slider bobbers and jig

[David Allen]

ok I know this might me a question that I should know....what is the proper way to fish a bobber and jig,? I see pro crappie anglers do it, but, I have little success, I want to be able to succeed with this system, it looks like fun.

[Tony Livingston]

Holy cow John! I think you're on a much higher slip float plateau than I am! I really appreciate you taking the time to address my questions on such a personal level, however I'm not sure I possess the same level of enthusiasm, and definitely, expertise as you! I also don't want to hijack this thread, (Sorry David!). I fish slip floats mainly early winter before ice up, when the fish are moving deep. The farm ponds I frequent are wooded, right up to the edge, so that mandates a 4.5' fast action ultralight, (for easier handling), 2lb line, size 8 or 10 hook, single beemoth or 2-3 spikes, casting 30-40ft to deeper water, depth fished can be anywhere from 12-18ft. By the way, caught some more tonight- they're moving shallow, water temp was 46 degrees, I had to set the floats way up, about 18 inches, time to take em' off till next fall I think!

[Johnny wilkins]

Slip floats and any float are good year-round.
I will post some pictures of the sliders I use which can be fished 80 feet away with ease as they are shaped like darts.
Best of all- they will work better in wind and you can best detect Spring lift bites - which you would miss with the Lindy version. Compared to a proper float the Lindy Pro Series is an embarrassment to the world of floats (( especially when fishing the baits you are )).
Tony you don't need to be an expert or that enthusiastic to fish the good stuff. What I am saying is you will see bites you never have.
The float will perform better and you will catch more fish, have more fun fishing long distance with ease. Embarrassment is not my word - it is Mr. Thill's word. The Lindy "pro" floats are chubby and plastic they are too round, too buoyant to offer you sensitive bite detection.
I will say you have made the most out of them and are doing very well with this float- wait until you fire a proper slider- it is a huge difference in fishing.
Take no offense, just get excited.
Floats are like golf clubs. For further casts, you need drivers or the long floats. If you don't golf sorry for the reference. As you get in close, you need shorter floats, smaller floats. Handgun vs. Rifle for long distance.
The only thing the Lindy floats are good for is fishing 8 - 12 lb. line as the floats I fish couldn't handle even a 6 lb. Trilene as it is too thick.
The great news is you fish fantastic line for bluegill fishing and great casting line. 2 lb. line casts much further than 4 or 6!
I think David asked about fishing slip floats so we aren't hijacking the post - discussion is good. More tomorrow regarding the floats.
I will be doing some testing to show how sensitive floats are coming up and will be doing some tank testing.
Also- I will be fishing a warm-water discharge either this weekend or early next week and will show video of the floats I am using. Hopefully I will also have a bag of fish to display.
I will close with a tip when fishing a slip float
After you set your depth, you can cast out and slowly crank in until you see the float hang or rise up. It is easier to see on the non-weighted floats. When your split shot strikes bottom, your float will raise up- now you know where the depth breaks out in front of you.
On your next cast you can work the edge of that drop-off. This method works at any distance.

[Billy Booth]

John,

The suspense is killing me. Please tell me where I can find good slip floats.

[Johnny wilkins]

Sorry for the suspense - I will have some at retailers in the next couple of weeks. Europe is the place I have seen them but shipping and VAT tax kills when buying just a few floats. If you can do me the favor of contacting me and sending me the contact information for your local tackle store, I will be selling to stores starting in April. I can quickly send you the link to at least one online store either the 1st week or 2nd week of April as I do have some top panfish sliders coming in. I won't sell them direct- only through independent bait & tackle stores around the country.
The store I was going to recommend - doesn't have them yet. His inventory is probably coming in the next two weeks as well. We still have some ponds and lakes with ice - but not for long.

[Mark Chrzanowski]

I am an avid user of Thill. Different sizes for different set-ups. My favorite are the longer slim ones. They are easy to set up as "pop ups" These can be especially effective when the fish are hitting hard as the float simply stands up when they hit. The same float can be use as a standing float and will broadcast those light hits.

[Johnny wilkins]

There are two terms being used here and we need to keep them separate so everyone understands. Pop-up rigs have are set so the float will lift when the fish picks the weight up. You see the float come straight up in the water because the fish has picked up the bait and lifted the bottom shot.
By pop up you mean "stand up". Some people fish with floats laying on their side and see the hits when the float stands up.
When the fish are hitting hard- any rig will do and only when the fish are hitting hard would a stand-up be a ok rig.
I personally wouldn't use the stand-up because a float which is sunk 95% by the shot, is the most sensitive and quickest indicator of movement, fish takes which can be used by anglers. Like I said- if you like the Thill brown floats you will love the good stuff that much more.