someone asked me ....so here are THE FLOATS i like

i float fish alot and typically convert folks from the traditional forms of float ketchn to the way i do it . I ONLY use a fixed / pinch on float until i am presenting the bait deeper than around 7 to 8 foot deep . much past that it gets rather difficult to cast unless you use a really long rod and i dont own anything over 8 foot . and its time to pitch it or vertical jig it anyway .
mind you i almost never use minnows and this dont apply to the minnow folks ....
the sensitivity when the float is directly connected to the line offers a much quicker recognition of a crappie bite and is also much better on the hook set as well . many folks will argue this point and some of the very best crappie fishermen out there will tell you a slip float is the way to go . i can show you much better than i can tell you and have converted many a REALLY good crappie fisherman in this area .
i promised i would show what i use and that is why i posted this thread .
below are the floats i carry and i use them in different situations for different reasons , sometimes i want to go with a cheap set up because i know i cant get the ones i lose back . sometimes i use the balsa to get longer casts and typically fish them in more open waters .
and you must match your jig weight to the float ......and yes it matters ....no more than 1/2 of the float or slightly less should be above the water line ...to much buoyancy is not good !
disclaimer time : none of the manufactures of these floats have ever given me a single free item ...
just so you know i am NOT advertising ......
this is the real deal .....and the wood one is a bass pro brand ...the others are Thill and Comal
there is truly a method to my madness AND its called i dont like fishing .....if ya get my drift ......:scratchhead
as always have a great day :ThumbsUp
p.s. note no weighted floats in the mix either ...NOT good ....

That what my wife uses. The gotta be good.

Thanks for the nice article! Makes me feel good that I'm doing something right, I'm right with you. I'm a take it easy, one rod crappie fisherman. I have a great G. Loomis 7' Ultra Light setup and I love watching that bobber for the slightest little tick. I'm 73 and find now days I do better concentrating on one rod then trying to handle 2 or 3 rods at one time. Less tangles and more fish!!!

Well ill be 81 in about 10 days and can still do 2 of some things at the same time.
It could be chew gum and walk, with gum that won't stick to my teeth, if it was a short walk.
Ive done almost no bobber fishing other than for tarpon. But I am anticipating doing some so I have been buying bobbers. But after reading this I'm going to throw most of them away and start over.
I'm assuming that since your obviously using jigs, you would be missing strikes without closly
monitoring the line and setting the hook quickly. Which is the reason you've decided on using just one rod.
But my question would be, wouldn't a dead stick rod with a bobber and minnow or other bait combination work in conjunction with the hand held rod?
In the keys while on the reef freelining for yellowtails, holding the rod is imperative for success.
But we always had a dead stick rod with a bait sitting on or near the bottom.

It would work very well and use to do it a lot! But now days I always seem to get messed up before long. On very calm, slow days I may end up with two out there until something starts to happen. Would you believe on a calm 70 degree day, I have been observed with my anchor pins set in a shady cove, with no rod in the water, leaning back and meditating about my next move. Catch and release days eliminates filleting after a long hard day!!!

I'm with you on the style of float you chose. I'm not much on the Comal version cuz they're light and i like to stay back a bit. The Thill are a bit more money and are built to a specific weight of jig. Once you figure that out any brand will get the job done. What I like about this style of float is the ability to detect a lift bite, when they gently take the jig on the rise and there is no thump to be transmitted to the line or the float. What happens is that with the weight of the jig removed the float lays over on it's side, set the hook. Best version around and the Balsa is easy to cast with just enough weight to make the rod behave and not overdo it.

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Originally Posted by Cane Pole

That what my wife uses. The gotta be good.

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Yep. You gotta use what the wife uses or you end up like this
Attachment 234751

I fish mostly bobbers and one spot I fish demands I cast long distance. When the wind is creating nice wave action on this particular lake it sometimes is hard to detect the bite on these long casts,. So when I discovered the rocket bobber it worked wonders in this spot. I have a collection of all kinds of bobbers I carry, ( fish all from bank ) and the rocket bobber is the most expensive . I enjoy bobber fishing so I can relate to this article.

I've fished dozens of style bobbers and none of those you use are for me. I do just fine with my pear shaped comals. Your method isn't the best or only method that produces numbers. Those springs suck on 4lb test line.

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Originally Posted by chaunc

I've fished dozens of style bobbers and none of those you use are for me. I do just fine with my pear shaped comals. Your method isn't the best or only method that produces numbers. Those springs suck on 4lb test line.

