DIY Marker Bouys.......

[Aquaman01]

Here is an easy and cost-effective recipe for marker bouys.

1 - Cut some 2" extruded-foam rigid insulation (Ya know, the pink, blue or yellow stuff) into bow-ties 12" x 8" or so.

2 - Firmly tie and wrap a long, thin cord like "sportsman's cord" or laundry line, or whatever to the middle of the bowtie.

3 - Wind it up.

4 - Tie a weight to the end of the line. I used railroad spikes.

The rig should work just like a regular bouy.

[fish-n-geek]

For what I paid for a three pack of the "dumbbell" style bouys, I'll stick with buying 'em. They come with a rack so I can hang them on the console in the boat, a nice lead weight that wraps around and holds the string, and I can throw them around and hit them with the boat and not break them.

$.02

-rus-

[Aquaman01]

Thanks for pointing out some pros and cons for 'dumbell' bouys.

We have an expensive pastime/hobby/passion/obsession and anytime I find or conjure a money-saving tip - I pass it on to my fellow FMers.

[kwkfsh]

I picked up some red spools that have line and lead weight wrapped around them. They are threaded in the middle to accept quart size plastic bottles and jugs. Turns any old bottle into a marker.

Works nice to use clear water bottles with light sticks in them to set up nightime trolling runs.

These only cost a buck something and work very nicely. They also avoid the giant rust stains you would get from railroad spikes and other iron items.

I do not remember where I got them but if I can dig it up I will post it.

[Ryno9]

Another way to make cheaper buoys is to use PVC pipe and endcaps. You can choose the diameter you want for visibility and ease of wrapping the line. Drill a hole in one cap and put line through hole and tie knot on inside of cap. Glue cap on pipe. Fill this half with plaster of paris or other substance for ballast and glue on the other cap. Paint if wanted. These work great especially when winding the line back on, it doesn't take nearly as many wraps around a 6" pipe as it does around the 1" middle of a dumbell buoy.

[get-the-net]

Those are all great ideas but I have stopped using buoys because it seems like an open invitation to have every boat on the lake start running the pattern that I have figured out for myself. There's nothing more frustrating than having a spot to yourself, patterning the fish, throwing out some markers after which someone usually comes along and drops an anchor between them. I use GPS now for my "invisible bouys".

[fish-n-geek]

get-the-net

Most of the time, I am fishing lakes that don't have that many people on them. But if you're watching someone jump on your bouys, it occassionally works to throw one out with the line still tied up. Did this to a guy in northern MN once. He was convinced his anchor wasn't holding :-D

-rus-

[get-the-net]

fish-n-geek, that's awesome!