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Posted

OK, I'm brand new at fishing, so go easy on me...

 

First of all, I know you don't have to use a bobber, but what would you put on your line in place of a bobber if you were not using one? Would you just reel the line up to the sinker before casting/storage? Should I be using a snap before the sinker and hook or are leaders only necessary with biting fish?

 

Also, I am trying to understand why bobbers are so popular. I've only fished a handful of times now for bluegill...but, it seems to me that just sitting there staring at a bobber isn't really fishing...it's more like just waiting to get lucky. I like the idea of slowly but constantly moving the bait around and using the reel. I don't know, just seems like more fun (and challenging).

 

Plus, I keep hearing from others that the bigger fish always hang out closer to the bottom of the lake. So...if that is the case, why would you want your bait to float close to the top? I really don't get this part! Please, help me to understand.

 

I am finally getting my own spinning reel and rod setup and while my impulse is to go with no bobber, I wonder how unusual this would be for bluegill (and hopefully, one day, a bass!).

 

Thanks for any and all input  :)

 

  • Super User
Posted

There is a time and place for a bobber (I believe in this hi tech world they are called floats today), if I needed one I'd use it.  I think for the most part it's for a bait application, not for lure use.  But there are exceptions, it can used for a flowing water situation like a shallow stream to keep a grub or jig from scraping the bottom and getting snagged, I'm really not too familiar with that but it makes sense.  

  • Super User
Posted

Well, personally if I'm fishing for bluegill I just use a bobber and 2 small hooks with pieces of worms for bait without a sinker.  I just cast this rig out and then slowly reel it back.  This lets the worms have a nice slow natural fall.  The bobber serves a dual purpose.  Not only does it help to indicate strikes and keep the bait suspended in the strike zone, but it also provides a little extra weight to help cast the rig out there.  And besides, I think you can buy a 6-pack of them for like 2 bucks so you could always just pick some up and use them when you feel you need them.  If you don't care for the live bait under a bobber type of fishing, you could buy a couple of small inline spinners (1/8 oz. or smaller) or some small crankbaits like the Strike King Bitsy Minnow or the Rebel Crickhopper.  I've had success catching bluegill with both of these.  Another thing to keep in mind is that if your planning to start bass fishing, you'll probably need a heavier setup.  Catching a 21 inch bass and catching a 8 inch bluegill are 2 completely different matters.  I'm not saying that you can't catch bass on lighter gear but it's not exactly ideal.

Posted

you can also use a float to call in fish :D you can put beeds above or below it and give it a jerk every so often or what i like to do when i live bait fish is use one of those floats that have a cupped top and jerk it once in a while(not hard enough to rip your bait off) but it makes a sound like a popper and mimics feeding fish...then when the fish come to check it out there is your bait waiting for them :D

  • Like 1
  • Super User
Posted (edited)

Sure, and Snook is right, we call 'em "floats" today :smiley:

 

There are techniques which use floats for bass fishing, and I've actually experimented wacky worming under a float. Caught several 2 pound bass like that. The worm remained suspended and in the current, just continued to "flutter" at the prescribed depth enticing bass.

 

Don't do it very often, but it can and does work.

 

I almost always use floats when live bait fishing. Makes things easier, and lots of fun, IMO.

 

Edit: the round-style, plastic red/white, orange, etc., I call bobbers. I never use those. I only use pencil-style floats, Thill being the most common. I even use very long floats used by Asian fishermen, commonly for bottom fishing. They rise at the bite as opposed to dunk under.

Edited by DarrenM
Posted

OK, I'm brand new at fishing, so go easy on me...

 

First of all, I know you don't have to use a bobber, but what would you put on your line in place of a bobber if you were not using one? Would you just reel the line up to the sinker before casting/storage? Should I be using a snap before the sinker and hook or are leaders only necessary with biting fish?

