Anyone use a sbirolino/bombarda?

[Steve C]

Back in late September, while vacationing in the Poconos, I saw these two Russian guys bailing bluegill from a lake.  They where kinda of secretive as to what they were using, but from a distance it looked like a casting bubble with a long leader to a bait lure that was too small to see.  They were using ~9' light salmon/steelhead rods and were casting these things great distances and then a real slow retrieve.  When I got back to a computer and googled for a bit, I figured out what they were using - sbirolinos or bombardas.

They are basically an aerodynamic casting floats (some are sinking) for getting flies, UL lures waaaay out there.  They come in different weights and densities.  They are used in Europe for trout fishing in lakes or sea trout fishing in estuaries and I saw some videos where they were used for perch and roach fishing.  I found a place in the USA (Warminster, PA) that sells them and ordered a few.  I the meantime, I made one from an egg sinker and a foam float.

My setup is a Fenwick HMXS 86L-2-MF (8.5'  3/16-1/2 oz).  6# fireline crystal with a 7' 4# fluorocarbon leader.  The sbirolino is threaded on the fireline, tail-end facing the reel, followed by a small bead.  Then I tie on a swivel, one end to the fireline, the other to the leader.  I'm using a #12 beadhead nymph as the bait.  

These rig casts a mile and I been catching bluegills and crappie like crazy.  I've had my best luck on a shallow pond I fish, I think I need to try some sinking ones to do better on deeper water.  

It's difficult to find much out about these rigs on the internet as all the websites & videos are in either German, Dutch or Russian!  Much like the Europeans over complicate carp fishing, they have some wild bait rigs using these sbirolinos for trout fishing.

[carl hendrix]

THIS IS A TOTALLY NEW ONE TO ME STEVE;; INTERESTING SET UP !  QUESTION IS;; HOW FAR CAN YOU CAST THIS;; AND HOW FAST IS THE HOOK SET ?  WHEN I FISH AT LONG DISTANCE; THE REACTION TIME ON HOOK SET;; NOT GOOD ; FOR ME ANY WAY.  I MISS A LOT OF THEM !   GOOD INGEIUNITY  ON DESIGNING YOUR OWN FLOAT !

[Steve C]

I stink at estimating distances, but measuring my pond on google earth and I'm guessing ~100+ ft without really laying into the cast.  I'm slow reeling the whole retrieve, so I'm always in direct contact with the fly.  So far hook setting has only been an issue with a strong wind putting a big bow in the line.  I've been getting a lot of short strikes, but I get them when fly fishing for BG too.  Using the braid helps with bite detection also.  Casting technique is an overhead lob type cast, feathering the line on the reel just before the float hits to flip the fly/leader out in front of the float.  I got a lot of ideas using these things - micro flies or jigs in the cold water of late November/December, one of those Hildebrandt flicker spinners for stocked trout in the spring.  There are tons of videos of guys trout fishing with them.  If only I understood German.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EDULwy1598

[Joe Angelucci]

Steve 

Welcome to the world of Euro float fishing. I would suggest circle hooks (size 10 - 14) when making your rigs. This way the fish pretty much hook themselves. The commercial  rigs are available on UK fishing sites. Reason most people use these rigs are to get out real far via rod and reel  with very light terminal tackle.  

Tight Lines and have fun

Bombarda Floats - Floating

The ’Bombarda’ system allows you to cast flies and small light lures distances never before thought achievable.

The ’Bombarda’ also provides "depth control" being available in Floating, Intermediate and Sinking versions.

[Joe Angelucci]

Here is a good overview , in English 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASn3dWN1TGs

[Steve C]

Great video, thanks!  That's what I was thinking of doing with the Hildebrandt Flicker Spinner, looks like it will work.

[Slip Sinker]

very interesting... great way to cover some water shorefishing

[Steve C]

It's a great addition for distance fishing higher in the water column.  I've been doing good all summer with a panfish-sized dropshot rig for fish that are far out, near the bottom.  I can cast both of these rigs about the same distance.

[carl hendrix]

 GUESS IM GOING  TO STAY WITH MY QUILL FLOATS; WONT CAST AS FAR  AS THOSE YOU ARE SHOWING STEVE;   BUT I CAN STILL ROLL CAST A QUILL FLOAT A PRETTY GOOD DISTANCE WITH A 3 WT FLY ROD;  AND THERE MIGHT BE A MORE SENSATIVE FLOAT THAN A QUILL FLOAT;; I JUST HAVENT FOUND ONE YET !

[Joe Angelucci]

Difference is that these bombarda floats are not designed for bite indication but for distance casting for a rod and reel. Fly rods use the fly line to cast and do not need the additional weight