How to Use a Slip Bobber for Fishing On February 19, 2014
If you are not using slip bobbers you are missing a great opportunity. I receive many questions about how to use a slip bobber for fishing, and now you have the answers on one page.
I use 7-8 ½ foot rods so I can fish a long ways from the boat and still get a good hook set. I love fighting fish with long rods but it is too tiring to hold an 8 1/2 foot rod all day. One advantage with slip bobbers is you can lay the rod down with the bail open! I prefer reels with large spools so that I have enough line to fish a long ways from the boat and large spools help prevent line twist.
I use 6lb.Trilene XT for bobber rods s because it is light, strong and abrasion resistant. If you use heavier line it does not cast well. You want a thin line for casting that does not break easily when you get the fish of lifetime on!
I usually have a 1/16 or 1/32 Northland Gumball jig tied on because they can be an attractor and the leech will not ball up on a jig like it does on a plain hook. I will use a # 6 hook at times if they are biting light.
If you fish trees you must use heavier line to keep the fish from tangling in the trees. FireLine works great if the fish are not line shy. FireLine has no stretch so you can get the fish out of the brush faster than mono.
I prefer large bobbers and use split shot to keep them neutral weighted so the fish don’t have as much resistant pulling the bobber down and this allows for longer casts.
My preferred bait for slip bobbers is a leech since the bobber does not move much which allows the leech to swim and I think this is the reason leech’s work the best. Walleyes, panfish, bass and rock bass love leeches.
Other bait choices depending on the fish species you are pursuing are worms, pieces of leeches or worms, maggots and wax worms.
If you want to learn more I just released a slip bobber kit which includes the terminal tackle I use and a DVD on how to use a slip bobber for fishing.
I hope you enjoyed my article on how to use a slip bobber for fishing.
GO FISHING, THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Doc