 

Also, I am trying to understand why bobbers are so popular. I've only fished a handful of times now for bluegill...but, it seems to me that just sitting there staring at a bobber isn't really fishing...it's more like just waiting to get lucky. I like the idea of slowly but constantly moving the bait around and using the reel. I don't know, just seems like more fun (and challenging).

 

Plus, I keep hearing from others that the bigger fish always hang out closer to the bottom of the lake. So...if that is the case, why would you want your bait to float close to the top? I really don't get this part! Please, help me to understand.

 

I am finally getting my own spinning reel and rod setup and while my impulse is to go with no bobber, I wonder how unusual this would be for bluegill (and hopefully, one day, a bass!).

 

Thanks for any and all input  :)

I really love it when people call them a "strike indicator" as if it makes them less embarrassing to use.

 

To the OP. Bobbers are not a very common technique for bass fishing. There are however times when they are very useful, for instance when fish are suspended somewhere in the water column and you need to place a bait directly above them. Electronics are crucial to finding these fish, and a normal clip-on bobber will usually not suffice for this method of fishing. I highly suggest that you search the term "slip bobber" if interested in this. Slip bobbers are the only type that I use and typically I only break them out when river smallmouth fishing or fishing for walleye, and even in those circumstances it's rare that I will use them. "Float and fly" is another technique that is useful for bass fishing. There is definitely a right time for bobber fishing, however.

 

Start by reading the articles on this site and familiarize yourself with the likely habitat you will find bass lurking in. You don't have your location listed in your profile, but I will assume that you're in the northern hemisphere like I am... with that said, it is summer here. During summer most lakes tend to stratify which means that there will be very little if any oxygen at the bottom of the lake. Look up the term "thermocline." It is highly doubtful that you will find fish at the bottom during the summer unless you are fishing a river.

 

I hope you land a nice bass soon. No matter what anybody has told you, there will usually be some bass close in to shore no matter what the season. You might want to start by casting to shaded areas near cover (logs, rocks, etc.) Don't underestimate how tightly these bass may hold to this cover though. You may have to cast directly into the snaggy areas to catch these fish. Also, look up different ways to rig baits and be sure to look up weedless rigging such as the "Texas rig."

 

  • Super User
Posted

you can also use a float to call in fish :D you can put beeds above or below it and give it a jerk every so often or what i like to do when i live bait fish is use one of those floats that have a cupped top and jerk it once in a while(not hard enough to rip your bait off) but it makes a sound like a popper and mimics feeding fish...then when the fish come to check it out there is your bait waiting for them :D

Right......... use a rattling bobber and trail off about 4' of leader then hook a jig or spoon, brings in spanish mackerel

Posted

you can also use a float to call in fish :D you can put beeds above or below it and give it a jerk every so often or what i like to do when i live bait fish is use one of those floats that have a cupped top and jerk it once in a while(not hard enough to rip your bait off) but it makes a sound like a popper and mimics feeding fish...then when the fish come to check it out there is your bait waiting for them :D

 

 

 

This is called a "popping cork" and I use those suckers RELIGIOUSLY when saltwater fishing! Redfish and trout LOVE them.

  • Like 3
  • Super User
Posted

This is called a "popping cork" and I use those suckers RELIGIOUSLY when saltwater fishing! Redfish and trout LOVE them.

Funny thing is there not cork, they are foam lol

  • Like 1
  • 2 weeks later...
  • Super User
Posted

On ESPN there was a show about fishing for crappies using a rattle bobber using a mister twister 1" grub chartreuse or milktruese in color on a leader. You twitch the bobber to rattle it. I wonder it this rattle bobber would work with a larger worm or grub for

bass. This setup is awesome for crappies.

Remember to save a bass practice catch and release and eat crappies because they taste better.

  • Super User
Posted

Once in a while fishing really thick weeds that are a couple of feet under the surface I will use a 1/16, or 1/8 bass jig under a floater.  It is kind of like swimming it in, but you don't have to worry about the jig sinking into the slop. 

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