Slip Bobber Rigs For Crappie and Walleye

Devils Lake guide Steve “Zippy” Dahl has been filling clients’ coolers with limit walleye by fishing slip bobber rigs this year, using moderate-action fiberglass rods capable of casting the rig a mile.

Slip bobbers can be an extremely effective method of fishing in many different situations and species. Their effectiveness shines most on natural lakes early in the season when cold fronts, fluctuating water temps and rough weather make other presentations cumbersome or impossible to use effectively.

Choosing a Float

People usually envision float fishing as an idyllic scene of young children gathered around a bank watching an idyllic scene where cork slowly drifts across the surface of water. While that image is accurate, bobbers (floats) have evolved significantly over time to become an invaluable tool for freshwater anglers targeting crappie, bluegills, trout, bowfin and walleye species.

Floats come in all sizes, shapes, and colors and can either be fixed or slip floats. Fixed floats remain stationary on a line using various attachment methods (built-in clip or wire with slot for line); slip floats slide along between bobber stop knots and bait to allow anglers to fish at any depth.

Skilled float fishermen can use float fishing techniques to target schooling crappie during pre-spawn, post-spawn and during the spawn itself. They are also useful in targeting suspended walleye. As crappie tend to hold at different depths multiple lines with slip bobbers can often be deployed simultaneously to cover an entire school of fish.

A float offers an ideal combination of subtle presentation and versatility; it can be fished with any type of bait. Sometimes just the slight movement of a minnow dangling in front of a school of crappie is enough to trigger strikes. On windy days it may be beneficial to position your boat downwind of an active school of fish, casting your rig so it bobber slips through it as this allows for adjustment in depth without risking drifting too far from its target location.

Certain floats also feature bobber stop knots on their ends to allow you to add or remove line as necessary. Premium bobber stops from Thill Fishing Tackle provide an easy installation solution, featuring pre-tied snagless hooks with applicator tubes, beads, and bead bobbers; making this an excellent alternative for fishing on the move! This feature makes for efficient use.

Choosing a Hook

Slip floats make use of hooks to secure bait in place, with different designs offering convenient options. Some floats feature built-in hooks while others can be quickly unhooked via pinch of the thumb or fingers. Ideally, smaller hooks should be used when fishing for panfish while larger hooks work best when fishing for walleye or bass.

Your choice of hook is dependent upon both its intended use and personal preferences. On clear water lakes, small circle panfish or jig hooks often work best when targeting crappie; but for murky or stained waters a wider gap hook like VMC wide gap worm or minnow hook will perform more reliably.

A quality hook must not only be strong, but also be resilient against being pulled off of its line by obstructions such as snags or other impediments. Some anglers prefer wide gap hooks on slip floats for walleye or bass fishing as the extra gap helps avoid snagged lines while increasing hook up potential.

When it comes to rigging a slip float, selecting an effective bobber is essential. There are various types of bobbers available, with standard slit-style or slide bobbers being the most widely used and versatile option – one such bobber is Northland Fishing Tackle’s Lite-Bite Weighted Slip Bobber available in multiple sizes that makes for easy visibility while featuring a weight sleeve to help keep it upright.

Once the bobber is in place, it is time to add bait. Crappie usually prefer waxie pieces or minnow heads; half of a crawler or minnow are also effective. A light jiggle or gentle pulling motion of the rod may work effectively – though be wary not to move it too steadily otherwise this may result in line pulling through and fishing at deeper depth than desired.

Targeting walleye can be challenging, but nothing beats a leech connected to a wide gap jig. Other great choices for targeting this species are redtail chubs or half of a plump night crawler.

Choosing a Rig

Assembling the proper tackle for slip bobber rigs requires more than simply attaching a float, weight and hook to a rod and reel; creating the ideal rig takes finesse and careful attention to detail. When choosing your slip bobber’s components, one key aspect should be its float – these come in all sorts of shapes and sizes to suit specific conditions, baits or presentations; often brightly-colored options tend to work best as they’re easier for fish to spot on the water surface while keeping some line above waterline so your line-tossing rod can stay out of harm’s way when casting or retrieving it’s best if using your slip bobbers correctly – choosing too small an option or one too easily hidden by surface-could result in misses or hangups on occasions where line tossing rod can cause missed hits or hangups from misses or hangups from misdirected casts or hookups due to missed targets getting away or hangups on occasion of casting/casting being out there somewhere below or simply not being seen when casting out there! Choosing too small an option could result in missed casts/casts/casting rod/reels could result in missed cast or hangup/cast/cast can result in missed hit/casting rod could result in missed cast/fishing can result in missed or hangups! float may lead to miss or miss-tos.

As part of creating your slip bobber rig, weight should also be a key consideration. When targeting crappie and walleye, small to medium-sized lead weights tend to work best. Balance is key so that it can be moved by rod action without shifting position on the bottom as it moves up and down your line – something the Northland Fishing Tackle Lite-Bite Weighted Slip Bobber from Northland Fishing Tackle does perfectly with its sturdy base design that casts like a bullet casts like an effortless bullet and balanced perfectly on its surface of water surface!

Most slip bobber approaches should begin from an anchored position, typically using a 27-pound “navy” anchor with 100 to 150 feet of rope as an excellent option in most natural lake applications. Make sure your anchoring upwind of structures such as brush piles and rock reefs where walleye may be suspended.

Once you are anchored, locate an ideal spot to begin fishing and drop the anchor. Cast and allow the rig to drift until its float is within striking range of the target walleye pocket. When this occurs, retrieve all slack out of the line until you feel pressure on the hook from fish on it and set your hook properly – this should help eliminate missed strikes due to weak hook sets.

Choosing a Bait

Slip bobber rigs are among the easiest ways to present baits to crappie and walleye fish. Selecting the correct float, weight and hook combination is key when using this style of fishing; additionally, knowing how to properly set depth depth levels on your bobber is vital for its success.

Slip bobber rigging offers several distinct advantages when fishing for crappie in brush or other cover, or targeting specific depth zones with walleye rods. Slip bobbers allow for targeted presentations by suspending bait at predetermined depths on breaks, reefs or rock piles or just downwind of your position – something which makes for effective presentations that help maximize fish captures. It can even help when targeting walleye fisheries!

When selecting bait to use when fishing with a slip bobber, many anglers find a large, fat, brightly-colored float with a small ring at its base to be an effective solution. Not only is it easily visible; its presence helps when your line comes free from the water and fish bite! For added efficiency it would also be advantageous if the float had clear plastic or glass bodies so you can see your bait’s color changing back down as the line drops back into the water.

Hooks of size 2/0 or 3/0 plain jigs will typically do the trick. Some anglers prefer trailer hook jigs which may increase catch rates; however, these require more line to cast out and can sometimes tangle more easily during windy conditions.

Using a slip bobber, the best baits for walleye fishing may include leeches or helgrmites worms, minnows or half of a large crawfish. Jumbo leeches hooked to long bare lines are particularly effective at drawing walleye away from feeding on the bottom or near it in deeper waters during summer months – their frantic and swimming antics often prove irresistible!