Superior Floats

I think I know what the manager of a big box store feels like when they are standing at the door at 6:59 on the morning of Black Friday. In 2 hours after announcing that I had inventory, I nearly sold out. Mixed feelings on this. Super proud that I have created a brand that is highly sought after, and afraid that eventually I will have to change the way I operate. I am maxed out and can't really keep up with demand. I work until 1am every night trying to keep caught up. Crank...ing out dozens of floats per week. I hate running at a 10 week lead time. I just don't like keep people waiting. Balancing work, business, and home life is becoming difficult. Business is not at the point where it can replace my work income, nor will it IMO. For now I will keep on keeping on, but change is coming my friends. Only 5 floats left in inventory. Throwing in a handful of beads to whoever completes the sell out. :) and........GO! See more

As promised, I have some inventory available for immediate purchase and shipping. You can find them in the Inventory section of my site. Smash the Shop Now button up top. Just know, that they will sell fast. I only updated the site yesterday at 3pm and no advertising. 2 orders already shipped. :)

A few new things. The difference between balsa and foam. In the one photo there is a 26g balsa (Blue) and a 28g foam ( Tri-Colour) Foam is way more bouyant and significantly lighter than balsa. The second photo is my new Tri Colour design based on a painting I did a few years ago. This painting was started at 10pm on the night before leaving on a Crappie fishing adventure. I put the brushes down at 12 so I could at least get 3 hours sleep before leaving. I couldn't sleep so... I went back and worked on the painting until I got the text that my friends that they were up and ready to be picked up. I drove for the 1st 2 hours and had to close my eyes or I would be useless in the boat. I got about 2 hours sleep before we arrived at our destination. Of course we caught a tonne of fish and ate like kings. I did not last long after the fish were cleaned and our bellies were full. Maybe 3 or 4 beers a could shots of scotch and I was down for the count. See more

Here is a huge order heading down stream to Colville Outfitters in Hamburg, NY. Head on in to say Hi to Danny and ask him for the best floats in the business. Exclusive to Colville Outfitters are the new Pinland style floats. You can't even buy these from me. :)

As of today, any new orders may NOT arrive in time for Christmas gifts, but I will have some inventory ready for last minute shoppers. I am not making the inventory available until December so stay tuned. I am going to try and build up a decent supply. Given how busy I am, I am doubtful that I'll be able to increase my supply. Cheers, Wes

Hi everyone, due to COVID-19, I am unable to source any balsa in the dimensions needed to make floats larger than 20g. So If you want wood, then I won't be able to help you out at this time. I will be able to make them with foam which I have done in the past. I haven't pulled the trigger on using foam more often yet because I just don't like using it. It is a major pain in the ass and requires a bunch more effort. The good things about foam is the floats are lighter, more buoyant and a 10g foam float would be the same dimensions as a 12g balsa float. My only complaint about foam is they are lighter, I prefer the weight of my balsa floats. If you intend on purchasing larger floats, please contact me first.

If I can't work harder, I'll just work smarter. Child labour cops need not concern yourselves with this, she is well compensated with donuts and hot chocolate.

I guess I need more peg boards. All filled up here. Truth be told I can have triple that amount filled up. Ok enough chit chat, back to work.

An order of slips heading down a local stream this time.

Thanks to Gord Ellis for another very well written article on my Superior Floats brand.

An order of mixed sizes and designs finally heading down stream to New York. Every once in a while an order goes sideways and continues to want to go sideways, no matter how much I disagree. After 3 separate restarts, I was able to get the finish I desired and put this order to bed. Plus a super secret prototype Pinland float collaboration with Danny @ Colville Outfitter's and Custom Tackle

Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto, Ontario is an amazing place! They really do provide top level support and care to their patients and families. They have given ou...r son Nathan the best care we could have hoped for, in the early stages of his battle with cancer, and continue to give him excellent care. We are excited that Nathan is winning and fighting like a champ! This facility can't keep providing other families with this level of care without help from all of us! We are so grateful for the care that Nathan is receiving and I would like to help out. My own private donations aside, I would like to see if we can do better. If you know me, you know how much I dig my beard! I would be willing to go live and shave it off if you all can help out a wonderful hospital and charity! No amount is too little! My date will be 31-Aug at 7 pm. I'll acknowledge all those who have donated. All I ask is that you screen shot your donation receipt or confirmation. Just send me proof so I can give credit where it's due. Send via fb messenger. Please share this post so that we can maximize the effort. #sickkidsfoundation SickKids Foundation https://www.sickkidsfoundation.com/waystod/onetimedonations

A load of Glow top Pour Paint 4's heading downstream to New Jersey and an order of Chrome III fixed loafers heading downstream to New York.

Here is an custom one off set of Crappie slips heading down stream to Kenora and another large order heading downstream to Colville Outfitters i New York.

Introducing the newest members of the Fish Skin series. + a batch of new Brooktrout skin slips heading to the BIG River in hopes of putting a few giants in the net.

