slip cork set up

[Tomas Daniel]

i'm wondering if my favorite way to catch panfish in still water is used by any of you guys. its a fairly simple rig, a normal cigar float with a metal collar on each end. the collar keeps the line from cutting into the cork on hooksets and lets the line slide free. under the cork i use a small egg sinker, above a small splitshot crimped about 6" to a foot above a #5 aberdeen. i usually use this rig with red worms threaded on the hook with a good bit of worm hanging off. this allows me to fish on the bottom without having to tightline(no cork). it allows for some slack in the line without taking the ability to detect strikes. ive found that offen times those bigger fish feel a little resistance and let go before a hookset is possible. it takes a little practice to learn hookset timing, but after hours of experience and several full coolers i swear i can tell the difference in a bluegill and a shellcracker by how they bite. ill try to post a pic of this rig soon. if anyone else has ever used this rig id love to hear about it!

[Leo Nguyen]

Hey Tomas, did you have the rig photographed? Eagerly waiting for the rig to be posted. Plenty of corks ready for the rigging actions from the local wineries.

[Tomas Daniel]

here's a pic of the rig i use.  call it what you will, cork, float, bobber etc.....it catches fish.

[Leo Nguyen]

Smacking photo! Got to try that out!

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

It end to use the Euro model for slip floats. Yours is an interesting take on things.

[Tomas Daniel]

i thought id add that i dont put a tie above the cork to stop it. this allows it to be fished on the bottom in any depth. im guessing the euro slip corks are the ones with the stems??? i like these better because they lay flat on the surface and seem to be more subtle/stealthy....important here in mid/south ga on these old wise bluegills and shellcrackers. the cork in the pic is made by komel tackle. betts also makes some in green and yellow with a plastic collar that work well but i like these better.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

It sounds like you've got a fish finder rig...with the float up line.

[cal okeefe]

if you dont have a bobber stop how does the cork stand up when a fish bites?

[Tomas Daniel]

it doesnt stand up. it stays horizontal the whole time. it kinda dabbles on the bait end of the cork...a shellcracker will usually dabble it a little, pause, then take off to the right or left. a bluegill is a little more unpredictable. it takes some time to master the hookset timing, but for me and many other serious fishermen in this area, its the go to rig.

[Leo Nguyen]

Curious Tomas. Do you just gingerly put the line into the water, or you actually cast the line. The cast is possible due to the splitshot and the egg sinker. Then, wouldn't the weight of the egg and splitshot pull the lines downwards, creating a bit of a tension? Man, that rig is making more itchy to try in the pool.

[Tomas Daniel]

you cast it. i usually ues it on a spinning or spincast reel. ill cast right up next to the structure i want to fish. one key is to not immediately engage the reel. the sinker and splitshot will fall right there. if you engage the reel the cork will slide up the line towards you and pull the bait off the spot in the process.. if you leave slack after the cast by not engaging the reel, the slack will fall through the cork rather than sliding the cork up the line and your bait will fall straight down. might be a good idea to give it a whirl in the pool so you can actually see how it works. this is where the metal collars on the cork are important. without them, the line wont slide as freely through the cork. regular foam cigar floats work, but ive found that after a few hooksets, the line will cut into them, the line gets caught there and doesnt slip at all.

[Leo Nguyen]

Ah! This is truly a bottom search and destroy rig layout. Perfect to hammer cats and carps in my neck of the waters. Your rig gives me a very ingenious plan of attack, using wine corks. By adding small hard plastic tubing through the wine corks, it will mimic your cork method Shaping the wine cork into a cylindrical or cone shape will enable the cork to practically stand straight up during a solid hookups when they dart away, or, aiding the hooksets more effective. Man, you gave me a freaking spin of ideas! Thanks!

[Tomas Daniel]

no problem bud. betts actually makes something very similar to your wine cork idea. they call they're version slippers. instead of metal collars they have a hard plastic tube from end to end. i'llmsee if i can dig up a pack and take a pic for ya. if i may suggest, use the largest diameter plastic tubing you can find to allow the line to slip as freely as possible, keeping yourbait where you want it.