Float Fishing today

I got to ray out a few things today bank fishing at Lake McIntosh.
I spent the first hour+ trying different slip float combos with different plastic bats on a 4.6mm Tungsten bead jig .
One word , Frustration!
I had one event where my float almost went under .
I started out fishing a 6’6” St Croix Avid light , paired with a Shimano Miravel c2000s , spooled with 3# Floroclear.
Casting was great . Good distance. I was mainly using a small size Thill pro series slip float .
I’m not going to bore you with all of details of the different rigging and bobber stops I tried , but eventually I cut it all off and replaced it with my old favorite 3/4” weighted snap on bobber .
But it wasn’t until I went with just my jig and an olive green mini Trout Magnet that I caught my first fish , a tiny bluegill . But it got the most of the skunk off .
I went from fishing the riprap to fishing around the dock and caught several more small bluegills and a juvenile shellcracker.
I swapped out my rod before swapping to the next fishing hole.
I swapped to a 6’6” SC Avid UL rod and Daiwa Legalis LT2000sp .
I liked this combo better , but wished I’d brought a 5’ ULM , that would have made my catch a little more fun. Or maybe my Iprimi xxul .
In the new spot I caught a small gill and moved to the shallow cove like flat where I snapped my little 3/4” bobber back on and could cast completely across the little weedy pocket .
I was rewarded with three good bites and managed to land to two best fish of the day , a pretty bluegill and a small shellcracker that showed the rest how you’re supposed to fight when hooked . :) .
What did I learn?
I learned I don’t know how to properly use a slip float .
For me using a snap on bobber works the best .
I can fish my jigs like I usually do , twitching or swimming, or I can snap on a bobber to cover more area and slow down my presentation.
Best of the day .

I hardly ever fish with a bobber but if I do I prefer the clip on kind rather than a slip bobber. It will detect bites better for you.

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Originally Posted by SuperDave336

I hardly ever fish with a bobber but if I do I prefer the clip on kind rather than a slip bobber. It will detect bites better for you.

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I agree Dave , but I had to try the slip float .

I know the slip floats will work, I’m just not well educated in the details. The clip on stick floats like Ketchn showed but made of balsa are what I’ve used most. I’m eating the popcorn and paying attention.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I know the slip floats will work, I’m just not well educated in the details. The clip on stick floats like Ketchn showed but made of balsa are what I’ve used most. I’m eating the popcorn and paying attention.

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I just think a snap on or clip on type of float is so convenient and easy to use in shallow water. Which is where I mainly fish .
So easy to be twitching a jig and if you start getting hung up a lot in moss or grass , just snap on a float and fish over the top of it .
Slip floats dominate in water over , say over four feet .
Below that , I’ll be using my snap on .

Way to figure it out! It’ll only get better with time

Good times

Pretty fish. I too gave up on slip floats long ago.


Regards


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

I did notice one other thing today.
Too many times , back when I fished the snap on floats with 1/80 jigs , during the cast the jig and float would tangle during my cast .
Using a heavier jig remedied this problem .

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Originally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie

Way to figure it out! It’ll only get better with time

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That’s true. You have to experiment with it. On rocky creeks and streams (like I have) a float is mandatory.
Bob

I use Thill slip floats on the regular. My style of panfishing is typically a bit different than most people's, though. Since I'm 99% of the time chasing shellcracker, I do not use a bobber stop at all. This allows the bait to settle directly on the bottom of the lake.

My technique then involves constantly picking it up and down off the bottom in an effort to get a reaction strike. It's really a drop shot but with a slip float. The slip float gives me better contact and control of the bait.

That being said, this spring, I have made an effort to catch redear using a Trout Magnet. I've had a LOT of fun with it and fish it similar to what I think is Randy's style. I try to reel it very slow along the bottom. I'm a bottom fisherman, I do not fish in the water column and it works for me.