Colin Whitehouse Floats.

This exceptional collection was made for the late Clive Baron, a friend of Colin’s, in the late 1990s. They are in perfect unused condition. Some were very rare special commissions.

Clive was insistent that Colin didn’t straighten the turkey quill antennas of the balsa-bodied wagglers.

Two of the Avons and one of the large turkey quills are sliders -note the superb workmanship where the eyelets are whipped on. The cork bodies of the Avons and the perch float were made from the seemingly inexhaustible supply of champagne corks that my parents, then living in France, supplied him with.

The ‘Barber’s Pole’ Norfolk reed wagglers are so original and difficult to make -and rare, because they would sometimes catch fire while being flamed!

The quality of these floats is phenomenal. Each one, made by hand, was tank-tested, inscribed in Indian ink with its shot capacity and impeccably finished with yacht varnish.

My friend and master craftsman Colin Whitehouse single-handedly revived the craft of float making from natural materials. His floats are stunning but also made to be used. Colin is a very experienced and accomplished angler. He applied his experience to the design and construction of his floats.

Colin ceased production of his floats about twenty years ago. Some people (including me) regard them as the best of all time.

Colin Whitehouse Float Sets.

Set 1. Seven Floats c1996-1998. A quill stem cork bodied Avon, flamed bamboo stem cork bodied Avon, two flamed bamboo stem cork bodied Avon sliders, a flamed bamboo cork bodied perch float and two balsa Chubbers. £125 SOLD

Set 2. Eight Floats c1996. Seven flamed & straightened Norfolk reed wagglers and one natural Norfolk reed waggler. £80 SOLD

Set 3. Ten Floats c1999. Balsa-bodied wagglers with fine turkey quill antennae with their natural curve intact. Note: Turkey quills are very strong. These are practical floats! £120 SOLD

Set 4. Nine Floats c1996-1998. Turkey quills with their shot capacities inscribed in red Indian ink and the maker’s details in black Indian ink. Superbly whipped, painted and varnished. A joy to fish with. £90 SOLD

Set 5. Five Floats c1996. The ‘Barber’s Shop Quintet! Straightened and spirally flamed Norfolk reed wagglers. As much fun as you can have with your clothes on. £85 SOLD

Set 6. Eight Floats c1998-1999. Larger Turkey quills, including a majestic 3SSG slider. As always, these practical floats have Colin’s details inscribed in black Indian ink. They are so delicately whipped, the paint and varnish is so excellent. No wonder so many people have tried to emulate his workmanship. £110 SOLD

These floats are all usable. Losing one would be a shame, but no more troublesome to your purse than the loss of a favourite pike lure. We are informed that they are a remarkably sound investment, but we decline from troubling you with such vulgar matters.

The full set of forty eight floats are available for the special price of £590. SOLD