happiness is a creel on your shoulder, a old centrepin reel attached to your cane rod and a few bobber floats to take for a stroll along the bank-side, in search of that elusive big fish or two...
Vintage - style, hand-crafted split cane and cork with an attractive feather inlay
This type of bob float will ‘Do the business’, produce positive bite indication and is, aesthetically speaking, much more gratifying to use than the mass-produced plastic items now found in most modern tackle shops. Each float is lovingly handmade using the old rural techniques and well varnished for a durable and attractive finish. Because all are hand-finished each unique float may be slightly different to the rest. The whipping/colours finishes and feather pattern/type may vary a touch also from the illustration. I tend to get carried away with the designs at times, yet each float is eminently capable of producing the goods and never sold 'unless' I would be happy using it myself.
This type of traditional bobber will carry good-sized bait, such as a large lobworm, and swim down a heavy pool with ease. Also useful in small side margins of muddy ponds where perch lie in wait to ambush their prey. The floats are approximately 3 to 4 inches in length with a proper wire end loop.
NB. I recommend using soft latex bands to fix 'all' my floats to the line rather than hard plastic bands as it is much kinder to your float.
Please note: Some quills have a natural curve, which in fact adds to the aesthetic vintage appeal and does not detract from functionality. Each one is totally individual as they are not mass-produced items.
A very nice message here that I received from a kindly gent who liked my goose floats...
“Thank you for the beautiful float. It made my
day and once opened I spent a fair amount of time just admiring your work. You
are clearly a craftsman at your trade. I would encourage you to
"sign" your floats (perhaps your initials or a small mark given the
limited space). I am honoured to have your work and look forward to acquiring
more. I am struggling with actually using the float (on a split cane rod) vs
just keeping it for its inherent beauty. I think I have no option but to buy
more!”
Regards
Paul Cheslaw
---------------
Photo for illustration purposes only
One Perch/grayling Bob float with feather inlay, about 3 ½ inches in length, (single) £8.55
Two Perch/grayling Bob floats (pair) £14.50
Three Perch/grayling Bob floats (trio) £19.65
LANCASHIRE GOOSE QUILL FLOAT
Traditionally crafted using locally-gathered wild goose quills (pink-feet, grey lag, etc) this variety of exquisite float is highly suited for lake or river fishing.
Whether the target species is roach, tench, bream, carp, grayling, perch etc this type of multi-versatile float will ‘Do the business’, produce positive bite indication and is, aesthetically speaking, much more gratifying to use than the mass-produced plastic straws now found in most modern tackle shops. Each float is lovingly handmade using the old rural techniques and well varnished for a durable and attractive finish. Because all are hand-finished each unique float may be slightly different to the rest. Colours and whipping finishes may also vary from the illustration.
I tend to get carried away with the designs and colours at times, yet each float made is eminently capable of producing the goods and never sold 'unless' I would be completely happy using it myself.
Photo for illustration purposes only
Goose float (single) £7.99 each.
Goose floats (pair) £11.90 for two.
Goose floats (trio) £15.95 for three.
TENCH - CORK & QUILL SPECIAL FLOATS
(FEATHER INLAY)
Feather-inlaid’ old-fashioned tench floats; suited to several types of traditional fishing methods. Cork and bird quill makes up the basis of these floats.
This is just the thing to master the elusive ‘Doctor Fish’ and to match a vintage split cane rod and centrepin outfit. The tip is painted with fluorescent paint for first-class visibility. Each float is a unique work of art in its own right, as they are individually handmade in the old-fashioned way.
Please note: the whipping, feathers and paint colours on the floats may vary from the illustration and all are treated with several coats of tough, outdoor, varnish for extra resilience.
The whipping style also adds to the float’s durability. They also have real wire eyes and are approximately 5 to 6 inches in length. The quills used have a nice curved effect, which leads to the vintage feel.
Altogether this tench float is 100% more aesthetically pleasing to use that the typically dismal, plastic mass-produced things found in modern angling suppliers.
Personally, I think that the tench is a brilliant hard-fighting fish that deserves every respect from the angler and this includes fishing for it with the most authentic gear, rather than throwing ‘factory – produced’ plastic wagglers into the swim.
This float is just perfect for those halcyon days of summer. Just holding the item in hand brings back magical memories of deep green water, marginal reeds waving in the gentle July breeze, and sudden takes as the float shoots rapidly beneath the surface film.
The Tench float takes a long time to make properly (days in fact, if one includes the paint and varnishing time). Consequently, you get a genuine bargain for such an inexpensive starting price. Due to the time and patience involved I shall not be selling large amounts of this sort of float so grab them while you can! I tend to keep most for myself as it is hard to part with them.
