In bobber fishing, an angler attaches a special float, called a bobber, to the main fishing line with a light weight and baited hook below. The bobber suspends the bait at a specific depth where fish are. Most bobbers remain in a fixed position. While fine for fishing in shallow waters, this makes fishing in waters more than a few feet deep impossible because of the length of line needed between bobber and bait. But the slip bobber slides along the line between the swivel and a stop knot above the bobber, allowing bobber fishing even in very deep water.
Bobber Selection
Select a slip bobber just big enough to float your weight, swivel leader and baited hook. Choose a style of bobber for the type of fishing you want to do. Use an oval or egg-shaped floats for easy casting and riding well on waves. Try a tall float that gets blown along by the wind more for covering a larger area. Fish a thin pencil floats that is less affected by wind to stay in one place better. Lighted floats are also available for night fishing.
Function
A movable stopper knot on the main fishing line sets the depth of the line. The knot is large enough to stop the bobber but small enough to pass through the guides in the fishing rod. To tie a stopper knot, slide a piece of plastic tubing onto your main fishing line. Tie a stopper knot onto the tubing. Slip the knot off the tubing and onto your main line. Tighten the knot and trim the ends. Remove the tubing. The stopper knot should slide up or down on the main fishing line under medium pressure.
Rigging
To set your rig for slip bobber fishing, thread your main fishing line through the center tube of the slip bobber. Tie the end of the line to a snap swivel. Place a light bell sinker on the swivel. Tie an 18-inch leader onto the swivel, then a fishing hook onto the end of the leader and bait your hook. To set the proper length of line for the depth you want to fish slide the stopper knot along the main fishing line.
Casting
To cast your rig, allow the slip bobber to drop to the swivel and reel your line in. Cast your slip bobber rig out into the water. Let your line go slack and watch the bobber as the sinker pulls the fishing line through, dropping into the water until the stopper knot reaches the bobber. When the line stops playing out, set your reel and watch your bobber for any signs of a strike.
Problems
After your first cast, if the bobber goes under, you have too much weight on. Reel your line in and replace the sinker with one of a lighter weight. If you get strikes while the bait is still dropping, reset you stopper knot for a shallower depth.
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