Spring bobbers

[Spinach]

So who uses spring bobbers regularly and what kind do you use?

I use a spring bobber quite a bit, I always have a rod or 2 setup with a spring bobber attached, I started using JR's tackle new spring bobber this year, he makes them out of foam compared to plastic, they work great and are very cheap to buy. Frabill also makes a nice spring bobber, Iv'e used all types including Frabill, JR's, St Croix and Thornes, they all work the same and the JR's tackle bobbers are the cheapest in price.

This past weekend, we fished Peltier, both my dad and i used a spring bobber and outfished the rest of the group at least 2-1. The Crappies were biting fast and furious for the first 45 minutes and then they slowed down to a normal pace, the spring bobbers worked great because the fish were swimming up for the bait, without the bobber, you could barely detect a bite.

They work best when you set the rod on a pail and watch the spring for any subtle movement.

For those of you that have never used a spring bobber, you should grab a few and see the difference when the fish are neutral/negative, they are cheap and a great tool to have in the bag!

Anyone else care to share there experiences with spring bobbers?

[Fish Guide]

I borrow spring bobbers to many of my ice fishing clients so they can detect light bites much easier--thus catching more fish.  For me, I use them once in a while, but then again I can feel/see the bite with most of my panfish gear. 

[Ryan]

I have never used one, but thought about it many times.  I would think that they would help more for catching sunfish than anything.  Usually with crappies I can feel when they bite if I have to move my line up.  What happens when you get a crappie bite that makes the bobber go up instead of down?

[Spinach]

I like them for picking up a very lite bite, when the Crappies swim up to the bait and keep going up with your bait, sometimes it's hard to detect. The spring bobbers help for a visual bite in that scenario. Watch the spring and set the hook!

[HD]

I have used spring bobbers in the past, but I went back to using noodle poles (blue rods with red tips) I, myself, they work better for me.
I bought some spring bobbers for my wife, and she likes them better, (matter of preference, or what your used to, I supose)
And yes, you can out fish anybody when the bite is lite, using a spring bobber, or in my case, a noodle pole.





Hunter

[GRIZ]

I have never used one, but thought about it many times.  I would think that they would help more for catching sunfish than anything.  Usually with crappies I can feel when they bite if I have to move my line up.  What happens when you get a crappie bite that makes the bobber go up instead of down?

When a fish bites on the way up, they still have a bite of sorts. Like with crappie they will suck in the bait. It might be unnoticable with a regular bobber but with a spring bobber it will be noticed if ur watching it. It'll bob down once when they suck it in and not move after that. Another way to tell and my favorite is to use a light but stiffer rod and just feel that first bite when they suck it in. I do believe you might miss a few more doing it that way but not enough to matter in my opinion. I guess I just like to feel them bite.

I've been using my camera alot this winter in the big house experimenting with this sort of stuff. I don't think I've lost more than half a dozen fish all winter doing it that way.

[thunderpout]

I use a St.croix spring bobber some, but a cool method not many people know of is the "counter-balance"... Dave Genz told me and a buddy this like 10/15 yrs ago, though he just fingers the line most of the time, he told us to string a small button on the line between the first and second guides on your rod.  You pull the button down 3-12" depending on the situation... the weight of the jig is counterbalanced by the weight of the button, though the button can be slightly lighter as the jig is bouyant in the water, also if using larger frisky minnows, use a heavier weight.  I experimented using different things and was going to sell em at Vados bait and Thorne bros, till I realized for what I could sell em for... it wasnt worth my time.  Two of the best things to use are plastic tubing cut in different lengths from like 1/2" to 1 1/2" for different weights, but the simplest route is to buy some of the smaller Thill ice/fly floats, ( small balsa slip bobbers) and again, thread em on the line between the top two guides on your rod... I havent used conventional bobbers/floats since.  Theres absolutley no resistance to be felt by the fish!  The best thing about using this set up is when a crappie comes up on your bait, the ( I call the things "Lite Bites") Lite Bite drops down with your line, when they pull your bait down or out, the lite bite and your line moves  back to your rod giving you time to set the hook or pull your rod off a holder if its your 2nd rod.  its a very sensitive set up, great for those lite biting crappies, but great in general for ice fishing!  Give it a try, play around with it at home first, youll be amazed how many more fish youll catch than yer freinds who dont use em.  Me and my buddies who use em always out fish guys we go with, mostly cause ya dont miss as many bites. ( though I'd still out fish em even without the Lite Bite )  I know its hard for alot of people to give up on grandpa's old bobbers but honestly once ya get used to the "Lite Bite" thing ya wont look back!        -thunderpout

[thunderpout]

A helpful hint... dont use the lite bite set up if yer one of those guys who changes his line every year or two... ya need fresh, un-coiled line so the lite bite doesn't spin/get tangled.... I always like to change line at least twice a year as you guys that fish alot all know....         -thunderpout

[Spinach]

Thunderpout, that does sound like a great system I will definitely give it a try soon.

Thanks for sharing.