bottom bouncers

[tom k]

Can someone please explain how to use these. I have tried on a few occasions without success. What speeds/weights etc.. I'm not sure i'm even on the bottom.

Tom

[Sunshine]

I use bottom bouncers with crawler harnesses. A rule of thumb is to use one ounce for every 10 feet of water depth. I also use the "double bounce method" to guarantee that bottom bouncer is on the bottom. As the name implies, I release line until I feel the line going slack indicating that I have hit the bottom. I then engage the reel and wait momentarily (5-10 seconds) and than release line a second time until it hits bottom and line goes slack. I'm then ready to go. My speeds vary from day to day. But I would say most people stay around 1 mile per hour when using crawler harnesses. I will increase my speed up 2 miles an hour, especially using larger blades or hatchet blades. The important thing to do is to lower the crawler harness into the water at the speed that you plan on going and watch the action. I also find it easier to use baitcasting reels when using bottom bouncers.

[Skeeter Boy]

Tom; Bouncers are a great way to find fish. I like to use a combination of weight and speed that gets me on bottom with my line at about a 45 degree angle,meaning if you have a preferred speed then adjust weight accordingly and if you have a certain weight you use adjust the speed accordingly. Then I like to give about one or two more rod lenghts of line, engage the reel and fish with the rod out at about 90 degrees so. When you feel a bite follow back with the rod tip as far as you can and when you feel the rod start loading up or feel the fish, set the hook. You should be able to feel the bouncer touch bottom when you sweep forward a foot or so then drop the rod tip back to feel for bottom. This also often triggers a strike. If you cann't feel the bottom increase weight or decrease speed or both. Sometimes the hit will just about pull the rod out of your hand so hang on and have fun. Good luck... Skeeter Boy

[RiverRat]

Try out this site:
www.fishweb.com/recreation/fishing/fishfacts/index.html

[Chad]

Bouncers are just another weight(sinker)system used to keep your bait near the bottom. Your bouncer does not have to be touching bottom all the time. If you can drop your rod tip back and hit bottom you are doing fine. If you have let enough line out and cant hit, you need to either slow down or increase your weight.

I use 1oz when pulling spinners slow and shallow. 2oz when in medium depth (10-20) and 3 oz over 20 and in current. In current you may be better off using a 3 way with a bell weight for less resistance.

You can use all kinds of presentations with bouncers. Plain hooks with live bait, floating jigs, spinners, non diving crank baits(floating raps, husky jerks, etc...) Some situations call for short 2' leaders and others call for 6' leaders.

[EricCO]

Use fireline and a sensitive rod helps alot.

[Tom]

What size fireline?

[EricCO]

I've been using the 14/6.

[Tom]

Thanks for the info guys, got me going in the right direction. Just a few comments. I'm using a 6-1/2' med. heavy baitcasting rod with a Shimmano Calcutta reel with 10lb.trilene xl. I have fished these 2 different ways. First being attaching a plain wire bouncer to a Quick Change prior to a swivel. Second being using a dropper line from a 3 way swivel to the bouncer. I'm trollimg with a 100 hp tiller on a 1900 Gary Roach to give you a feel for the speeds I'm working with. Am I in the ballpark with what I've described?

Thanks again!!!

[Tom]

Thanks for the info guys!! I'm fishing from a 1900 Gary Roach with a 100 hp merc to give you a feel for the speeds I'm working with. I use a 6 1/2' med. heavy bait caster with a Shimmano Calcutta reel with 10# trilene. I have tied the bouncer 2 different ways. First being using a Quick Change slider prior to the swivel and second being using a dropper line from a 3 way swivel. Am I in the ballpark guys? What # fireline are you talking?

Thanks

Tom

[Tom]

Thanks for the info guys!! I'm fishing from a 1900 Gary Roach with a 100 hp merc to give you a feel for the speeds I'm working with. I use a 6 1/2' med. heavy bait caster with a Shimmano Calcutta reel with 10# trilene. I have tied the bouncer 2 different ways. First being using a Quick Change slider prior to the swivel and second being using a dropper line from a 3 way swivel. Am I in the ballpark guys? What # fireline are you talking?

Thanks

Tom

[Fin Addict]

Just learned this trick this spring and it works to get you close to the bottom. Find the speed you want to run and then add weight til you have the weight required to maintain a 45 degree line angle. Check the distance from the tip of your rod to the surface of the water and add this to the depth of the water. So if you have 20' water and the rod tip is 6' off the water, the result is 26'. Square that result 26 x 26 = 676 and then multiply by 2 = 1,352. Then take the square root of that result ~37' and that is the amount of line you need to have out to put you on the bottom if your line is at a 45 degree angle. sounds complicated but you can put a little chart together with results for every 5' and you will be close every time. If you want to be sure of the 45 degree angle, use the same math for the 6' tip to surface and find you need 8.5 feet of line out to get that angle to the surface, Tie a piece of yarn in at 8.5' and troll fast enough to keep it just on the surface. You will have your 45 degrees. Did I confuse you enough?

[Chad]

There are 2 basic kind of bouncers. Fixed arm and sliding.

The fixed arm bouncers are shaped like a big "L". They come with either an "R" bend or loop. This is where your line is attached. You can tie directly or you can use a snap. I prefer to tie directly.

The sliding bouncer is basically a straight wire with a loop on the top with the weight in the middle. I rig this on an exchange clevis just above the swivel or you can just run the line thru the bouncer. I would think the clevis is more usefull. I would not rig this on a 3 way. You would be better off just using a bell sinker if you wanted to use a 3 way.

There is also a new bouncer out by Pros Pointers in Mandan ND. It is shaped similar to the sliding but has a snap on the end rather then a loop.. No need to tie it on., just snaps on and off but does not slide.

Line is personal preference. I like to use 10-12 lb XT. I use XT because I use boards a lot and it is a little heavier then XL. Diameter isn't much of a concern when running bouncers. Some use fireline because they get more of a feel. Since I like to use boards the feel isn't important to me. I preferr to have the extra stretch in the line.

[TOM]

Thanks to all, very much appreciated!!
Tom

[fission]

Never, never, never, say that geometry and math will not be used in your everyday life. Science Rocks! Kids, stay in school.

[vetspet(ind)]

my only two cents worth is i have had some very good luck using my 12 ft lake mich noodles with bait casters....when the wt hits bottom it momentarily holds and then when it begins to bounce i get a much higher bounce than with my 6'6 rod...sometimes i really do much better with my noodles bouncing than the other guys on my boat using shorter rods....steve

[Scales&Tales]

I second that, I use several old 10' fly rods (I don't fly fish anymore) with spinning reels and extra handle in the butt to troll bottom bouncers, works great, seldom have to set the hook as they (the fish) seem to set themselves when they hit.