Bottom Bouncing

[shoal angler]

When trolling bouncers in the 2-3 oz. weight is it important to match a rod rated for this such as a heavy action baitcaster or trolling rod?

[Terroreyes]

IMHO, no. Waste of money and you don't see the small garbage fish hit that waste your time. I use my MH casting Lightning Rods for trolling bouncers all summer long. Up to 4oz bouncers with no problem at all. I can see my harness blades vibrating the tip of the Lightning Rods. Can't see it on my big line counters.


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[Texeye]

Hey Terror,

Do you seem to loose more fish when using a 3 to 4 oz. bouncer verses say a 1 1/2 to a 2 oz.? I seem to loose twice the fish on a heavy bouncer compared to a light one. I have tried softer poles, loose drags, you name it and nothing seems to help. I just cringe when I get a bigger fish on a heavy bouncer because I just know it's going to get off. If you or anyone else has experienced this and has found a solution I would like to hear it. I don't think it is just me.:) Hope this isn't too far off topic.

Thanks,
Texeye

[Terroreyes]

I've never noticed any difference, but honestly I rarely use anything under 3oz. I can probably count on two hands though how many fish I lost all summer on the 3-4oz set-up out of 300-400+. All in the drag and feel to me. I lose the "feel" or sensitivety with my trolling rods, and when I used to use them on bouncers, I lost alot of fish from the tendency to over-power them. Switching to my casting rods cured that. Only time I don't use them for trolling is with inline boards or dipseys when you lose the feel anyways.


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[Chad]

A medium action should be fine. All rods are a little different as there is not a uniform grading system for rod weights. I use Medium as I have found the MH to be too stiff. If you were pulling only 3ozers then the MH would be fine. Most of the time I pull 2oz or less as I am fishing 20' or less. The only time I use 3oz is over 20' or in heavier current but then in current I may go to a 3 way.

As long as the rod is not doubled over you should be fine.


ChadM

[manitobawalleye]

i am like terroreyes
3-4oz bouncers
have pulled 3 ozers in 10' of water
fish don't seem to care
work the reef edge down to 30-40
then a couple of burner passes over the reef top to pick
off the hot ones

manitoba .... a 100,000 lakes
how many walleyes ????
i will never have enough time....

[Burr]

Shoal - as a side note. If your going to be holding on to the rod vs putting it in a rod holder - I do like to switch to a different setup for heavy bouncers.

Mostly it is for balance, and to keep my wrist from wearing out on a long day.

I rig heavy bouncers on a rod with a line counter (heavier reel to offset bouncer weight) - then turn rod upside down, so the reel is hanging down. I hold the rod ahead of the reel, with a finger on the line to help detect bites.

Doing it this way puts a lot less stress on my wrist when lifting, dropping the rod tip, as the weight is more balanced as compared to holding onto the rod handle behind the reel. Same thing if you ever use real heavy jigs in current - 1.5-2.5 oz jigs.

If you put it in the rod holder, no need for the above.

[Opti-Mist]

I use 3 and 4 oz bottom bouncers almost exclusively as I'm trolling open water with current and depths to 40 feet (mostly 20 - 30 feet). I like a medium to medium light rod so that I can see the rod tip move with the bouncer when it is set correctly. To me its like watching a "birdy" dog. In areas that are shallower and have less current I'll drop down in weight.

[rabbit]

Texeye,
I don't know if this will help you or not?
I experienced the same thing 2 years ago. I was losing fish after fish,especially the larger ones. I went to all the "old timers" and picked their brains over... What happened to me was I was spreading my hooks to far apart(using big crawlers I assumed that it what I needed to do),too long of leads for our conditions, setting the hook with an upstab instead of a sidesweep and then worst of all--- The more fish I lost the more I babied them!
If you use super lines ie. power-pro, fireline spider wire etc...Use a rod with a moderate backbone(some give) and with mono you can use the stiffer (fast) ones.
My set-up is 30# power-pro, 3-6oz. bouncer mderate action rods 8-10 1/2 feet. 4-6 foot leads. Hooks about 2-3 inches apart. Do a sidesweep hookset and give 'em drag if they need it but don't baby them.....Good fishing, Paul

[Texeye]

Thanks guys,

Rabbit, you seemed to describe my problems exactly. I'll see if it helps.

Have a good one.
Texeye

[Terroreyes]

I NEVER set the hook while trolling with super line for walleye. Even with mono harnesses, and especially not when using that much weight!!! I'll watch other passengers do those picture perfect "Van Dam" sweeps and lose fish after fish and I just pick up the rod a reel them in one after another. :) Those Van Dam hook sets look good in the mirror or may work with mono :horsepoop: , but you really screw yourself when you try it with braid or superlines.


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[chamookman]

I'm from the "other" side. I like a Flipping rod (7 1/2' Hev. action) teamed with a low profile baitcaster w/flippin switch filled with 20 lb. super line. The lake where I BB is snaggy and the hvy. Fireline helps with getting the bouncer - sometimes with/without the harness back. Usually don't fish any deeper 15', but never go with less than a 1 1/2 oz, most likely 2 - 2 1/2 oz. - power trolling if You will. Have to agree with Terror Eyes, no need for the KVD/Roland Martin hook set! Slowly crank 'Em to the net. I always hand hold the rod also, I want to know everything that's going on with My bait. My .02 - Bob

[Sutsgold]

Over time I have learned that heavy bottom bouncers work in shallow water, but light bottom bouncers do not work in deeper water. Thus I only buy 3 oz or 4 oz bouncers. I use 10 lb fireline for greater feel, with a medium action pole specifically made for trolling bottom bouncers. The bottom line is that when you are trolling you are targeting a larger more aggressive walleye. They tend to hit hard and finessing is not necessary. A good sideways tug and they should be set. We lose very few fish bottom bouncing and find the fish we catch tend to be much larger than when jigging.
Best of luck.

[rabbit]

I do agree with the hookset you are describing...I wasn't very clear when I mentioned the sidesweep motion. It did sound like a rod breaking, lip ripping,teeth pulling hookset. I was refering to a sweep to tighten the line and keep things steady and smooth with a rod that has GIVE to make up for the bouncer weight and the minimal-no stretch super lines. I ,also, believe one can overhammer a hookset!
One other thing I forgot to mention is sometimes I see people (usually salmon fishermem when they are walleye fishing)pump the rod. I watched the PWT event in Little Bay De Noc and watched one of the fisherman shown pumped the rod ie. dropping the tip and pulling the fish. WOW, I was just cringed. Bruce D. says put a treble hook in your nose and tie it to your rod and the pumping action should stop...Good fishin everybody and Texeye, you should be OK. This site is where we all get our bugs worked out... HAPPY HOLIDAYS