And ‘Yes’ – they sure do catch fish!
Apart from the Tench, I have had many types of species using my handmade floats including: Roach, Perch, Grayling, Chub, Rudd, Trout, Carp, Bream etc and even larger predators like Pike.
Photo for illustration purposes only
Tench special float (single) £11. 80 each.
Tench special floats (two) £18.95.
PORCUPINE QUILL RUDD/DACE FLOATS (SMALL SIZE)
These are superior quality, traditional porcupine quill floats that have been treated with several layers of tough varnish, paint and have proper wire eye rings.
They are just the thing for roach, dace, carp, bream, chub, tench or any species encountered. Very sensitive bite indicators and an old countryside favourite...
Photo for illustration purposes only
Small porcupine rudd/dace floats, approximately 3 to 5 inches in length, (three) £13.97
PORCUPINE QUILL FLOATS (MEDIUM SIZE, RED/ORANGE TIP)
One of the most successful and beloved floats ever crafted.
Just what 'Mr Crabtree and Peter' would have taken out in the old tackle box. I have had many nostalgic anglers tell me that they have in fact bought these floats from me because they were "just like" the ones their granddad used to own...
Using these floats takes one back to yesteryear and adds greatly to the whole vintage angling experience.
Photo for illustration purposes only
Porcupine bream/tench floats; approximately 5 - 7 inches in length (pair) £11.95.
PORCUPINE QUILL FLOATS (MEDIUM SIZE YELLOW/GREEN)
Yellow/green version of the above and highly visible too.
Photo for illustration purposes only
Porcupine bream/tench floats; approximately 5 - 7 inches in length (pair) £11.95.
LANCASHIRE CANAL FLOAT SET
An exclusive 12 (one dozen) set of Lancashire, hand-crafted, canal fishing floats.
These colourful beauties are just the type of classic floats that once graced numerous British waterways in the old days and what ‘Mr Crabtree,’ or the legendary ‘Jack Hargreaves’, would have had in their tackle bags.
Save money and waiting time on buying individual floats, and postage too, via purchasing this exceptional collection of 12 distinctive canal-fishing floats.
Included in the set are:
3 special ‘feather inlaid’ tench floats.
3 perch/grayling ‘feather inlaid’ bobber floats
3 small porcupine rudd/dace floats
3 multi-purpose goose quill floats
Please note: the whipping, feathers and paint colours on the floats may vary a touch from the illustration and all are treated with several coats of strong varnish for extra robustness.
I never sell any floats that I would not be happy to use myself. I am very much a one man band seeking to keep the ‘vintage’ tradition alive, via the utilisation of old countryside techniques and not a modern production line. I personally see this charming rural craft as an ‘art form’ with very practical use.
Of course these floats will produce the ‘goods’ on many waters, such as rivers, ponds and lakes, not just canals; but they have been selected for that purpose herein.
These floats are designed primarily for perch, roach, rudd, bream and tench, but will of course work for any other species encountered.
They are extremely sensitive bite-indicators too, especially for ‘close –in’ margin work. They also look great in a frame on the study wall!
Photo for illustration purposes only
Canal fishing float set £47.65 per set of 12 floats.
TWO CLASSIC HAND-CRAFTED AVON TROTTING FLOATS
TWO ‘feather-inlaid’ old-fashioned Avon floats; suited to several types of traditional fishing methods.
Cork and hand-crafted split cane makes up the basis of these floats.
On purchase, you will receive a PAIR of classic Avons that may be a matching pair, or alternatively quite ‘different’ from each other.
I cannot guarantee the particular type and they may be any such as:
Avon Royal Purples, Black tips, Avon Royal Blues, Avon Lemon and Limes or even a pair of unique ‘Specials’.
This is the beauty of this sale! It also gives me the essential freedom to use artistic licence on the floats produced.
These classics are splendid for roach, tench, bream, chub, grayling, trout and any other species. Fished as traditional trotting floats (with bunched shot); float ledger or even with the lift method. They are just the thing to match a vintage split cane rod and centrepin outfit. The tips are painted for first-class visibility in various conditions. Each float is a unique work of art in its own right, as they are individually handmade. They also make splendid display items for any frame.
I reiterate that the whipping, feathers and paint colours on the two floats may fluctuate from the illustration (as mentioned above) and all are treated with several coats of tough varnish for extra durability, in all seasons.
The whipping style also adds to the floats’ durability. They also have real wire eyes and are all approximately 5 to 6 inches in length. Altogether these floats are 100% more aesthetically pleasing to use that the typical, bland, plastic mass-produced 'things' found in some less discerning modern angling stores.
Photo for illustration purposes only
Avon trotting floats; approximately 5 - 7 inches in length. £16.95 per pair.
