We’re running a competition with an Andrew Field float as the top prize. His floats have sold for more than £200 and this particular one has been specially created for this competition. The winner (sorry, there’s only one prize) will also get a copy of Jeff Della Mura’s excellent new book, Hooked on Floats, which may well have sold out by the time you read this. To win the prize, you have to answer the following questions, then email the answers to keith@pma-group.com. As you’ll see, this isn’t one of those “What’s the letter after B in the alphabet?” quizzes. You need to do a bit of research. But you’ll win one of Andrew’s wonderful floats (take a look at his creations here). Here are the questions.

1) Which US float manufacturer was founded in 1911  by Ludwell H Kimbrough?
2) Which plastic float maker grew from the ironmongery business of Oskar and Fritz Ziegenspeck?
3) In 1880, GJ Archer successfully incorporated Balmain’s paint in the production of what?
4) What unique feature of the all-metal self-striking float patented in 1905 by Chambrion and Guedu possess?
5) In 1919, a US patent application was filed on behalf of Ernest Talbot relating to floats made from what?
6) Name the Nottingham float-maker generally credited with the invention of the fluted float.
7) In Germany it glides, in America it slips. What does it do in Britain?
8) What contribution did the Switzer brothers make to fishing float technology?
9) How was animal fat used in preparing cork floats?
10) A treaty in 1916 between Britain and the US marked the beginning of the end for what float-making material?
11) What is the purpose of a Burley float?

The winner will be selected on or around February 20, depending whether I’m fishing that day. Good luck!