Any pics of home made spring bobbers?

[Stickjiggler]

Does anybody make their own spring bobbers. Any how to's and pics would be great.

[Sandmannd]

You can get some frabill spring bobbers that go into your eyelet. I think they are $7 for three of them.

[harvey lee]

For me, I believe personally the best spring bobber out there is the St Croix spring bobber.

This past weekend, I took the St Croix spring bobber, bought a rubber grommet the same size and also purchase a small somewhat flexible wire.

I placed the wire around the grommet and then place the spring into the grommet to see that I could still be able to move the spring back and forth.

Then I fitted the wire to the rod end through the tip top and hot glued it in place. Then I wrapped it on the pole with thread and wrapped it on like one would a guide or tip

top.

Now, I have the spring bobber in place and then I took some rod building epoxy and epoxied the thread like I was doing a guide.

All said and done, I have my favorite rods with what I feel is the best darn spring bobber on the market on my rod.

If one purchases a rod with outside eyes( larger ones) and then puts the St Croix spring bobber on, one can also fish outside in the cold with a very small chance of the tip icing up due to the larger eyes and the larger loop on this type bobber.

I do realize that it takes some rod building tools but this is hands down the best set up I have come across yet.

Most spring bobers sold will work, I just believe this type is a little better than the rest of the products sold and I think I have tried them all.

Alot of time spent doing this but in the end, the final product I'm very happy with.

[Redbeard5289]

I picked up some HT ones from walmart the other night. They were 3 to a pack and cost about $3. The one thing that is different about the HT ones are that they have a foam insert that goes into the eyelet where as the frabill ones have a plastic insert.

Picked them up since I have one rod where the eyelet is between lip sizes of the frabill spring bobbers and don't want to break the tip off when I try to insert the frabill spring bobber into my ice rod.

Just my 2 cents

Redbeard

[keith schultz]

Redbeard, which waimart do you go to ??? I heard that walmart was not getting any ice fishing gear this year cause of some bigwigs in the company said that they were not going to supply the stores in minn ..

[NTW]

For me, I believe personally the best spring bobber out there is the St Croix spring bobber.

This past weekend, I took the St Croix spring bobber, bought a rubber grommet the same size and also purchase a small somewhat flexible wire.

I placed the wire around the grommet and then place the spring into the grommet to see that I could still be able to move the spring back and forth.

Then I fitted the wire to the rod end through the tip top and hot glued it in place. Then I wrapped it on the pole with thread and wrapped it on like one would a guide or tip

top.

Now, I have the spring bobber in place and then I took some rod building epoxy and epoxied the thread like I was doing a guide.

All said and done, I have my favorite rods with what I feel is the best darn spring bobber on the market on my rod.

If one purchases a rod with outside eyes( larger ones) and then puts the St Croix spring bobber on, one can also fish outside in the cold with a very small chance of the tip icing up due to the larger eyes and the larger loop on this type bobber.

I do realize that it takes some rod building tools but this is hands down the best set up I have come across yet.

Most spring bobers sold will work, I just believe this type is a little better than the rest of the products sold and I think I have tried them all.

Alot of time spent doing this but in the end, the final product I'm very happy with.

After messing with both Frabill and HT spring bobbers, I believe that taking the time to do something like Tom has done is the best answer.

I took out the hot glue last week and did something very similar. Now I finally have a spring bobber setup that I like.

[zamboni]

Redbeard, which waimart do you go to ??? I heard that walmart was not getting any ice fishing gear this year cause of some bigwigs in the company said that they were not going to supply the stores in minn ..

We have ice fishing stuff in the Fairmont store. Not much, but some.

[slipbobbin]

Alittle bit of ice fishing stuff in the Mankato Wal-Mart also

[Paul_Kramer]

Redbeard, which waimart do you go to ??? I heard that walmart was not getting any ice fishing gear this year cause of some bigwigs in the company said that they were not going to supply the stores in minn ..

Keith, I know Hooked On Fishing in Rochester has some of these HT spring bobbers if you're looking for some. Aside from the fact that they ice up a bit easier than some, I really like them.

[Dave Barber]

I like fishing with good equipment. My time is valuable and I prefer to spend it fishing rather than building equipment. Just me. I buy a couple St Croix Legend rods with the spring bobbers each year... as well as a couple mix and match replacement springs just in case I need stiffer or lighter springs (let the fish dictate that). The HT spring bobbers work as well, but are a bit of a pain. BUT, anything you can do to detect the bites during light times will help you succeed.

