"Trolling" with a bobber

[Tippecanoe41]

I'm going on a trip next week. Last year on almost the same date we were fishing in 4-6 feet of water, spider rigging jigs approximately 1-3 feet below the surface. I'm going back to the same area but I'm not going to be able to take a boat this year. I was planning on just wading and casting. Anybody ever use a bobber to get a longer cast and basically slowly real back with a jig under the bobber basically mimicking a spider rig sort of presentation? Would the bobber spook fish this close to the surface? Any tips for making this a productive tactic? Thanks for your help.

[DockShootinJack]

I fish float and jig often in springtime shallow water. The weighted ones work well. A stop and go retrieve works well most of the time. Sometimes a steady slow roll gets then too.

[CentKyPaddler]

Definitely works. I agree with DSJ, a slow retrieve with a few pauses next to or over structure works great. I love using a popeye jig under one just like that.


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[DockShootinJack]

Slabsauce or a Crappie nibble makes them hold on to it a little longer. If you are casting it a long ways you will sling the nibble off. If there are a lot of bream around they will have that nibble and gone.

[Tippecanoe41]

Do you use a slip bobber or a fixed bobber? you don't find that having only a foot or two of line out spooks them with the bobber?

[Tippecanoe41]

Slip or fixed bobber? Also, you don't notice that any fish get spooked when the jig is within a foot or two of the bobber?

[DockShootinJack]

I use the small Mr Crappie weighted clip on floats. With a pause and go retrieve they kind of walk the dog like a Zara spook. I usually fish this way from 2 to 4 feet deep. Any deeper that that I am casting jigs without the float.

[texican89]

Do you use a slip bobber or a fixed bobber? you don't find that having only a foot or two of line out spooks them with the bobber?

CRAPPIE TECHNIQUES - UNDERWATER VIDEO - Part 1 - YouTube

This should answer your question

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[MCG1]

If you're afraid of spooking the fish, paint the bottom of the bobber/float.

[shipahoy41]

Slabsauce or a Crappie nibble makes them hold on to it a little longer. If you are casting it a long ways you will sling the nibble off. If there are a lot of bream around they will have that nibble and gone.

Welcome from Alabama Tipecanoe41.

I personally use an orange weighted pool noodle slip float. No need to paint it. In fact iI think the orange helps because some fish are used to seeing the orange underside of some fish. LOL. This enables longer casts from the bank yet light enough that the lure is eaten by the crappie. I use a hair jig under the float -n- fly. That Chenille really holds the Slab sauce well. The retrieve under a float -n- fly is to cast the weighted lure out. Pause about ten seconds to let the lure pendulum back under the float. Retrieve a few feet and repeat the pause and pendulum action. Repeat this as often as needed until you want to cast out again. Crappie will hit the lure as it pendulums back under the float.

Good video texican89. Thanks for posting it.