Bottom Bouncers

[Jarrod]

When using bottom bouncers can you attach directly or should you add a snell? If so, what pound-test and does color matter?
:P

[Jenn_WI]

Hi
Yes you'd add a snell like the pre rigged harnesses, etc. Color and type of blade and size of blade all make a difference depending on the water you're fishing. The cool thing about the X Change clevises on them is you can quickly change blade types while out there to see what's working better. If you make your own, you can play around with the combos of beads, colors, blades, etc. I use 8 or 10 lb line., usually 8lb. and usually make the snell starting at about 5-6 ft long so I can shorten it in the boat if I need to for whatever reason. Not sure which bottom bouncers you use, but those X Change bottom bouncers by Lindy are convenient for a couple of reasons. First, they are less bulky to store and second, you just add, change, or remove weights to them as needed without having to remove the bottom bouncer from your line.
~Jenn

[Chad]

The most common use of a bottom bouncer is to pull a crawler harness which is on a snell. The length's vary from 24 inches to 7 feet or more based on conditions and preferences.

You can put any other type of rig on a bouncer also. Minnow or a leach on a plain hook w/ a bead, shallow floating crank baits, floating rigs, etc...

As for attachment to the bouncer,it wil depend what kind of bouncer you use.

Fixed arm bouncers usually have a swivel and a snap on the arm where you would snap on the leader, crawler harness, etc...

With a sliding bouncer you would just rig it likd a lindy rig. With your main line first slip on a large quick change clevis, then put on a bead and lastly a snap swivel. The sliding bouncer snaps into the clevis and you atttach your leader to the snap swivel.

[Chad]

I usually make my crawler harnesses out of 15lbXT. I believe the larger diameter line will cause the spinner rig to float off the bottom a little more and the thicker line is more resistant to nicks. I usually use clear line for this. However, in stained water color really is not going to matter but in a clear lake it might. Clear would be best in any situation.