[Sandmannd]

I think the St Croix springs are the best as well. Harvey, I'd love to see some pics of how you customized your rod.

[Chode2235]

Do a google search for "St. Croix spring bobber install" or something like that.

There are a number of sites that show you how to do it.

Not sure if I am ready to do it to my Thorne Custom yet... There spring bobber is much better than most, but it isnt as the St. Croix ones.

The same can be said about the St. Croix rods compared to the Thorne ones. You are basically paying $50 for a spring bobber.

[Redbeard5289]

keith,

I saw them at the North store in Rochester. They got about half an aisle worth of icefishing stuff out. Look next to the fish finder display.

What they have out on the shelves is definately less than what they have had in the past.

Redbeard

[Neighbor_guy]

The most sensitive sping bobber I have ever found is the one that got me started with them 20 odd years ago....

The spring under the flint in a Bic lighter. Before you toss a spent lighter pop the top off with a plyers and behold, a free bobber.

Attach using your favorite method and you are good to go.

[Jari Razskazoff]

Note from admin, please read forum policy before posting again, thank you.

[Shack]

Some of my best "spring bobber" go to rods have been clearance out higher end rods with broken tips and then I fit them out with a spring bobber like this:

Sometimes, you can find a $40-$60 combo with a broken tip for under $10.

This type of setup has worked great for me over the years.

One mans “junk” can be another mans gold

I have never been a big fan of the "true" spring being used. Between ice build up and if you run a slip knot for marking the bottom, small springs are just not good (IMO).

[pulsar_nx]

I adapted this from a broken HT marmooska pole with a piece of paper clip and some hot glue.

I usually use this one before my legend, although its a good setup too.

[harvey lee]

Sandmann, I would take some photo's but my computer will not upload them. I will have to have my daughter in law e-mail them to me and then I can post the pictures.

Chode2235.

I put one St Croix spring bobber on my Thorne Sweetheart rod as my Thorne spring bobber works well in a heated portable but outside it freezes up due to the small opening at the end of the ball. The hole seems a bit small. I always need to place the end in my mouth to thaw it out so it works. This is the only reason I changed it to a St Croix, no freeze ups. I was going to try and drill out the opening but was afraid I would break the ball end.

A new St Croix spring bobber is $6.95 and you can pick the tension size you would like for the size lure you are going to use. I have three rods set up with the three different spring bobbers.

[Neighbor_guy]

I don't know, the way I see it is that you must be pretty che... no, artistic, or frugal to not shell out the 3-7 dollars for a spring bobber, yet you'll drive 45 minutes to get to a lake that is probably pounded by the time you get there...

for goodness sakes, go buy one, help the economy.

Sometimes it is more about reliving the past or creating something on your own that is bigger(spiritual), or even better than that you could get at the store.

Call me or the others that have posted here cheap if you want, I will hold my tounge. Fish with what you what but do not judge others for what they use. If there is one thing this economy has tought me it is that every nickle counts. "Go Green" If I can save a buck by pulling a spring out of lighter that is one more I can spend on bait.

[Stickjiggler]

well said Neighbor. It's not that I can't afford a spring bobber. I just enjoy catching fish on things I've made myself.

Harvey I wouldn't mind seeing pictures also if you can git-er-done.

Thanks all

[harvey lee]

It may be a day or so as I will need to drive 40 miles to get this done. I'll do my best.

[lm90]

Call me cheap also! I use the bic springs,and I make them for all of my rods. Some are made with shrink tubbing, and others are made with memory foam ear plugs. For $7.00 I can make about 2 dozen or more. Some have shrink tubbing extending farther out making it a stiffer spring for heavier jigs like #6 Genz worms and so on. I spend my saved money on jigs and plastics!

[Swimmer]

Yup, just stomp on a large Bic lighter and presto, the "perfect" spring.

[Sandmannd]

Call me cheap also! I use the bic springs,and I make them for all of my rods. Some are made with shrink tubbing, and others are made with memory foam ear plugs. For $7.00 I can make about 2 dozen or more. Some have shrink tubbing extending farther out making it a stiffer spring for heavier jigs like #6 Genz worms and so on. I spend my saved money on jigs and plastics!

Those are really slick. Do you glue a beed to the tip of them then?

[lm90]

Yes! I use a stick pin to hold the bead, and just use very small amount of super glue. Just don't over do it with the glue or you will clog the bead, and then its junk!