panfish jigger question

[Coon]

does everyone that jiggs for panfish use some sort of spring bobber on your rod? and if so what u all recomend?

[ilovehardwater]

From this guys expierence I've fished for panfish with both of the main types of spring bobbers, the ones that hang out of your last eyelet and the ones that are attached to your rod and make the tip of your rod look like a "Y". I prefer the spring bobbers that are actually small springs with a colored tips that hook onto your pole from the front of the last eyelet. I almost exclusively fish panfish and I can tell you that when there's a very light bite a spring bobber will help detect bites.

Another thing I learned last weekend in the seminar at Thorn Brothers (compliments of this websites staff) was if you just take your line and crimp or kink it will give you a small "v" shape, it acts like a spring bobber, just watch the line. Don't do this if your fishing for something bigger than panfish, or your line could break. BT

[Coon]

BT where do you get them?

Thanks

[Shack]

This is what I like for action! I watch tip and the panfish just pull it down slightly!

[ilovehardwater]

Just wait till next month im sure you can find them at your local bait/tackle store, I think I got mine for really cheap maybe 3$ for a 3 pack.

[zamboni]

When you go to the ice fishing show in St Paul Marmish hands them out- I got a couple last year an have yet to use them.

[Dan Brelje]

i like the spring on the thorne bros rods along with the st.croix rods w/ springs on them. You can't beat a nice spring bobber. However, like posted already, i preffer the actual springs over the others

[MASON38]

Spring bobbers have their place, and would prefer to use them for crappie fishing on a dead stick set up. With the actual spring type set up, it seems like water will freeze in between the coils and stiffen the reaction. St Croix's not as bad because of the short spring, and the extended arm to the eyelet. If you feel like a spring is the way to go, I would agree that the Marmish lightest spring available is the best set up. I got a little carried away last year, and placed four of these on some of my rods. Like the St Croix, I like the fact that you can adjust the length for the weight of the jig, and thus adjust the tension and motion of the spring.

If you are fishing inside a permanent, disregard the whole spring freeze up deal.

I would much prefer to tight line. I don't kink my line, no matter what fish species, a kink is a kink, and will weaken the line. If you have to do something to the line to be able to see it, give it a little curl by wrapping it around your finger.

Would much prefer to see the line itself. If its a deep water bite, I like using the yellow 5 lb Power Pro for panfish. For a shallower bite and lighter jigs, 2 lb Yellow stren is soft and limp and works great. On both lines I attach a leader of fluorcarbon. More for my mental benefit than anything else.

While you are jigging, occasionally drop the rod tip and pause. If the line sinks right away, keep jigging. If the line sits there, or bunches up, it is meeting resistance. Thats the fish preventing the jig from sinking, set the hook.

The rod I like for this is a Thorne Bros Power Noodle, but with some slight differences. That little paint job at the end, didnt like it, stiffend the tip up. Had mine made without it, and also had the guys make mine up with the "outdoor" eyes. Just a little bit bigger to help against water/ice build up. The slight extra weight from eyes isnt noticable, and if anything helps the action of the rod.

Hooksets might be slightly more exaggerated by the softness of the rod, but think you lose more with a spring.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm still in the stone age when it comes to this... I am a line watcher.. and dont use a spring bobber much... I have tried them and feel that a spring bobber kills the action I am trying to give the jig.

But that is my .02.. if I did use a spring bobber, I thin kthe one that thorne brothers has is probably the best out there, along with st.croixs...

[Shack]

I rarely ever start out fishing with my ultra, ultra sensei rod.

I migrate to it, when they are biting very, very soft!

Some times it is the only way to get them on a hook!

Lure them in with the stiffer rods and reel them up with the ultra, ultra sensitive rod like the on I posted above.

Good luck!

Some times it is the only way to see them or feel them bite at all. You can go hours with a stiffer rod and figure you have not even had one bite, only to switch from stiff or bobber rod to ultra sensitive spring bobber rod and see bite after bite.

Just another tool to get the fish in the bucket!

[Jigginfireman]

Quote:

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I'm still in the stone age when it comes to this... I am a line watcher.. and dont use a spring bobber much... I have tried them and feel that a spring bobber kills the action I am trying to give the jig.

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Deitz-I to am a tightliner and love my 2lb Stren gold for just that reason. I don't use a leader because of the break off issue, and tie directly to my Stren Gold. Love watching that line go limp when your jigging down to a marked fish on the flaser.

I do use sping bobber for many applications. Mostly when I have on my Micro Plastic Tails. I find that when using a perfectly balanced(loaded) spring bobber that I can give my plastic tails/Jigs a life like action that I couldn't without a spring bobber on my rod.

Also my 2 cents worth...