how to stop freezing slip bobbers

[beer batter]

Not looking to buy any new bobbers, I've got too much in stock already. Any tricks to keeping slip bobbers from freezing up? I've got the old slip bobbers where the line comes out the top of the bobber getting froze up.
I know the ice buster would help my problem but looking for more of a "spray Pam down the inside of your bobber" type of remedy if there is such a thing.

Thanks.

[SpikeRoberts]

I know you said you don't want to purchase any new bobbers BUT spend a few bucks on some ice-busters -- you won't be sorry (well you might be sorry you ever spent money on any other kind of bobber).

[Scoot]

I totally agree with Spike!!! Don't waste your time with the old ones.
Scoot
P.S. I don't whole-heartedly endorse virtually any products, but it seems silly to me to use old style bobbers when ice busters are available.

[Guest]

Ice busters for winter save all the other floats for summer. This is the only non freeze way for me.

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Crappie:
It's the other white meat.

[beer batter]

Thanks for the quick responses guys but I'm not looking for any sales pitches, just remedies for the "old school" slip bobbers.

I may end up purchasing some ice buster bobbers for my boys (ages 3 and 5) who will be coming ice fishing with me quite a bit this year. Problem is, I am the most stubborn SOB around and am dead set on finding a way to keep my current bobbers from ending up like a frozen tea bag being dunked in the hole. I'll probably be tending to my boys' lines most of the time anyways so I'll have some time to experiment with a few things. Just checking to see if anyone has found a way to beat this in the past.

[Note from Rick: Those wern't sales pitches

I agree with all of them get some Ice Buster Bobbers at http://IceBusterBobbers.com ]

Sales pitch to follow later

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 12-09-2003).]

[RuKiddingMe]

Ice Busters are the only way to go, and they go on and off so easy.

Matt

[Skeets]

How bout keeping it above freezing in your fish house?
If that's not possible, then your only solution is to buy ice-busters like the millions of other ice fishermen have allready done.

[wastewaterguru]

Be creative......

here is one thought..

Take a sewing needle or small eye-screw (has to have a smooth eye that's small enough your knot won't go through but your line will) and screw or push it into your old style bobber. Run your line through the eye on the needle or eye-screw and "bingo" a pseudo ice-buster bobber.

I love the ice buster bobbers and use them exclusively, but you could always improvise with what you have.

[big_fish_guy]

beer batter, I to was stubborn. I kept using those little wooden slip bobbers. Last year I used a ice buster bobber. I admit my mistake. I should have been using ice buster bobbers from the first time I saw my dad using his a few years ago.
There is no remedie for the "old school" slip bobbers, ice busters really are the only way to go for ice fishing. And they are only about $1.50 a piece. Buy one and try it.

[Guest]

Try to reduce the area that may freeze up.

Try slip floats that offer a larger center channel opening and add a larger bead to compensate. Thinner superbraids in green will collect less ice too. They do not absorb fluid so they collect less ice. Try a super thin diameter superbraid line like 8/1 PowerPro, that will help considerably.

Coating the inside of the float with Canola Oil and the line nearest the rod will also help. Do not use animal fat based oils, they gel up and plug up the shaft.

In severe cold a small worm blower bottle filled with pure grain alcohol will come in handy. Every so often squeeze a tiny amount into the tube (just a couple of drops). Try not to lift the float completely out of the water until you need to pull that piggy fish in. Remember pure grain alcohol is very flammable stuff, so be very careful near fire or any ignition point.

If they still freeze up, just forget the floats, and go with deadstick rigging and use a stop knot for a depth reference point.

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Ed "Backwater Eddy" Carlson

Backwater Guiding
"ED on the RED"
[email protected]
><,sUMo,>

[widetrack]

A little trick to keeping your hole open outside...

Drill a hole next to your hole you are fishing about 4 inches deep. Take a spud bar and make a channel between the 2 holes.

Put a coffee can full of charcoal in the second hole and light it up. It would help keep your slip bobber working too.

[Gissert]

Although I rarely use bobbers now that I have a Rock n Reel, here is another vote for Ice Buster Bobbers. By far the best ice bobber that I have ever used, and they won't drain the wallet.

[MNice]

Just don't fish when it's below 32*.

Sorry, somebody had to say it. I would somehow covery your bobbers so the line is attached below the water line. That's about the only way to prevent freeze up.

BTW. Ice busters are the only way to go!

[Guest]

Great tip Widetrack! I have done that myself with tip-ups and near my primary jigging hole, works very well.

I pre-soaked the coals and capped the can off with the coffee can lid. Then they took less work to fire-up once I got to the lake. I also added sand to the bottom to keep them from tipping over once they started to melt in. Hold heat well too that way.

[This message has been edited by Backwater Eddy (edited 12-09-2003).]

[Northlander]

If you insist on using a bobber use those that the line passes threw a hole under water. Ones with the line passing threw above water freeze much more often. Either fish in a warm house or get some icebusters or thil bobbers that keep line in water.

[black max]

Where do you get the ice busters at? Do the big stores like Gander and Fleet Farm carry them?

[willowcat]

Before I knew about the Ice buster, I would use the clip style bobbers.On the bottom I clipped on a small barrel swivel and ran my line through that. It always worked good.

[Guest]

Ice busters can be purchased at many local bait shops and if they don't have them in your area, ask them to get them in for you.
You can also get them at Walmart. Check out
www.todaystackle.com

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Crappie:
It's the other white meat.

[hunt4food]

I am stuborn too at times, but sometimes you just gotta let go. I have been using the ice busters since the beginning, and if you are still too stubborn to switch, then come on down to my garage sale this spring and I can sell you all kinds of other floats really cheap.

[ChapstickCharlie]

Maybe you should try the old baseball method for fixing those bobbers. Step one - line all the old bobbers uptogether in a row. Step two - grab them all up in one hand and Pitch em out the door. It's the Icebuster in me talkin.

[bim]

Try "power-up" just a drop in the bobber should do the trick.

[klbowe]

If you must use the old style bobbers try clipping a sinker above the bobber with just enough weight to cause the old bobber to sink slowly then attach a ice buster bobber above the sinker and your old style bobber will not freeze !

(Sorry I couldn't resist)

Skip the fries one day and Just buy one ICE Buster bobber to try it you will not be regret it. I don't sell them own a bait or sports store I just really like the ice busters for ice fishing.

[pj4]

not freezing up is only one of the many advantages. after the rig is weighted and lowered till the buster floats. pinch the buster 1/8 inch above water for a reference and cut off remander. this gives you an almost zero bouincy.(spell?) fish hardly notice it when they take it down.after you have many cliped busters, simlpy switch till one gets the right float hight.

[feverpetal]

My soultion also involves grain alcohol, but instead of wasting it on a stupid bobber, put a few drops of it in your mouth every few seconds. Before long, you won't care if your slip bobber is frozen.

fp

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"Cast riiiiight....there."

[Ron Anlauf]

Buy some Ice Busters, they work perfectly. They look like a gimmic but they're not. You can clip them on and off in a second. Try to do that with the old float. You can adjust them to the weight of your bait by cutting off some of the foam to get a perfect balance.

Ron Anlauf