Help on using a flaot.

[Ymmit]

Ok im not sure how much of a arse im making of myself but i need some help on how to use a float. i have never used a float while using plastic and fishing for crappie's.

Here are some questions i have regarding the use of them.
Setup? Now im sure this is fairly simple to do but everyone has a different way of doin this and im open to suggestions.
What depthe to set it up for vs what the depth of the fish are at?
Once you get it in the area you want to fish what do you do? Technique?
And suggestions of a specific brand?

Im sure i will have more questions once someone replys. Thanks for any help in advance.

Tim

[Matt Johnson]

Floats come in all shapes and sizes.

Your two main type of floats are slip-floats and stationary floats.

Slip-floats are designed to slide up and down the line stopping only where you have your "slipknot". A slip-float comes in handy when fishing deeper areas so that you can retrieve your line without hitting the float/bobber when reeling in.

A stationary float is put on your line at a fixed position, and the float doesn't move/slide. I like to use stationary floats for the majority of my panfish, mainly because I'm targeting shallow water a good portion of the time, like say 8 feet of less. When I choose to fish deeper I often times go without a float. The floats with the springs, where you push the spring up and place your line inthe groove, are an example of a stationary float.

Setting up a float can be done several ways. Like you mentioned, depth plays a key role. You want the bait to be the fish's line of sight, and in the strike zone. Crappies will feed up, so keeping that in mind you will want to place your bait above the level you think the fish are at. If you are fishing a weededge in 6 feet, than I would place your depth somewhere around 2-3 feet down, maybe even higher. Crappies will rise to take the bait when they are aggressive. Bluegills are similar as well, but tend to be less picky when they get aggressive.

I like to use a float as both a strike indicator and a means of keeping the bait in the strike zone. No matter what action you give the bait it will always return to the same depth when positioned below a float. I like to swim the bait when using a float. making it glide through the water. I do this by giving the float a small pop/jerk, or a steady pull, than I'll let the bait fall back to the original position. Get that bait to dart/swim/glide. The pause or fall phase seems to always seal the deal.

There are so many ways to fish a float and so many floats to use. Different situations call for different methods. The best way to learn is to just start rigging up different floats and see what works for you the best.

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

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Matt Johnson Outdoors
Metro Area Ice Fishing, Team Catch-N, and more...

[email protected]
Iceleaders
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[CrappieJohn]

Tim....What Uj is commenting on might appear as unclear.. Crappies are notorious for coming up under a bait to hit it. If you have the right type of float on, you will "see" the hit...the float will lie down on the water instead of staying upright. Personally I use the thill mini-stealth float in a #2 for 1/32 ounce use and a #4 for 1/16 ounce baits. I rarely fish pannies with anything larger than a 1/16. These floats look like a tear-drop with a stick on the bottom and can be fished as a slip or fixed. I do mine as a fixed unit. I slide my line thru the hole in the stick and then run the line THRU the rubber band included. Once the rubber band is on the line, I slide it (the rubber)up the stick all the way to the bottom of the bobber body. When done correctly, the line coming from your rod tip will pass along the float body, under the rubber, along the stick until it finally passes thru the hole in the stick and continues down to the jig. Attached in this fashion you can adjust the depth by simply sliding the float on the line, yet the float will maintain the depth you want very nicely. They cast like a bullet and do an excellent job of reading those up-hill hitters...these floats will lay down on a breath. I can fish these down to about six feet before they get to be too much work to cast. I have tried fishing them as a slip, but just don't like the way they pass the line....it likes to bind.

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Plastics...making better fishermen without bait! Good Fishing Guys! CrappieTom

muckbootsonline.com Pro Staff
Culprit Tackle Crappie Pro Staff
Catch-n Tackle
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[Ymmit]

Hmmm. I looked at a Thill but im not sure what size and wether it was a stealth or not im not sure. Im going to pick one up and try it out.

Thats what i thougt he meant by it laying down. Didn;t know that crappie generally come up on the bait.

I think that answers one of my questions in the Inquiring mind topic. My swivel has my lure running sideways which is why Im only hooking them on the lower jaw and which is why they are getting off so easy.

Thanks Tom.
Tim

[united jigsticker]

As always, Matt was very complete in his answer to your questions.

Some of this might be redundant:

Bobbers work well as strike indicators, and for placement of bait as a stationary or semi-stationary strike zone holder.

I like to start out 1 foot above the top of the school, and then work my way further away to find the most aggresive bite. Of course, sometimes you may need to get right in front of their noses to trigger a bite.

I always keep the jig horizontal under a float, and weight it as light as possible, while keeping the bobber fishing as heavy as possible. This, of course, can be easily handled by using different sized bobbers for different weight lures.

Watch for the bobber to float up sometimes, as that is another indication of a feeding Crappie besides it going down.

Bobbers have a time and a place, but don't overlook a very successful method of catching Crappies once they're located, and thats free casting a jig. This is also a good way of finding aggresive fish fast!

Good luck!

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[This message has been edited by united jigsticker (edited 07-23-2004).]

