Deadsticking

[Myrt]

Just curious...how many people are switching to deadsticking walleyes over a slip bobber?

[Steve Foss]

I'm guessing you're talking about as a second rod to accompany a jigging rod? I switched my second rod from deadsticking to slip bobbering some years ago and have never looked back. For me, a properly weighted slip bobber is much better.

[Myrt]

Yes....I do mean as a second rod. I have slip bobbered forever with second rod and have been intrigued about trying a deadstick rod(thorne bros or j.mitchell), just can't quite get out of the bobber mode. I can't picture a big advantage to deadsticking(over slip) except for maybe if your outside and not having to worry about the bobber freezing in hole? I understand if I get a deadstick rod I don't need to mess with the bobber setup, but sticking with the bobber setup I can use any rod I already have............I'm assuming it's whatever trips your trigger unless I am missing some real advantage point.

[Steve Foss]

When I'm outside targeting walleyes with live bait, I use tip-ups.

If I'm in a shelter for 'eyes, then I've got a jigging rod in one hole and the slip bobber in another, so freezing in the hole isn't an issue for me.

So I'm speaking specifically about inside a shack/shelter. The single biggest advantage I feel a properly weighted slip bobber has is that the fish won't drop the bait because it doesn't feel tension. That can be important at sundown when the walleyes come through. If thoings are pretty slow, not much problem.

But plenty of times when the action is faster I've been working a fish or landing one with the jigging rod when the other rod goes off, and I can't drop one rod and get to the other right away. In those cases, a walleye that's on even an excellent deadsticking rod is more likely to feel tension and drop that bait than when using a slip bobber.

And I really mean "properly weighted." A slip bobber should be weighted so that the hard wiggling of a minnow will pull it all the way under just slightly.

But from time to time it's never a bad idea to change things up to make sure an angler isn't missing out on a tactic that can serve him or her better. There's a lot of individual preference in angling, like most things, and it might be that deadsticking outperforms slip bobbering for others.

[Myrt]

Thanks for the input.....that's pretty much how I fish except not much for using tipups, mostly inside anyway. I may eventually try a deadstick rod. Without ever having used one I have wondered if one could rig one with a circle hook and put it in a rod holder if the fish would hook itself when the rod loaded before it dropped the bait.....but I guess if I wanted it that easy I could just have anybody I'm fishing with set the hook for me and just hand me the rod.hahaha....thanks again for the input.

[PerchJerker]

I switched from bobbers to deadsticks quite a while ago and definately prefer the deadstick. There may be a time or two each year when I put the deadstick away and go with a bobber, but it doesn't happen very often. I usually don't even have a bobber rod rigged and ready to go these days, but I always have 2-4 deadstick rods rigged and ready to go at a moments notice!

[manitobawalleye2]

I only use a deadstick....no bobbers, and I do not miss them.

[polarsusd81]

I run a Deadstick when I want a second rod out. I just can't be bothered with dealing with bobber stops slipping up and down the line and bobbers freezing up. Deadstick, set it and forget it until the rod doubles over. Use a circle hook and they will hook up themselves with the steady pressure. I will even run a Power Noodle as a deadstick when going for crappies and gills if I want a second rod out. Bobber stops suck, tightlines for life.

[IcerRon2010]

Hi Polarsus,

What number are you using for a circle hook, with a fathead minnow, on a Walleye setup? Plus how much wieght is to be used for this setup?

Have you ever used a #2 Frostee/Demon jig for a Deadstick?

This will be my first year using a deadstick, still a little confused on the proper setup.

[Myrt]

Thanks for replies......Manitobawalleye2.what size deadstick do yo use on Winnipeg?

I'm gonna have to try this

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I like using a tip-up as my second line when I fish outside of the house.

If I am inside I use a deadstick or a Rattle Wheel as my second line.

Cliff

[lindy rig]

Still confused. I use slip bobbers. What is a deadstick?

[Steve Foss]

A deadstick can be a jig with a minnow hooked on, or a plain hook and couple split shot. It's the same stuff you put on a bobber rod, just with no bobber, so the line is always tight. Deadstick rods have soft tips that will bend quite a bit before the fish feels the tension.

You anchor the deadstick rod in place so it can't get dragged down the hole. Typically the deadstick is used as a second line, with the angler actively jigging with the main line. When a fish hits the deadstick rod, you drop the rod you're jigging with and set the hook on the deadstick rod.

If you fish outside, the deadstick is probably a better option because you don't have to hassle with the bobber and bobber stop freezing up. If you're in a heated shack/shelter, the slip bobber is the better option, IMO, for the reasons I mentioned above.

[LakeoftheWoods]

my deadstick is a bobber rig. my jigging stick is the one without the bobber, i jig and watch my flasher and feel the strikes...