Slip Corking/Bobber Fishing

[Locator79]

I only use them for fishing minnows, when fish are shallow.

[Ken Jones]

Some of the answers you have gotten HanR3, from guys that use a bobber I don't understand their methods. Some I don't think are very productive in catching crappie. They all may be good fisherman but some of there methods is questionable.

[kycreek]

Absolutely love fishing heavy brush with a slip bobber. Nothing better in my book.

[Hanr3]

Slip bobber is by far my preferred method. Interesting to see no one really fishes it the way I do.

I anchor up next to the structure. I use a short ultra light pole with 4 pound mono line and #4 hooks tipped with minnow or wax worms. I put a split shot about 15" above the hook to balance the bobber in teh water. I set the weight so the bobber will go under with any downward pressure, yet bob with teh waves. Plus at this weight any upward hit will cause the bobber to lay flat.

If I do go artifical I use Mini-Mites, smaller sizes to get the bite going and bigger size to get the bigger fish when active. My favorite color is chartruse, and any combination with chartuse in it.

Prefer water about 8-15 deep, although can be fished at any depth. Wood is the best structure, however the crappie like to ambush bait fish so any place they can hide works.

Works great for night fishing too. Drop the light in the water, wait 45 minutes and fish the edges of the light.

[Blackhawk19]

I fish slip bobbers all the time, their especially useful under a bridge when you need to use a short rod and need to fish 15'to 20' deep. Rig up about a 5' ultra light and set the depth and with the bobber stop it will go thru the guides and onto the reel with no problem and cast back out easy. I worked on them pretty good under the bridge at White Oak Creek on Lake Eufaula this past week using this method

[Kokomo Bob]

I'm probably wrong but I think that if you are using a bobber. That crappie wants to see that bait move and I always try to keep the bait moving to attract him. I never cast out and let the bobber just set there, very long, hoping for a bite. I do variations of a slow wind unless in a tree top etc., then I use a lively minnow or move the jig up and down. But sometimes you can put that bait right on his nose and he won't take it. What ever works best for you. Just my unprofessional opinion.

[Eager Beaver]

I use the slip float when fishing a tree top and the fish are finicky and tight to the top. I will move out away from the tree top and will use a slip bobber to cast pass the top and then will slowly move the float over top of the top. If there is wind present then I won't add any action to the bait, be it a jig or a minnow. Now if wind isn't present than I will just bump the line to make the bait jump a little and then come back to a resting position. I call this knocking on their door. If the fish are active then I will just usually cast to them. I only use a slip float if they aren't biting or are finicky. Let the fish tell you what and how they want their meal served to them. They are always talking to you. If you are savey enough to speak Crappie.
My Grandkids love to knock on the door and watch the bobber go down.
Valuable lesson learned by my grandson a couple of weeks ago while we were camping and fishing. We was getting our fishing poles and tackle box ready to go fishing and a couple of guys came by our camp site with fishing poles and the grandson asked them how the fishing was. They said that no one was catching anything and that the only thing caught was a really small Bluegill. My Grandson started putting his fishing pole back in the truck and I asked him what he was doing. He said that those guys said that the fish weren't biting and we would be wasting our time to go. I asked him if he had lost faith in my ability to catch fish. He looked down at the ground and then kinda turned his head a little and looked up at me and said he wasn't thinking straight. God I love this kid. We went fishing and within 30 seconds after his bait hit the water he had a really nice Bull Bluegill on. We caught over 30 very nice Bluegill that afternoon. He learned a very good lesson about not going by what other people say and doing your own thing. EB

[gabowman]

Hardly ever use floats during the daytime unless we are pulling a few out of the back of the boat while spider rigging out the front. But I most always use a couple corks out at the edge of the lights when nightstalking crappie from an anchored boat.

[Darryl Morris]

Slip cork rigs are the primary go to in my guide service. I've used this rig as shallow as 18" and as deep as 30'. Eight pound Vicious line, #6 extra light wire cricket hook, #7 and 3/0 split shot and a 1/2" pencil style Thill slip float on a 10' BnM Crappie Wizzard pole with a spinning reel. It's very effective and controls the depth. I tell my clients, when cork goes down, let'r rip and stick a lip. Most of the time we are "hovering" over a brush pile or bamboo condo. But, it is equally easily fished when pitched in the shallows or dipping straight in and out of tall, tight cover. It's pretty basic but if the most inexperienced client can do it and catch fish anyone can do it this way and be productive.

[sparky]

Slip bobber come into their own when fishing deper water (7-30 fow). Less than 7 feet I use a fixed bobber. I use them a lot when drifting. Just go to a larger size and add more wieght (shot) and they will stay at the depth you set. They are great when fishing from shore, you can adjust the depth and make longer cast out into the deper water especially when the fish are away from the banks and hover over the first drop off. Find the depth where the fish are holding at and set the bobber stop about a half foot higher and let it drift to cover more water.