Thread: Bottom fishing

Never really thought about bottom fishing is it a good way to catch bluegill and red ears. Could you give tips rigs and how to. What time of the year is best. Thanks

I prefer to fish 6-12" off bottom for gills and crackers. I think the bait is more visible that way. The only time I fish directly on the bottom is when carp fishing.

If I'm using bait, I always use a float. For jigs, I just swim it close to the bottom.

Small split shot up about 12-18 inches from a #4-or#6 hook thread u a red worm on if fish is picky u will have to run the worm up past the bend on the hook.if they don't hit it on the fall wait about a min or 2 pick it up move it just a bit let it fall back to the bottom be ready to set the hook on the move.

this is how I bottom fish . . small worm weight, bead, rubber stop and hook . fish can swim away and not feel any resistance .The following go on all bream trips away from home . . Plus two crappie poles armed with a quill/weight/ hook . .ps . that bottom rig is fished with a bout 15 inches between hook and weight . Was moved close to show entire rig .

Originally Posted by eagle 1

this is how I bottom fish . . small worm weight, bead, rubber stop and hook . fish can swim away and not feel any resistance .The following go on all bream trips away from home . . Plus two crappie poles armed with a quill/weight/ hook . .ps . that bottom rig is fished with a bout 15 inches between hook and weight . Was moved close to show entire rig .

This would be very similar to a sliding sinker rig used for salt water here in Florida.
I'm a newcomer here as well as to crappie /pan fishing. Ive not caught any red ears but have a desire to do so
in some of the area locations I'm told have them. Its been mentioned to me they prefer deeper water and red worms.
The round sliding sinkers I'm familiar with come in small sizes and are usually slid onto the line above a swivel
same as the worm sinker pictured.
The swivel could be of a very small size with the bead if necessary, and from the swivel a short leader of even lighter line to the hook.
I would guess the shape of the weight would be unimportant on this type setup. I'm not familiar with the rubber stoppers, or the use of quill type bobbers so I'm just assuming they are the type with the straw type device attached?
Are the stoppers a homemade device or would a place like bass pro have them?
Would very slow trolling thru deeper locations using a very small 3 way with a dropper sinker and a trailing leader and baited hook be a waste of time?

I tried bottom fishing all I did was loose hooks and sinkers not the right place I guess

Originally Posted by no luck

I tried bottom fishing all I did was loose hooks and sinkers not the right place I guess

Use a drop shot rig..very versatile

AND lots of red worms....

quills are long slender floats made from porcupine quills normally but some make them from large feathers .

Yep...bottom fishing works good...all year too. I bottom fish most when fishing for big red ear. Most of the time I fish for bluegills I use a slip cork