Bottom Bouncer Blues

[Bear_arm]

This season I've been trying to learn bottom bouncer technique with limited success. I feel like I'm doing things right, but have only caught 2 fish with this style (out of maybe 25 hours over the season). I have been using mostly spinners (with live bait), both commercial and of my own making. Most of the time, my leaders are around 4 feet (moderately clear water). I think I'm going fast enought, because I can feel the blade thrum. I've tried both going as slow as possible with my 40hp, and using the trolling motor at setting 2 or 3 (50lb thrust) I don't have a gps so I don't know how fast I'm actually going. I've experimented with different blades and beads. I usually fish anywhere from 17 ft(weed edge) to as deep as 30. My depth finder is an antique, so I don't get much definition, but I can tell that I'm moving through schools of baitfish, which seems to be the right idea. Does this sound right? So far I get a big "E" for effort, but I'd rather have an "F" for fish. Thanks

[SpikeRoberts]

Try to change the presentation around until you find a pattern that works. Try different combinations (longer snells, shorter snells, spinerless, crawlers, leeches, minnows, faster, slower, bounce the bouncer off the bottom, etc...) until you hit on a combo that works. No reason to spend that much time with a single presentation that isn't working.

[Try Too Fish]

Also i would try a minnow type plug (floating rap,etc) on a 3 to 4 foot leader
good luck

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Try Too Fish
Forced Too Work!!

[mistermom]

You might also want to experiment with size and shape of the spinner blades. Some blades like a hatchet or a colorado style can be trolled pretty darn slow, Indiana style a little faster, and willow style faster still.

Actually the variations a person can come up with can be mind-boggling when you think about bait selection, colors, single hook, sizes of hooks, harness, using plastics instead of bait, using spinner props instead of blades, yada, yada.

A friend of mine pretty much only uses leeches and hammered copper colorado blades on about a 5' leader and red beads. He catches walleyes all the time. So basically try stuff and find what works for you.

mm

[MT Net]

I also like the copper blade and red beads. I even added a red hook to some of my rigs.

I typically use the Slip Bouncer rather than bent wire bottom bouncer. Sort of another variation of the Lindy rig.

[Guest]

What lake are you fishing, would be my first question. Does it have a good walleye population?

I primarily use Bottom Bouncers for aggressive fish or fish that are "positive". When using them, I pull cranks or spinners.

It is a great searching tool as well, to locate fish.

Back to my first question also, some lakes, bouncers aren't the ticket......lakes vary different from each one.

Don't pass up a lindy rig. Especially in clear water. In clear water, those fish might get turned off with a short snell (4') and a big bouncer banging in front of their nose. If you are working snaggy bottom content, try Lindy's No Snagg sinker. It works well. Also, in clear water, extend that snell.....

On Mille Lacs, I have no problem using a 10' snell, it is actually a start length for me. However on LOTW, I also don't have a problem using a 5' spinner behind a 2 oz bouncer, while working the reefs. That water on LOTW is very tea stained, so bulk isn't a problem. I generally don't go less than 5' snells, unless snaggs are unavoidable.

Good luck and don't give up on them bouncers. One last word of advice....Just because it is a bouncer, doesn't mean to bang it off the bottom. You should just barely make contact with the bottom with slight "ticks".

G-

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Let 'em go so they can grow!!!

[Bear_arm]

Thanks for the advice. I'm usually fishing lake Minnetonka if anyone has any lake-specific tips.

[MT Net]

r

[Guest]

Long lindy rigs on deep reefs.

However, this time of the year, I would target the fish in deep water with jigs and minnows.