🪶 CROW QUILL WAGGLER
(The Grandfather of All Floats)
The humble crow quill is quite possibly the grandfather of all floats. Its natural tapered shape makes it ideal for float making — light, buoyant, and wonderfully sensitive. This simple material has stood the test of time, forming the foundation for countless float designs, from wagglers to avons.
Although modern materials have largely replaced it, the crow quill remains a deadly tool in skilled hands. One angler who proved its effectiveness in the modern era is Mike Stone of Somerset. Fishing the Taunton Canal with crow quill wagglers and punched bread, he dominated local matches, won the prestigious Kamasan Matchman of the Year title, and went on to represent his country.
🧰 Design & Features
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Material: Natural crow quill (reverse mounted)
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Shape: Natural taper — fine at the tip, thicker at the base
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Rigging: Small eye whipped at the base (replacing old rubber fittings)
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Optional: Can be used with a small body at the base for extra stability
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Loading: Light insert or plastic eye base
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Shotting: Delicate — too much and the float will sink
The correct way to mount this float is in reverse — the fine tip uppermost and the wider end at the base. This orientation increases stability and bite detection. Its delicate nature means shotting must be precise; even a small No.12 shot can overload it.
🌊 Why It Works
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🪝 Incredibly sensitive — perfect for detecting tiny lift bites
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🌿 Ideal for close-range rod or whip fishing
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🧭 Excellent when fishing downstream with line buried
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🌀 Natural taper cuts through surface tension and resists tow
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⚖️ Ultra-light loading gives the slowest bait presentation possible
The crow quill waggler is at its best in stillwaters and gentle flows where finesse presentation matters most. A quick flick of the whip or rod tip helps sink the line and anchor the float, improving control in breezy conditions.
🏆 Clive’s Match Memory
🎣 Venue: Stillwater Pond, Neath (South Wales)
I’ve fished this float to great effect with a whip on golden rudd shoals. In several five-hour matches, I recorded weights of 50 lb and 64 lb, all on crow quill wagglers.
The float buried on a positive bite or rose cleanly on a lift bite — unmistakable signals. It’s one of the most honest and responsive floats I’ve ever used.
🧭 Pro Tip
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Always reverse the quill — fine end up, thick end down.
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Shot with light No.10 or No.12 shot for a slow, natural fall.
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Use a small plastic eye at the base or a light insert for clean line travel.
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Add a small body at the base if extra stability is needed.
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Best fished close in with a whip or short rod.
🕰️ Classic Float Heritage
“The crow quill isn’t just a float — it’s angling history. When fished right, it’s as deadly today as it was generations ago.”
— Clive Branson
Some illustrations from the book
Now Available: The Complete Float Manual. Over 169 pages of content on Amazon
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