Do you love big bluegill?

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE SLIP BOBBER RIGS FOR B'GILL

Here's mine for open water season 2015

I just wanted to share my favorite slip bobber rig for the past 2015 season.

2015 open water season found me fishing out of my kayak and limiting my supply of fishing rods to just 3 on board. An UL jigging rod, UL slip bobber rig and an UL drop shot rig. After weeks of tweaking slip bobber systems I ended up with this rig. Most of my UL fishing experiences were shallow less than 2 FOW casting under overhanging brush and next to dense weed slop or inside slop pockets of open water.

The rod I settled on is a Diawa Crossfire 562ULFS series rod with incredible value … under 20.00. the rod is a fast action tip for the first third of the blank and then quickly develops a significant back bone for the remainder . I believe this is the main reason it develops such accurate casting and flipping into tight targets. This system if used correctly I believe would eliminate the need for a long fixed rod for stealth. After some practice I was able to drop the bobber with a flip with a very quiet presentation.

This rig has caught some very large preds such as LMB hitting the 5# mark and N’Pike hitting the 30 inch mark. The large preds would dive and dig into cover and the power pro braid would cut thru the slop and veggies like a weed whacker.

The line is an important component in this configuration providing sensitivity, power, toughness and its inherent weed whacking ability.

The slip bobber is Pro series Thill providing sensitivity and stealth when entering the target area. Use enough split shot to balance the float to a neutral position.

Stop knot was a UNI Knot tied with30# Dacron in bright chartreuse for line signal property of visibility.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on February 4, 2016 at 1:53pm

Nice set up for your needs Slip! Do you not prefer a fixed float setup for shallow water though ? I am thinking a fixed float registers a secure bite better than a slip float .

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on February 4, 2016 at 2:28pm

thanks John!... i never really understood the argument shallow water/deep-water slip bobber/fixed bobber argument... once a slip bobber is cast and set to depth by the stop it does have the same physical properties and mechanics as a fixed... i never really understood the separation of mechanics and physics fisherman bring to the table between the two. However i do know this... a fixed float shallow water presentation set at 3' foot when casted projects a cartwheel of hardware in a 6' diameter circle that makes it impossible to pinpoint a cast into tight situations. I believe I did very well last year casting a 6" radius of hardware into some very tight situations that i found impossible casting large diameter hardware projections. Another plus is that I have one rig that will also tap into the deep water if need by of course setting the stop to a increased depth.

I love using Quill fixed floats but never found them to be accurate when casted. I do use them when accuracy isn’t required at a premium.

So slip floats have taken over the tackle box.

Really enjoy reading in this group John … well done!

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on February 4, 2016 at 2:49pm

You make good points ,Slip , regarding slip float pinpoint casting and with my experiments using different short rod (5.5')and long rod (7.5-8') paired with different Size/weight floats and shot or jigs I have had certain problems . The very light long rods that are springy can be problematic with tangles on fixed floats particularly but also can be great slip float rods for long casts from shore to get to the fish .. I don't know that I have a favorite Rig but I have several setups that have worked well for me when conditions were right . I started with a foam float that registered a bite pretty well but increased my catches with pencil floats which for cold water /shore fishing seemed to be the best choice with conditions I face . I slip float mostly in Ice out or late fall to ice periods . I don't find myself doing it as much or at all in the warmer water months .Glad you enjoy the group . I've learned a lot since starting it so naively and have much to learn .

Permalink Reply by Gary Boysen on February 4, 2016 at 5:55pm

Geez...I have so much to learn!!

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on February 5, 2016 at 12:44pm

Here are long spinning rod choices I use for shore fishing that have worked well:

7',6" UL "Berkeley Trout Dough Series Rod ,Daiwa Spinmatic 500T reel , 4#test mono, crawler piece on a #8 Aberdeen hook or a jig under a Shybite float or a Pencil float . My 8' Zebco 'Crappie Buster' Rod has acquired a split towards the very soft tip end .(Hope its repairable without cutting back)Both of these rods are springy ,particularly the Zebco .Good sweep set Crappie rods ,but handle all pannies well .I even got a 6# 13oz. Channel Cat on the Crappie Buster . Inexpensive good rod IMO.

Short rod choices are ;Daiwa and a Shimano Sensilite rods with Pflueger Supreme Reel and Pflueger President UL Reel respectively . 4# test mono .

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on February 6, 2016 at 9:02am

its actually a 'SLAB SEEKER " Zebco rod .

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on May 2, 2016 at 6:24am

Glad to say ,i tried out the repaired Slab Seeker rod and it caught 21 panfish without a problem .

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on May 2, 2016 at 8:31am

Glad to hear of the fix...
I fixed a ice fishing rod last season that was split between the second and third guide and when it was loaded up it showed a splinter halfway through...
I ended up tossing it in the garbage and as a second thought I took the rod out of the garbage and repaired it with super glue gel and continued using it through the season. It was a favorite ice fishing rod of mine and they were no longer available for purchase.

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on May 2, 2016 at 10:41am

That is being resourceful Slip , good man .Did you just brush on the glue ?Did you clamp it in any way? I didn't mind the 15 bucks i paid for the repair but I would try it myself if there's a next time.

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on May 2, 2016 at 7:25pm

thanks i figured what did i have to lose ... i didn't do anything special except put the glue from the gel bottle directly in between the break when flexed and then let it spring back to shape wiped off some excess... i let it dry overnight and then used the heck out of it thru the ice... i was pretty impressed with the strength and durability. i hope i can get a few more seasons from it.

what was the damage to the rod you had fixed?

Permalink Reply by Slip Sinker on February 6, 2016 at 12:13pm

sounds like some nice setups John.... if you had to pick one rig which would it be?

Permalink Reply by John Sheehan on February 6, 2016 at 12:22pm

I guess the ZEBCO 'SLAB SEEKER 'rod for its length , very soft tip , strong butt and casting distance . Matched with a Pflueger President UL reel .That rod may have to be replaced as it's slightly splintered about 4" from the tip . Hope I can find another .Favorites change though . The Berkeley rod is a little stiffer at the tip and may out last and out produce the Zebco which I've had for a longer time .