Practicality of bobbers: Knowing what I know today about fishing, do bobbers really have much practicality in the sport of fishing these days? None of the rigs I see ever include...

FS Digest

Knowing what I know today about fishing, do bobbers really have much practicality in the sport of fishing these days?

None of the rigs I see ever include bobbers and they don't seem to help those that use them anyways.

Yes I see them for sale at all of sporting good stores and all of the 'casual' anglers are still using them.

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by Dash_Rendar425

FS Digest

I don’t care for them at all, but the only time I’ll ever use one is if I’m using live bait and I’m just trying to cast it further.

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by toricoon

FS Digest

Yes for bream fishing they work good you get about three foot of line below the bobber and a small hook and run it through a cricket or a minnow and some people get big bobbers for cat fishing

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by Thebaptistgamer

FS Digest

Bobbers are great for panfishing in my experience. I use a 1/64 jig with a small 1inch minnow and it works wonders

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by ForwardFig6

FS Digest

Yep.

Great for some saltwater rigs.

Color attracts them and keeps hooks semi suspended off the bottom (where the sinker is). Almost every pre tied bluefish rig ive seen has floats on the hooks. Lots of kingfish/croaker rigs too

And can keep multi hook rigs from tangling if made right. (Only put the float on the top hook)

Also putting a small "trout magnet" jig under a bobber is my secret weapon in freshwater.

Jig is small enough to get panfish but also gets big bass, pike, and catfish. The bobber acts as a sound attractant like a popper would.

I've seen bass travel across the lake (when the water is clear) to go after that setup. The plunk is like a dinner bell, sometimes I swear they don't wanna eat it, but can't resist when It plunks right infront of em

Also floating a minnow or shrimp under a bobber is extremely effective for weakfish, and small bluefish.

Definately a key peice of my tackle box still.

Never fish without at least having one on hand

Edit: spelling

Small addition

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by KaizDaddy5

Rutinbuck Loc: Haysville, Kansas

I use a small one when fishing for bluegill when they are too far off the bank. Just the bobber and 1-2 foot of line, no sinker. Sometimes I rig a slip bobber if I want to fish deeper with a bobber stop.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Small jig under weighted float is deadly

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

FS Digest wrote:

Knowing what I know today about fishing, do bobbers really have much practicality in the sport of fishing these days?

None of the rigs I see ever include bobbers and they don't seem to help those that use them anyways.

Yes I see them for sale at all of sporting good stores and all of the 'casual' anglers are still using them.

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by Dash_Rendar425

One of the greatest inventions for freshwater fishing in the last 40 years is the slip bobber. It allows you to cast farther and fish deeper than ever possible. Learn to use one with a bead, a stop and either a split shot or a jig to keep your bait down and prepare to be amazed. No more reeling a spring bobber to the tip and trying to cast out 8’ of line without hooking a branch or your buddy. Use enough weight to allow the bobber to stand up and float at the neutral buoyancy line and keep an eye on it.

jfbanzai Loc: Menomonie, Wisconsin

FS Digest wrote:

Knowing what I know today about fishing, do bobbers really have much practicality in the sport of fishing these days?

None of the rigs I see ever include bobbers and they don't seem to help those that use them anyways.

Yes I see them for sale at all of sporting good stores and all of the 'casual' anglers are still using them.

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by Dash_Rendar425

Definitely useful. I use slip bobbers for panfish and big round plastic ones when fishing for bigger fish with live minnows. Also use slip bobbers for ice fishing.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Many PNW Steelhead fisherpersons are "bobber-dogging" these days. The practice of a slip bobber, a bouncing-betty weight or similar, and then a 24"-36" leader with a jig, a Rebel crawfish, a spawn sac, an egg cluster, a spin-n-glo with night crawler... you name it. Killer setup.

Slip bobbers for deep water crappie and rainbows in the summer heat.

Water-filled bobbers with a fly, when using spinning gear on "flies only" water.

Clip on bobbers for anchored boat or dock fishing for perch and bluegill and crappie.

Not my thing.....but a 3"-5" bluegill, dorsal-hooked,under a bobber will pretty much guarantee a bass or catfish, if they live there.

Yeah....bobbers still have PRACTICAL and useful relevance.... always will, imo.

Gary Northrop Loc: Richland WA

My son and I just returned from 5 days fishing with slip bobbers for coho on Alaska's
Togiak River. We brought home 200 lbs of salmon fillets from 3 to 8 pound fish. We also
caught large rainbow trout and three other salmon species on the bobbers with bait and
artificial salmon eggs.

Bobbers aren't just for little kids and bluegills!

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

200lbs of Coho.... my freezer, my smoker and I, are beyond jealous...good on ya !

danieltrapper Loc: colorado

i will always use a bobber when I am catching smallmouth at lakes with good rocks .Use with minnows just after dark ,or during fall spawing. Been getting some 17 to 20 inchers.

dejongster Loc: Middleton, ID

I use a slip bobber that I fill i/2 way with water and hold it in place with a swivel. then I add tippet or light line and fish flies of all kinds. It iw an easy way to get my grandkids into fish. I get panfish, bass, trout, etc. When on my own, I use it to fish farther out from shore thank I can cast with my fly rod.