Well that's it for me. I caught my last couple Steelhead for the 2020 Spring season yesterday and I packed up my gear today. In between trips to the shop, I managed to get out a bit and catch a few fishies. Here are a couple of the highlights from this spring. Time to get back to the shop and plow through the few remaining orders.

Looking for some Giant 28g and 35g slips,head down to Colville Outfitters and get you some. They're heading down stream now.

Ribbit! Some custom green top Froggy floats heading downstream to Illinois as well as a few other order going to New York and Ohio.

Here is am order of custom Phantoms heading downstream to Michigan.

Here are a few more orders heading down stream to Ohio and the other is staying local.

BOOM! The word is out that the loonie is in the crapper! My wait time is stupid long again. But for almost .40 on the dollar it may be worth it to my US fans. Just know that you'll be waiting a bit longer than I'd like. Along with the amount of orders received in the last few days, I also stepped into the river, so that means I am not going to be rushing to the shop to turn floats as quickly. This is MY time now folks. Here is an order heading down stream to West Virginia.

Round and Round we go! back to spinning floats as well as spinning reels. :)

That's it. I'm done in the shop for a while. While turning yesterday, I blew a belt on the Binford 5000 Float Turner. Thankfully it was on the last float in my queue. So all current orders will be completed. Not looking good on finding a replacement online yet. I'll keep looking. Also I'll be fishing soon so I'm not really in a hurry to get back to it. Ha. Plus there are confirmed Covid 19 cases in Thunder Bay so I am not risking bring it to the shop for others to enjoy. Cheers, Buoyancy GuRu

OK guys, here's the scoop. As of midnight tonight, all non essential business in Ontario are to stop operation until further notice. Superior Floats is probably non essential but I am not stopping. Having said that, if you feel that I can spread the virus by simply breathing on your float order and then shipping them to you, you are correct. That is definitely a possibility. 1st sign of me becoming infected I will stop production. I'll stop if there is a confirmed case in Thunder Bay. Currently there are no confirmed cases. If you have an order currently in the queue and would like to postpone it, send me a message and I will do as you ask. I only have 1 order in the queue that I haven't started. I'd suggest you wipe down your float order and treat it like it is covered in the virus, just to be safe. Sincerely Buoyancy GuRu

Time To Float. not for me though. Still a few weeks before the rivers crack open. These beauties are heading down stream to PA.

An order of NEW orange glow tops heading downstream to New Jersey.

Check out these beauties. Unbelievable turnaround on this order. I created the graphics last night and sent them in. Jason sent me the mock-up this morning. I sent back revision ideas. The final proof was approved at 12:30 today. I get an email with a tracking number at 5:24. Doesn't get much better than that. These had to be printed, pressed, cut out, and sewed. Mind Blown!

Here are a few more orders heading downstream to various parts of North America.

The site traffic has maxed out again. It may be down until Saturday. I guess I didn't upgrade enough. Working on changing that now, but not optimistic I'll have a solution in place before the monthly bandwidth consumption resets on the 1st.

The site is back up and running! While waiting for that, I decided to map out all my orders for the past 6 years. Yes too much time on my hands right now. It's kind of expected that the Great Lakes would have to lions share of the pins, but it's neat to see how far my brand has spread. I have had a few orders from Australia and Ireland, which I had to cancel due to crazy shipping cost. ON, OH, NY, and IL have a good share of those pins with MI being the majority of my orders for the last couple months.

Hi everyone, Superior Floats has become way more popular that I imagined. So much so that the bandwidth for my website has been used up for the month. You may or may not have noticed that you can't get on my site and make a purchase. I am resolving that now. I had to upgrade my hosting plan and it should take 48 hours. I can't keep up with the orders right now anyway so maybe this is a good thing? :)

I HAVE THE POWER! I made some time to make myself some floats. The Heman theme floats are based on the tattoo I am having done on my right forearm. Sorry guys, not my artwork so I can't offer it for sale. The weird ball tops are experimental floats for ice fishing. I figure the extended top will stand up a little higher in the hole. I made some of these last year with 1.5" extension. They did work better but still a tad too short. These new floats have almost 4" extensions. We'll see. The designs are based on some paintings I did over the holidays. Those designs will be available on the site shortly.

Hey guys. it's been a while since I posted anything so here is part of the reason. This huge order heading down stream tomorrow or Colville Outfitters in Hamburg NY. Skip my stupid long wait time and get on over to Colville's to pick through a selection of 130 loafers in 4,6,8, and 11g sizes in various designs. More than half of them are Glow Tops. Get'em while they last. His last large order did not last very long on his shelf.

As of today, any new orders will not be completed in time for xmas delivery.

Who's fans are the best? This guy. Although I don't encourage defacing public art installations, this one made me proud. You guys are legends.