[Ymmit]

Ahh i see. Thanks for the info guys. i might try it this weekend.

Jst a few more questions.

What flaot size would you use with 1/8 oz heads?

So another words what your saying United is when the crappie strikes the flost will com up instead of going down?

Thanks,
Tim

[delmuts]

see tim ! i told you these guys are great !!!! i will add to pick up three different sizes of floats. and a package of BB split shot. this will give the ability to pick a float that is close to what you think you need and the split shot will help you balance the set up . the little extra weight not only counter balances the float, but adds weight for more casting distance.i some times place my split shot right below the float. i have found there are times when using small jigs the fish want the lure just kind floating/ or a very slow fall. you loose the chance of seeing a hit if they just pick the lure up and come up with it, but at times they will really hammer this set up.del

[fish-too-little]

I agree. Great info. Thank you Matt. A question for you. I fish for crappies in the winter often, but never really in the summer. Do people use floats generally when they fish them in the summer?

[CrappieJohn]

Fish-to-....I thought I posted a reply in here for you this morning, but in my advanced state of whatever , must have hit the "clear fields" botton. Anyway....

Floats are an issue of personal preference and whether bait is being used and how. Most people still using live bait will use floats, either fixed or sliding depending on the depth they are fishing. Most plastics anglers use floats not to see strikes , but to maintain a given depth to their bait.

Regardless of what your bait preferences are, here are some of my guidelines for float use.

I don't carry just one size of one style of any float. For my fixed floats I carry several of each size and aech different style AND several of each color top....chartreuse on some, fire orange on others. Slip floats get the identical treatment. For the slip floats, carry two or three different styles of stops! They are not created equal and where one might behave beautifully in one application, you might hate it for another.

When the length of line from the float to the jig/bait equals the length of the pole, don't use a fixed float. Go to the slider at this point. Everyone in the boat or around you will thank you.

Floats can create limits for you. The only way to determine whatr your own limits are is to fish using them until you have too much trouble staying in the fish. In the summer especially, fish tend to be somewhat scattered and a float can slow down your search. Myself, I seldom use a float after the spawn and the fish are being found below five feet. They may come up and peck at a plastic hung below a float, but the fish I am after are in the chase down and hit it mode. By casting and counting down the jig you can stay on the fish pretty easy without the use of the float. One exception will be nuetrally mooded, suspended fish. Here a good float can save the day by presenting the bait at a constant level just above the level of the fish. When they hit, they will generally be hitting uphill and will "tip" the float , indicating a strike. The hookset should be immediate.

The one big distraction to float fishing is the wind. With a fixed float, wind drift can be fast enough to pull the jig out of striking distance very quickly. With the slips while using lighter jigs, the wind can form a loop or bow in your line bad enough to literally lift the jig above the strike zone. I have seen my line go bobbing past me with the stop well out of the float and, of course, out of the strike zone. Wind to me equals free line casting and retreiving unless the water is super cold....then I fish a fixed unit.

Floats are not simple tools...they are a study that requires time and attention, but it doesn't have to be work.

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Plastics...making better fishermen without bait! Good Fishing Guys! CrappieTom

muckbootsonline.com Pro Staff
Culprit Tackle Crappie Pro Staff
Catch-n Tackle
[email protected]

[united jigsticker]

Bobbers are best when they go down!

That's what we like to see hte most when we fish.

Great info fellas!!!

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Good fishing,
UJ
[email protected]

[Matt Johnson]

fish-too-little,

Sorry I didn't reply earlier, I was out of town for the weekend for a tourny.

Tom summed things up pretty good, as usual

You can definitely use a float in the summer as well, I do quite a bit. Floats can be very effective in shallow water. They keep your bait right in the danger zone and they allow you to work shallow water from a distance and not snag up every other second. You can also use a float to get the desired action that you want.

Do you have to use a float in the summer? No, but there is a time and a place for everything. Sometimes you need a float, and other times it would be best to go without a float. Being versatile is the name of the game, and like Tom said, I like to bring a variety of different floats for different styles of fishing and different conditions.

If I can give you the biggest pointer that I see that most beginner panfishman need, is that you need to balance your float with the jig/presentation you are using. Too many people use a float that is way to big for their presentation and the fish the are fishing for. And than they say that they are not getting any bites...wrong! ...they are getting bites but they just don't realize it. Equip them with a small, balanced float and next time a light biting crappie inhales their bait the float goes down, they set the hook, and they have a nice green, black and white slab flopping at their feet

Good Fishin,
Matt Johnson

------------------
Matt Johnson Outdoors
Metro Area Ice Fishing, Team Catch-N, and more...

[email protected]
Iceleaders
Catch-N Tackle and Bio Bait
MarCum
Stone Legacy
JR's Tackle

[Ymmit]

Thanks for all the great info. I will be using it as a reference tool once i get around to trying a float w/plastic.

Well eventhough I didnt get a chance to try one out cause i didn't have time to go get one, We still manage to limit out on some decent size crappie's and did well on decent size sunnies too.

Thanks again guys,
Tim