Bottom Bouncers..spinners...Help!

[karpbuster]

I have a question in that I have never used a bottom bouncer and now have read 6-7 articles off of WC. I read that some people put out many rods trolling BB's with spinners and they talk about changing the presentation, and some say you need to hold the rod (if there is no wind to feel the bottom, etc). A good presentation for scattered eyes, in the dog days fo summer, contour fishing, etc. Help!

The question: Can anyone give me a "Dummy's Approach" to BB's? An easy approach to start with. Be specific if you don't mind.

Yes, I am that dummy. I have only trolled cranks thus far. I fished 100% before trolling with jigs/slabs/casting cranks.

Thanks in advance for your help.

karpbuster

[retire55]

Take a look at the following for bottom bouncing fundamentals:
http://www.justfishontario.com/bottom_bouncing_a_to_z.htm

[Stormsearch]

Karp,

It would also help if you tell us what bodies of water you fish. I can help out on the Great Lakes and larger basin type lakes since presentations vary from each region.

[Karpbuster BK]

Thanks...I fish in New Mexico so I will describe the lakes I fish. They are few and far between, but a better description is that they are deep river channels or canyons filled and in some cases flats off the main channel. Very rocky with out croppings, points, coves. Scruby trees can be found on the points and in the back of coves. The lake of choice right now is Ute, it is 70' deep with very clear water in the main body.

I also fish Abiquiu, Conchas, Elephant Butte and Cochiti...you probably don't know what these look like but most lakes in NM are similar in structure...some less like Cochiti and some more like Ute or EB.

I appreciate the help and to the previous poster - thank you that was very helpful.

Karpbuster

[pwrfshn]

KB,

Ute is not at all clear anymore, it came up 2 feet last week and is coming up more with the rain.

Pulling spinners out here can be done by holding the rod and trolling forward or backward, putting the rod in a holder and doing the same or using planer boards in conjunction with a bottom bouncer. The biggest misconception I see with bb's is that people confuse being on or very near the bottom with dragging the bottom. Dragging a bb on the bottom will only result in the loss of tackle.

You want to try and pick a depth the fish are holding to and stay at or around that depth. The bottom bouncer should be almost in contact with the bottom (being able to touch it by lowering the rod tip) but not constantly in contact with it.

I've varied the presentation down here from using boards in opne water to backtrolling and holding one of the rods while having the other one in a rod holder. The one in the rod holder is usually a line counter of some sort to know how much line I have out at all times. The other I will adjust and I use a baitcaster with a flipping switch.

As for rigs, the Reelbait back bead spinner in Rainbow Trout, Firetiger and Gold w/perch beads have been excellent producers. The new Gamakatsu spinner rigs look awesome, but I have not been able to pull them yet. The Mack's Smile blade rigs also come in a gazillion combinations and proved to be very productive this last weekend. It is one of the few pre-tied rigs the Tackle Box sells at Ute and they say they sell a lot of them. The Mack's is unique in that speed is not as big a factor in your presentation, you cna go very slow to very fast.

The Mack's has rigs they call a Cha Cha and a Wally Pop, both that float behind the bouncer and help prevent snags on tight turns or in big rocky stuff like we have here.

The biggest Walleye caught in NM last year were all caught on Mack's Double Wammy Walleye Pro rigs and after last weekend I won't be caught without them.

If you need some rigs to try, let me know, I have some extra left over from the tourney and I would be happy to let you try some.

Sorry I didn't have time ealrier today, you know how that work keeps getting in the way of fishing. ;)

Thanks,

[karpbuster]

Thanks...hopefully this weekend! I know how work gets soemtimes. I have DSL at home now so I can do some internet from home.

Interesting, you put one rod in the holder and hold the other and make sure not dragging the bottom. Do you just run parallel to the shore with the bow mount? Running the same depth all of the time or just random area where fish are holding. I assume you can't see the fish right on the bottom, but you can with the Genetron.

So I would just pick a spot and bounce the bottom sort of speak? It is a foreign method, but since they are on the bottom you should be able to pcik them up. What is the max depth to fish?

Karpbuster

[pwrfshn]

The fish were in anywhere from 15-41 FOW so there was no set depth. They were very scattered so bottom bouncing was able tp produce fish where jigging almost did not produce any.

I'll work my way from shallow to deeper water and once I find a dpeth, I try to stay in that dpeht range, flats are ideal, but as you know we have very few areas like that.

Abiquiu had an awesome flat just opposite the main ramp that I would love to pull spinners across, but I haven't done it much this year.

I'll be back at Ute next (8/14-15) weekend pulling some spinners if you are there, I can show you some stuff.

Personally, I've gone to using Perchjerker's sliding style bouncer. If you need some bottom bouncers to get started, Charlie's has some, but if you are going to start doing it, I would suggest a variety of weights from 3/4 - 3 or 4 oz. My preference lately has been the sliding type, but that is personal preference.

[karpbuster]

Thanks again...I had to run out for a church meeting. That deep with a bb? No wonder they are so hard to catch. I think all of the walleye I caught up until now were some flukes. There is a lot to learn.

I know the flat you speak of at Abiquiu use to be hot for trout on the west side of the flat and the island. True not too many flats, EB had some great flats around Montecello (north) when the water was high.

I would like to get some tips from the master so I will try and plan it out. Where are you going this weekend?

karpbuster

[pwrfshn]

Butte, 2 Striper trips.

[pwrfshn]

Bill,

These are the kind of bbs I am using.

As I mentioned above Perchjerker also has some like this, but his site section with the bbs is down. I'll email him to find out where it is.

http://www.reelbait.com/prod_list.php?parent=336&prod=337

Also, I keep forgetting to mention, but I am sure you read, no more than a 45 on the line angle and that should prevent the dragging I am referring to. I'll show you how I am rigging out here.

There is also something else I have been trying that has been working in the brush. On the inside of the Mack's package I noticed a Texas rig spinner with a single hook. This technique should also work very well in conjunction with a Smile blade and be less prone to snags.

Talk to you soon,

[karpbuster]

Thanks..does Charlie's have these? I bougt some from Wal-Mart but they are not this nice. Some BB weights that is. The speed is key then to get the 45 degree angle and weight, I will have to buy some and try it out...darn I guess I have to go fishing again! LOL

karpbuster

[perchjerker]

there is some kind of server problem on my site.

Karp, I can get you what you need if you like, just email me and I can send you info unitl my site is fixed.

[karpbuster]

Thanks Perchjerker...what is your e-mail address I changed from AOL to MSN and lost a few e-mails and addresses.

Karpbuster

[perchjerker]

Bill-

The site is back working now.

www.bottombouncers.com

thanks