Tiny is cool and all but a real PIA to work on with my fumble fingers. Headed downstream to Waterloo.

The Binford 5100 Float Turning machine in action turning a 4g loafer. 35 floats in about 1.5 hours.

Ever stand at your lathe and turn 80 floats and have every one of then turn out perfect? Only me? Hmmm weird! Shit is dialed in nicely right now. How can I mess this up... oh I know, talking about it.

Here is an order of Glows heading downstream to Michigan and a big ole set of 28g channel buoys headed way down stream to California.

Hi everyone, what's going on? Are you out there using your floats? Let me know. Share a photo. I don't have any time to fish since this Superior Beast has taken over my life. Let me live vicariously through you.

Some more order heading downstream to Washington and Hamilton

Here are a few orders heading down stream to New York and Michigan

This happened in the shop on the weekend. Which brings me to my point... Don't do drugs kids. You'll end up doing stupid shit like this. ;)

As mentioned previously, I was trying to work on some inventory. I finally have a bit stock piled and before I could get the word out here, some already sold so you better act fast. If there is something you like, you'll be able to beat the 6/7 week lead time I am currently running. http://www.superiorfloats.com/inventory.php

Here is another large order heading down stream to New Jersey.

Another custom order heading down stream to Pennsylvania.

This is a new design based off a painting I did a while ago. I finally had some time to work it into the lineup.

A couple more orders heading down stream, plus a custom set of loafers just for me. These are based on the art that was used for part of my sleeve tattoo designed by Dave Mancuso Underground Ink. This is not my artwork so I am not making it available for purchase, these babies are just for me. :)

I'm back to a reasonable lead time of 3 weeks. Thanks to my fans I've been extremely busy since February plus I had a family vacation thrown in the middle. I was able to get some much needed mountain river time to chase Bull Trout and Cutthroat Trout. This year I struck out with the Bulls, but the Cutthroat and Rainbows were eager to take a dry fly. I currently only have 2 orders in the queue and I'm also building inventory in preparation for the September through January rush. I'll post again when the inventory is available.

Another large order heading down stream to PA.

I've been pretty busy still. Working through some big orders and lots of small orders. Plus I was away for a bit. Here are a few more orders heading down stream.

Here is an order of Pink Glow tops heading down stream to Michigan, and an order of big woody slips heading down stream to Southern Ontario.

A big order of Carbon Fiber and an order of Punishers, heading down stream. The Chartreuse glow top is IMO the best glow colour. When I am rocking the dawn patrol, this is the glow top I use. Only because my eye will let me see Chartreuse a lot easier in the early morning light after the glow is useless.

Our Glow game has come a long way since we introduced it. Here are a few pink glow tops illuminating the situation.

It's not all work and no play here at Superior Floats. I do get out and use my products. Here are couple big'ns from this spring. It's was a tough go this year for me. Water was cold and high. It was challenging but I did manager. It was a big fish year which was extra challenging to land them in the fast current. Lots of reel screamers. All of these fish were 28" + I managed 3 30+" which is a very large fish for the North Shore of Lake Superior. I got back on with teh Cooperative angler program and sampled again this year. I didn't do as well as would have liked but it's something. The gear is packed up and it's time to chase walleye.

If I said I am cranking through the orders, I'd be lying. Just when I think I am getting caught up, you guys let me know that I am not. HA! you guys are the best. If it wasn't for you guys, I'd probably be half way sane. I'd definitely fish a lot more. Here are a few more orders heading downstream and a little fishy I caught while on the river being Legendary!

I've been way too busy to post any photos. I still am actually, but here I am anyway. Here is another order heading downstream to Colville Outfitters in Hamburg New York. plus a custom order for Drop Back Guide Service.

Another order heading down stream + a new design waiting for the rest of the build. Look for this new design based off a painting I did a while ago.

A load of Bobs heading down stream.

Checkmate! Back to the shop...

A couple order heading downstream in time for the spring run.

Another order going down stream to the west coast. Just in time for Orca fishing season. Rated for 12 lbs. :) 6 lbs of shot and a 6lb salmon should just about do it.

Some orders heading downstream to Michigan. Just when I think I am caught up, I'm not. :) no shortage of things to do around here.

Here is a large order headed down stream to Colville Outfitters in Hamburg, New York. Head on down to get your hands on some. Tell'em Wes sent you, and you'll get a free punch in the mouth.

I am going on another climbing trip so any communications through email or facebook will be very slow as I will be off the grid until Tuesday 5-Mar-2019. Sorry for the inconvenience. Wes

Hey everyone. I had a bunch of new inventory that I added to the site. Before I can get on here and let you know, a bunch sold. There is a small selection ready to ship. http://www.superiorfloats.com/inventory.php Cheers, Wes

A load of Versa Browns heading down stream.

I am starting a new B&W series and first up is the beautiful Brook Trout. This design is based off a painting I completed last year.

Some finished orders heading down stream to various places around the great lakes.