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Yep, and can run the pear shaped ones like a popping cork as well. And can see lift bites if weighted properly, suddenly the whole cork pops up. Love them pear floats. And Skeetbum sure can't argue they work :)

I use bobbers almost always in my crappie fishing from the bank. I use nothing but oval shaped bobbers that are weighted. All different sizes . I use nothing but jigs which I make myself. The only bobber I use not oval shaped is one I mentioned earlier and it is the rocket bobber, can only use 1/32 oz jig with it but works great.
Betts Billy Boy oval shaped is the brand I use I buy in bulk. I have never had a problem on hook set with any of them.

Have LOTS of the Betts Billy Boy bobbers and love them. Some say they're too big but they really aren't. Started fishing the weighted pear shaped floats last year with a 1/32nd custom painted jig and using a Mo's grub to match the color and it works great. Always have an assortment of bobbers with me.

Some of my beloved wagglers:

Here's the rest of the gang:

well as i said before some would not agree with me I was sure .
i have one bud that still only uses his slipper floats...
in the end you need to use whatever you are comfortable with
and as always have a great day

Well you no doubt catch a pile of fish. I sure would not change what your doing as you obviously got em dialed in for sure.

this thread was originally started because some wanted to know what floats i used
and of course i felt obligated to go into detail as to why i use them and how and when
i saw some folks using minnows and slip floats the other day and they were spanking the fish well
there are so many floats out there its unreal ......and they all work at some point or they wouldnt exist
i just like these....cuz big or SMALL i am trying to ketch them all :Rofl

Thanks for this thread!

I've bought floats from Chuch and Debs. You can do a google search for them. They seemed to have good prices. I use the strike indicators for trout as a slip float, but I'm by no means a float guru like many of the guys above. Thanks for the thread. Interesting read.

Can you elaborate a bit on why you don't like the weighted bobbers? Why are they no good?

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Originally Posted by apersohn17

Can you elaborate a bit on why you don't like the weighted bobbers? Why are they no good?

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Not sure who you're asking, but for me .... I don't care for weighted floats with a single jig below, because a lift bite is hard to detect with that setup.

That being said ... I wouldn't say they were "no good", because they do have a time/place/reason to be used.

I am surprised that no one uses the old porcupine quills any more. Back about 40+ years ago that was the thing to use when crappie fishing. I have not seen any in stores for years now.

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Originally Posted by scrat

I am surprised that no one uses the old porcupine quills any more. Back about 40+ years ago that was the thing to use when crappie fishing. I have not seen any in stores for years now.

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In post #14, the green floats (second from top) are all peacock quills. I use them the most.

I bought some weighted floats 1 time and they were not made correctly, every one of them sank with nothing on them. Could've used them for sinkers I guess.

I'm with D b4 Disco..got a box of those Thill waggler's. they make a lot of sizes..get them weighted right and they flat out work...only down side, some what fragile..gotta take care of 'em..lift bites are no problem 5

Doesn't the spring cut into the line? I have never used them but obviously they work, I was afraid they would pinch the line and cut it.

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Originally Posted by CrappiePappy

Not sure who you're asking, but for me .... I don't care for weighted floats with a single jig below, because a lift bite is hard to detect with that setup.

That being said ... I wouldn't say they were "no good", because they do have a time/place/reason to be used.

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Well, I saw the original poster said he doesn't like the weighted ones and I'm trying to figure out why. I like them because I can cast farther. Is it because they don't show light bites as well?

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Originally Posted by apersohn17

Well, I saw the original poster said he doesn't like the weighted ones and I'm trying to figure out why. I like them because I can cast farther. Is it because they don't show light bites as well?

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If balanced correctly, a heavy float will show bites as well as a light float.

Sooooooooooooooo

Thanks for the read buddy, and I'm with you. I use all kinds of floats and all work at times. You have to pick the right tools for the job. Unweighted floats work best most of the time. There are times when a weighted float is better but I use unweighted most of the time. You are a very good float fishermen and there's a lot of good advice in your post thanks for sharing.

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i used a weighted Thill float some yesterday ....i found it on a creek a while back .....i dont like to use them but the wind was howling and i was fan casting and dragging the jig pretty fast ....never saw a single bite but with braid i could feel the hits well .....
as far as the float pinching the line YES they sure enough do and i wouldnt suggest lighter than 6 lb test and even then you need to re-tie every once in a while ....
... i was only suggesting what i like to use ....i might use whatever if i think the situation calls for it
and i modify my rigs as i go to get the desired presentation . Nothing in crappie ketchn is carved into stone in my opinion ......
the floats i posted and the reasons i like them are just my preference and NOT the only way to ketch them with a float .....
i watched a couple putting a smack down on them with shiners and slip floats yesterday
all that said it was sure enough fun to ketch em shallow with a float yesterday .....
and in the end i used 3 different pinch on floats yesterday .....
2 Thill tear drops (one was the weighted version ) and the Comal pinch on as well