spring bobbers

[waxworm]

Does anyone know if these spring bobbers are sold individually or would i have to get a whole new set of poles? I have only seen them attached to the rods, and if you know where I can find these things I'd appreciate it.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I've seen them at Fleet Farm, Cabelas, Thorne Bros, Dick's, Gander, etc.

You can get new rods specifically designed for spring bobbers, but you can also buy a spring bobbber and attach it to any rod.

[Blaze]

waxie - they are the cat's meow if you've never used one. I basically doubled my catch rate last year with the ability to see super light bites from crappies/sunnies that I would've otherwise missed. Well worth the couple bucks to add 'em to your panfish seetup.

[GatorBait]

I get mine at fleet farm, but they sell out very quickly, so be vigilant when they finally stock their ice fishing equipment. They work well and show the lightest bites. The best feature is when fish take it and come up with your bait, you'd never know but the spring rises up and bam it's on.

[jigging-matt]

Was just at the Owatonna FF and they had some in stock. I finally started using them consitently last year and wish I wouldn't have waited so long to do so. They are the greatest.

[freezdried]

They sell the Panfish Popper ones that will go in the end of any rod. I have never used them but they should work fine. I have two Throne Bro. rods with their spring bobbers and I love them. I wouldn't give them up for the world.

[DEADhead]

frabill sells a 3-pack of spring bobbers that you insert through your tip top. They work fairly well inside a heated shelter. Forget about them outside when temps are below freezing. The spring ices up and your line will become a mess.

[Tyler Holm]

There’s a variety of after market spring bobbers that can be attached to basically any ice rod. There several brands and styles but here’s what I’ve found.

There are “true” spring bobbers where the extension is a hyper-sensitive spring coil. Sometimes you’ll have to thread your line through these and sometimes they’ll have a loop/eye at the end for your line. I’ve found these to be of the most sensitive on the market. The ones where you thread your line through the coil freeze up quickly in the chill making them nearly worthless. If you’re in a heated shack, these rock. These also give a better indication when the fish are simply moving your lure sideways as they flex in all directions.

Another option is a flat flex-steel spring bobber. These attach differently to your rod tip depending on the model.

Some spring bobbers are an extension of your rod (past the rod top), and some are attached between your rod tip and back to the next eyelet.

I’ve even heard of people making their own out of 400+# mono. Tie a small loop on one end and the other end to your rod. Vary the distance from the loop to the tip of your rod according to the weight of the lure.

Personally, I think the Spring Bobbers on the St. Croix Legend ice rods are the clear ticket.

[waxworm]

i've seen some of these things not even off the shelves at the stores and they have springs that are bent or stretched, can anyone clue me in on the life expectancy of these spring bobbers? Also, for outside the shelter, who recomends these over the yellow foam no-ice bobbers?

[stick]

I haven't used a traditional bobber for many years now. I never liked messing around with bobber stops, and the bobber floating, etc. I almost always go for the spring bobber option since I'm in tighter control between me and the fish. Even on Red Lake with the giant crappies, I went 28 versus 2 with my buddy using a yellow foam bobber. The spring would barely wiggle and I'd set the hook and hook up. He'd wait for his bobber to start going down or even just wiggling. The springs are just that sensitive.