Spring Bobbers

[RatherBfishN]

You guys have any info on spring bobbers...do they work well...and if so where can a I get some?

thanks from a newbie

[oil painter]

Spring bobboers work great,once you get used to how they react when you gite one biting. once you fish with them its hard to go back.they give you alot of flexibilty as far as raising and lowering to take advantage of passing schools. used in conjuction with a bobber stop to find a certain depth you can just lift your rod to go higher etc.

[RatherBfishN]

will they jig your bait at all? Seeing that its a spring.

Do you know where I could get one?

thanks

a newbie

[PerchJerker]

They do not jig your bait, but you can jig with them. They are essentially a very light, very sensitive extension of your rod tip. Any well-stocked baitshop should have them, as well as Gander. There are several different styles, some that work better than others. Ask a salesperson for help and advice. I have 1 or 2 rods with spring bobbers and I leave them attached all the time.

[RatherBfishN]

Do you mostly use them for pannies? or....?

[Bob Horn]

They are for all species. Look at the St. Croix Legend ice rod. The rod has different spring 'weights" for different lures and you can use the same rod for which ever spring you are useing. You WILL catch more fish with a spring bobber!!!

[PerchJerker]

I only use them for panfish. Small, light baits. Drop them down and watch the Vex. When fish come to look at your bait, watch the spring bobber. When it moves, lift up your rod to set the hook. Also works good for perch fishing, drop your bait to the bottom, lift it up a few inches, watch the spring bobber tip. I don't use spring bobbers when I'm jigging spoons or jigging raps but I know a few guys that use spring bobbers with small swedish pimples. I occasionally use my spring bobber rod as a deadstick with a whole live minnow, especially for finnicky perch that don't want active jigging.

[oil painter]

The jigging action can be subtle or agressive depending on how you work your rod, experiment with your wrist action and you will see how your bait reacts . do this when you can still see your bait. different techniques for different bites, you will catch on quick!!! I wont fish pans without one any more. they do work well on a dead stick as well but you have to keep your eye on it all the time!!

[CrappieJohn]

There is a new product on the market this year that comes in a handy three pack. They simply plug into the tip top of the rod and your line is threaded thru the spring. I have seen these in use and they are nice. Very sensitive. Myself, I use a similar spring of about three inches in length. I push the un-painted end intoa piece of rubber tubing about a half inch in length and an outside diameter slightly larger than the tips of my rods. Then I push the rubber tubing into the rods tip-top. Thread the line and there you have it, a spring bobber. 2 springs cost 1.18. The tubing is about a buck a foot.

[Animal]

Use spring boobbers only if you want to improve your catch especially for pan fish. Use the type that is made from flat spring wire with the guide attached to the end. The coil type don't seem to hold up. I stick them on the end of the rod and attach with black tape. I usually get mine at Gander, but they are available at almost any bait shop that I've been in.

[RatherBfishN]

Thanks for all the great info guys!!

Sounds like these spring bobbers are the way to go.

Bring on the ice!!!

[Swimmer]

The perfect spring can be found in an old BIC lighter. Just stomp on it to break the plastic, and fish out the spring. CTom has it right. Don't use the shrink tubing, use surgical tubing that will stretch over your rod tip and hold the spring much better. Good luck.

[P.DONA]

I like the flat spring bobbers that clip on to the rod.

Wholy cow, what a difference it makes!!! Once you set the jig / bait down to the fish, hold the rod against your thigh and watch the spring. Any movement, up, or down, set the hook!!!! You will see even a sniff from a fish!!!

I just started jigging last year, and picked it up really quick...

[CrappieJohn]

Here's a picture of a couple spring bobbers...I want to apologize for the fuzzy appearance though.

At the far right is a tube spring that can be bought in 2/pks for a 1.18 here at home. Next to it is a piece of surgical tubing used to hold the spring in place. The middle pic shows the rubber tubing on the spring. At the left is the spring mounted in the rod'tip-top supported by the rubber tubing.

Mounted in the fashion the spring is extremely sensitive to bite when using small jigs like demons or horizontal tears. When you are ready to wrap it up for the day you simply push the spring and rubber right bach through the eye so it rests between the tip-top and the first guide. It is out of the way, resistant to bending permanently and is on the line and rod ready for instant use the next trip out by simply sliding it in place again.

Doing the spring in this way eliminates any damage to the rod which might be caused by heating shrink wrap or by using glues or tape. There is no damage whatever to the tip-top.

I carry a zip lock with several of these ready to put to use. They are ewasy and quick to install, but can be taken off to jig go devils in a blink. And hey, for two bucks I can convert any of my so-so rods into tools equally as effective as the high-bracket rods costing considerably more. Oh I have a couple of those top shelf rods in my sights, but until my budget and sights see the same picture, these springs do every bit as good.

[CrappieJohn]

bump

[gspman]

Okay CT, I'm spring bobber illiterate. Where can you find the springs and where can you find the surgical tubing? I wouldn't mind trying a couple do-it-yourself spring bobbers. I bought a couple clip on spring bobbers last year and they sucked. I'm excited to try something that actually works.

gspman

[CrappieJohn]

The springs I use can be found in any sporting goods store that has ice tackle. Gander, Cabelas, Dick, Sportsmans Warehouse, Joes, and I'm assuming Vados would get you some and the tubing can be gotten at automotive stores or better hobby shops. The tubing does not have to be red. By the springs first so you can be certain that they will fit the tubing and if you need to you can wrap some electrical tape aroung the outside of the tube to get the fit you want in the tip top-.

[gspman]

Thank you good sir!!!