Bobber or spring bobber

[fishnfeathers]

I have been ice fishing for a long time and I still can't decide which I like to use best, a spring bobber or a slip bobber. I know some people don't use anything at all too. How about you guys.. :confused:

[Cobra]

Carry and use all three methods. Just depends on the situation. Prefer a homemade spring bobber that's much more sensitive than you can buy but a fair wind can make it useless unless it's hammered, yet it does give Buzz Stik type action. I'm from the run and gun school so I use no shelter. Like those bobbers that Jammin or Baddog have on sale right now, bought some in Minnesota a couple years back, very nice.

[Connor4501]

No bobbers for me, I use real thin noodle rods...Sometimes will use a small bobber when I use minnows, which isn't too often...

[johnny white]

spring bobber

[MSUICEMAN]

shallow water that you can't see, i like using a spring bobber. sight fishing no bobber of course, and when they are finicky, i use an ice fly bobber from thill with a tiny treble and a minnow (kills the crappies).

steve

[Capt. Lucky]

I use all 3 types it just depends on the conditions at the time :D

[scottyhoover]

Watch the line! 90% of the time no bobber just a 30inch ultra light action is all the bobber you need. Touchy gills in feb. require one of those spiral spring bobbers. Like MSU said for crappies thill ice n fly slips are the only way to go.

[barry county jim]

I tight line with yellow stren. I can see more things with that line plus with no bobber I can change depths easier. I don't have a vex yet but since I hane started tight lining I have found the fish to be high in the water than I thought. It did take a little time to get used to but it was forth the effort.

[mallardtone-man]

The smallest balsa wood bobber that will hold your bait. For light biting perch, you cant beat it, and you dont have to constantly readjust for depth.

[Ed Stringer]

I'm a jig fisherman no need for any kinda bobs. The minnow program would be the only time I bob fish.

Eddie

[Radar420]

I use all three. It depends on what I'm fishing for and what the fish are biting on.

[William H Bonney]

I finely "tuned" spring bobber is hard to beat. 95% of the ones in the stores are GARBAGE though, you need the "piano-wire" type, with a loop at the end and attach them yourself with sewing thread. Another thing,,, when I had an Aqua-Vu,, I would watch the fish and watch my bobber at the same time,,, it is "almost" impossible for a fish to take the bait with moving that spring bobber.

[WALLEYEvision]

I use all three. It depends on what I'm fishing for and what the fish are biting on.
:yeahthat:

[DaveW731]

90% of the time, I'm either tightlining w/yellow stren, deadsticking w/noodle or other limber type pole, or jigging w/ graphite jig pole.

10% spring bobber. Used to be 50/50, but over the past 5 years have been using the spring less and less, as I have gotten better at tightlining.

Haven't used a float in years, even with minnows. Seems if crappie or perch are hitting minnows, the deadstick approach works just as well and with less hassle.

[Tin Can]

I like and often use both simultaniously, except that the bobber is always a thill slip bobber.

The spring bobber is used with, what I would refer to as extremely ultra light rod, it pick up a fly if it landed on it, but setting the hook can be tricky.

I attach the spring bobber (blade type) using sewing thread, and then put a couple of coats of finger nail polish on to prevent the thread from loosening.

Tin Can

[Houghton laker]

I usually use 2 lines when perch fishing...one is a jigging pole....my fav is a russian spoon with a perch eye...the other line is usually a bobber line with a minnow!! when bluegill fishing I use the piano wire spring bobber on a nice light weight pole.......many times when walleye fishing I will have one jigging pole and a bobber line with a minnow on a larger teardrop.....many times I will know when a fish is near, just from the sudden movement or nervousness of the minnow!

[Tin Can]

HL sounds like we fish in similar ways. We'll have to hook up on the ice.

Tin Can

[salmonslammer]

I gave up on bobbers about 5 years ago.... I couldn't find a float that I liked and I was forever bending the spring bobs..... Now I use a micro lite and a plastic bobber stop for a line marker. Works great as long as you have a big enough eye for the stop to pass through.

[Houghton laker]

You got it Tin Can....Once ice hits you name the spot and I'll be there!!

[Joe Archer]

Four lb. test yellow Stren gets my vote! <----<<<

[Tin Can]

HL I am even thinking, just maybe, we'll let Ed Michrina grace us with his presence.

Eric

Happy Thanks Giving All, be thankfull for what you have, and what you don't have.

[Houghton laker]

OK eric, but you'll have to split split his beer bill with me so we can get him intoxicated enough to let some of his secret perch techniques slip out ;) I would enjoy both of your company!! Also Ditto on the Happy thanksgiving to all!! Kevin

[MiketheElder]

I use various techniques but the one I use most often in water 10' or less is a stick rod with a bobber. I put one small split shot about two feet above the ice jig and minnow and then just enough split shot at the base of the bobber to make it almost neutrally bouyant. The biggest perch I've caught never took the bobber down but the bobber moved slightly sideways when the jumbo sucked in the minnow. Set the hook, throw the rod, and handline it in.

Big Mike

[ChapstickCharlie]

I got tired of line guide problems from bobber stops. Ice rods for some reason have extra small guides. The spring bobber eliminates that problem and gives you the advantage of not having to look down the hole for a bite. Instead you can position your rod tip in a straight line with your sniffer. Easier on the eyes and the neck. However when the bite is really finicky, I have had luck just line watching .