Bobber fishing for walleyes

[midwesthunter]

I have a couple of questions about how people bobber fish for walleyes. Do you tend to use a plain hook on the end or a smaller jig? If you use a plain hook what size do you find works well? And leeches or minnows?

[Deitz Dittrich]

The size hook is going to depnd on the size of the bait.. I have used both and had succes with both a jig and a plain hook.. I would say open water I tend to use more plain hook than jig...

Bait also changes with the depth water I am fishing and the conditions!

[Stratosman]

Typically when I fish the bobber bite it when the walleyes are also on a leech bite. My standard set up is a red or orange #6 with a small bead.

[Jarrod32]

A plain hook or a jig...and if a jig, what color?

Let the fish tell you. My buddies and I have fished this presentation a lot (the ultimate in subtle live bait presentations). As long as there is more than one of you, one person start with a plain hook, and another start with a jig. More people? Go with different colors of jigs.

We've had days where a jig would catch nothing...but a plain hook would kill 'em. Other days, just the opposite. And sometimes color can make a difference. All you can do is experiment and see what the fish want at that particular point and time.

[DTro]

Some of my biggest Walleyes have come on a slip bobber and a #6 plain hook, hooked right behind the sucker.

[Gofishleech]

I use both plain hook set up or a small jig. Both work well but I like the jig as the eyes don't seem to swallow it as deep as they do a plain hook. I always fish eaither with a leech.. The key to bobber fishing is knowing the structure your fishing. One of my favorite spots is a 10ft hump with 3ft coontail, set the bobber at about 6ft.

Also I like to fish it, meaning slide it along, move it around, work it.

Great walleye set up and very efective!!

[Chris Haley]

I use the plain hook also. I put a split shot 12" above the hook to give the bait some free movement.

[196thDLR]

I'm curious, have any of you tried using a circle hook with a slip bobber rig? If so how did that presentation work?

[slipperybob]

both, slipfloat:

jig anyhwere from 1/4 to 1/64 oz

plain hook usually size 2 sometimes 4

[cylinder]

I almost always use a circle hook under a boober. Fewer gut hooks by far.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

My bobber rig is something that I found on the forum. Any type of line, then a barrel swivel, then a 4-5' leader of 6# mono, and a small split shot 12" above the hook. It helps a ton with keeping leeches and minnows from tangling.

[jigginjim]

Time of day can change which to use also. A plain hook #6 or #4 circle hook, during the day. In the late evening to after dark a small glow jig. Think ice fishing!

[Bruce Mosher]

Very good posts! First off I always have A Wave Buster Bobber on my line with a stop knot set at approximately 6 to 7'. Then I use a glow red jig with a leech. If it's windy a 1/8th oz jig , if it's not very windy I use a glow 1/16 oz jig and leech. We normally troll around during the day and set up for slipbobbers in the evening until well after dark. I set up my Dad (he's getting older and slower as far as setting the hook) with a Wave Buster Bobber and stop knot set at 6', a split shot and a Circle Hook. The Circle Hook works very well for him because he doesn't have to set the hook. Just real the Walleyes in! IF Dad starts getting more Walleyes than me I will switch to a split shot and plain hook or the Circle hook. Remember when you are using the Wave Buster bobbers you can night fish with them by poking a starter hole into the top of the bobber with a round toothpick and then insert a 3mm light stick that will glow for approximately 6 to 8 hrs. Nothing better than watching the bobber Pop then sink into the darkness! Have fun!!!

Bruce Mosher