Slip Bobber Questions, Fishing With Minnows

Yesterday I took a trip to a central In reservoir. Went into the local bait shop and said I am new to Crappie fishing, I brought two ultralights and I need you to set me up to fish for minnows. He had already mentioned that's what they were catching them on below the dam. So I bought bobber stops, small slip bobbers , round crimp on lead weights, an assortment, and wire hooks. This was all items he recommended. I fought these small bobbers all day trying to get them to stand up. Kept adding small lead weights. I finally went up to the next size up and put it about 4 inch's below my bobber. By this time the bobber would stand but the larger minnows could actually pull it down , thinking I had a strike. These bobbers are only 2 to 2.5 inch's. Any advice would be welcome as to slip bobbers preferred by you more experienced Crappie fisherman, and how to weight it properly.

We use what we call casting bobbers, they have a lead collar on the bottom, held in place with a O ring that you can adjust how far down the weight is...This is kind of a sensitivity thing ..The further down the shaft the straighter it sits in the water so.Even with no weight on them they stand up.
I set mine so the bobber sits at a slight angle on the river and straight up on lakes

I'm thinking they are made by Thill, Mine are Orange and Black with a white waterline stripe l only put the color reference so they would be easier to find in the store
Posting from this Nook I can't put up pix sorry

I just did a quick check....After prying it out of my cats mouth!
They are Thills, you can get them at Cabelas,Walmart almost anywhere and they range in price from $2.99 to $4.29

Take a read through this thread
http://www.crappie.com/crappie/panfi...334859-floats/
lots of great info and a few vids attached that are very good.

Wow, thanks a bunch guys, lots of good info I'll look into. Very much appreciated. Thank You. Mike.

Your more than welcome Mike

Lots of good info on that thread. Thanks

It's a matter of trial and error. If the line isn't sliding through the float you need to add more weight. If the minnow then pulls the float under you need to upsize the float. Keep at it, eventually you will get it dialed in. You will also get a hundred different opinions about what is best. None of the answers is wrong, you just need to figure out what is right for you.

We use a Northland Little Bite bobber. These come in several sizes. The good thing about them is they have a metal piece in the top end of the bobber where the line slides thru. Line hardly ever hangs up. But, like Spartan said, it's what works for you.

I use only ESB slip bobbers. Been using same ones for 5 years now. Here is the website.
The Everlasting Slip Bobber - the world's finest slip bobber!

Yeah, chunk the small bobber and get a long bobber: Attachment 259940

Hey funbun, did you make these? How do they hook up? Thanks.

crappie1, I sent you a private message.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by funbun

Yeah, chunk the small bobber and get a long bobber:

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Bet those will react at the slightest bite . :fish

Not always a bad thing when your float lies sideways, as long as your bait has sunk to your desired depth and your sure it's off the bottom.
I use Drennan Crystal's and Loafers, with minners. But my favorite is long natural corks, (torpedo shaped, narrow on both ends) but are getting hard to find. They used to come with a thread thru them. Next fav is quills, when the fish mouth's the bait, it'll stand up!
It's a good indicator.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yonder

I use Drennan Crystal's and Loafers, with minners.

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I'm not sure which Crystal you're using because Drennan makes several "crystal" floats. The Loafer, however, is a river float. A waggler would work better if you're fishing in a lake or pond.

I will check the crystal a little later. They are marked on the bulb. Nice greenish float, maybe 4" long. Great for shy bites.
The Loafer, I believe, is a steely river float, as you noted. They work exceptionally well, for Specks, in the Bullrushes, when the bites timid.
Drennan doesn't include float caps with them, but that's another rant.
Can't find them down here, my best luck is mail order.
Thanks!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yonder

Can't find them down here, my best luck is mail order.

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Yeah, FishUSA is the only place I know to get them in the US. Drennan is a well-known name in Europe, so you can also get them off ebay.

DBD,
You can try Outdoor Pro Shop (Monster Fishing). Big selection, but FishUSA has better prices, I'm thinkin.
Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yonder

DBD,
You can try Outdoor Pro Shop (Monster Fishing). Big selection, but FishUSA has better prices, I'm thinkin.
Thanks

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Checked it out. Thanks for the tip.

DBD,
To clear up the type of Drennen floats I use, the Loafer is marked "Loafer 2.4g, 1 Swan" on the body. Reference. #DRLFIO -P,2.4g. It's about 2.5" long, clear, orange top. It attaches with sleeve's (not included​). It will float a 2" + minner when a Shy Bite won't.
The Bobber is marked "Bobber 3.2 g, 2 Swan" on the body. Reference #DRBB30-P,3.2g. It's about 3.5" long, green, translucent bulb, red short top stem, with a solid green, longer bottom stem.
It attaches with a top sleeve and the bottom has a hole for your line, or use a sleeve for quick change.
It's used reverse of a waggler, with the long stem down. These are sweet, when the bites lite. Not a casting float, they are very light. Ultra lite rig, maybe. I use them with a bug pole, dipping weed lines and docks.
Down side to these are;
1. Made overseas (Thill made in USA)
2. Sleeve's (caps) have to be purchased separately.
Don't use them a lot, but when they are slow, sometimes it's the difference between fish or skunk for supper!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Yonder

DBD,
To clear up the type of Drennen floats I use, the Loafer is marked "Loafer 2.4g, 1 Swan" on the body. Reference. #DRLFIO -P,2.4g. It's about 2.5" long, clear, orange top. It attaches with sleeve's (not included​). It will float a 2" + minner when a Shy Bite won't.
The Bobber is marked "Bobber 3.2 g, 2 Swan" on the body. Reference #DRBB30-P,3.2g. It's about 3.5" long, green, translucent bulb, red short top stem, with a solid green, longer bottom stem.
It attaches with a top sleeve and the bottom has a hole for your line, or use a sleeve for quick change.
It's used reverse of a waggler, with the long stem down. These are sweet, when the bites lite. Not a casting float, they are very light. Ultra lite rig, maybe. I use them with a bug pole, dipping weed lines and docks.
Down side to these are;
1. Made overseas (Thill made in USA)
2. Sleeve's (caps) have to be purchased separately.
Don't use them a lot, but when they are slow, sometimes it's the difference between fish or skunk for supper!

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I'm very familiar with Drennan. I have a bunch of their floats.

Good article on Mick Thill and float fishing in this month's In-Fisherman.

i bought some thill's and i was very impressed, they are expensive but very well made and work great