bobber fishing MN opener

[slick2526]

hello, could you please give me some suggestions on what to use and how to fish bobbers at night for my mn opener?

[REW]

1. Use as light a slip bobber as possible with the weight that you are planning to use -- it generally makes it more senstive. Yes, you can weight a bigger bobber, to make it almost sink, but it still will not be as sensitive as a smaller bobber.

2. For slip bobber fishing -- depending on the size of fish -- if you are expecting only walleye -- you seldom need more than 4 lb test -- use a longer softer rod -- to take up the surge of the fish at the boat, and keep your drag light enough and the 4 lb line will catch more fish. The 4 lb line lets your bait be more active.

3. A couple of thoughts on terminal tackle.
a. A plain hook with a leech - and a single split shot about 12 inches above the hook.

b. A 1/32 or 1/16 oz jig -- With a minnow - often a glow in the dark jig, that you flash now and then works well. -- depending on the size of bobber, and depth of water, you might need a bit more weight than just the 1/32 oz jig -- if so, just clip on a larger split shot about 12 inches above the jig.

c. Sometimes a plain hook, with a single or two beads add just enough color to attract the fish. The idea is to keep the terminal tackle light, so that the live bait can do its thing. On that vein -- keep your live bait lively. Don't soak a minnow for 2 hours without catching anything -- even if you don't throw them away, it is not a bad idea to rotate your bait to keep it lively.

d. Although early, often a nose hooked crawler on a plain hook, with a single red bead by the hook will catch lots of fish.

Important thing to remmeber about slip bobber fishing is that most Eyes move off the structure during the day, then as the light fades, they began moving closer to the structure and finally up on the structure. See if you can locate on the structure to intercept their expected migration path. Location, is one of the most important parts of the equation.

4. Scent -- make sure that you don't put any scent on your line, hooks, or bait that might turn off the fish. Use no-scent soap, and then a good thing to do, is to take what ever type bait that you are using, and squish one up in your hand, and rub it into both your hands before baiting up for the first time. Many times, getting the boat launched, fooling around with the choke, squeeze bulb, mayby tipping up the motor etc. can leave some Offensive smells on your hands that get transferred to your tackle.

After you get settled into your spot -- try to eliminate all the offensive odor before handling any gear, rods, reels, hooks, or bait.

Take care and catch a bunch;

REW

[Famous]

Perhaps the best and shortest seminar on bobber fishing I ever attended Rew. Good job! But is there really anything wrong with a little Quicksilver on your hands.:)