SLIP BOBBERS AND EARLY SPRING FISHING

Slip-bobber fishing is made for early season action. The versatility of this technique allows the angler to adapt to conditions and the species of fish he is seeking.

Sitting in the boat or on shore and staring at a bobber dancing on the surface may be good for the Zen consciousness. But, it does nothing to put fish in the cooler. Staring at the bobber may be all that some people get to do in the spring.

Changing temperatures and winds make early spring fishing a challenging experience for even the best anglers. Movements of fronts through the area cause changes in the feeding activities of fish as well as areas of water temperatures. Because fish move to find their comfort zone, they are often in different locations at different times of the day. They will also move up and down in the water in response to water temperatures.

Where should one begin to seek out early spring fish activity?

A good location is in the back waters. It is here that water starts to warm faster than in the deeper waters of the main body of lake or river. A plain kitchen thermometer can be sued to take water temperature readings in various areas. Look for warming trends and begin to fish those areas first.

Warmer water is usually the water closest to shore in the spring. The sun shining on rocks or mud bottoms will warm them which in turn will hold the heat longer. The warm structure helps to warm the water surrounding it. It is important to approach such areas quietly. Fish in shallow water, especially clear water, spook easily.

In the spring, fish are generally interested in locating spawning sites. They will often be found in areas near areas where such activity will later occur.

For walleye, areas of hard-bottom structure are a good place to start. Also look to areas where creeks feed into a larger body of water. The water will be warmer there by a degree or two and that can mean fish being present.

Rip rap is a good location, as are most rocky areas. If the wind is blowing toward the rip rap, the warmer water will be blown there as well. This in turn attracts baitfish and the predator fish follow.

In rivers, one should look for eddies just off the current. The fish locate these areas and wait next to the faster current in hopes of a hapless baitfish passing by in the current.

Once the area to be fished has been selected, it is time to seek the depth at which to fish. All fish seek their comfort level when it comes to temperature. On warmer early season days that is shallower.

The slip-bobber allows the angler to place the lure or bait at precisely the same depth as the fish. The angler can easily change fishing depths by moving the line stop up and down. Electronics can help locate the depth at which the fish are feeding or suspended. But, it is the slip-bobber that gets the bait in the right location. Slip-bobber systems allow the angler to move back from the fish and cast to them in the targeted area.

The sip-bobber rig consists of a line freely passing through the bobber with a hook and bait below and a slip knot stop above. The line slides through the bobber and stops at the slip knot. The slip knot can pass through the rod guides during casting and retrieving. The slip knot is set at the depth the angler wishes the bait to suspend. If the bait is not heavy enough, then a split shot can be added to the line beneath the bobber for additional weight.

A small hook suspended below a slip-bobber can suspend a minnow or other live bait. One simply casts the rig to the shoreline, allow it to sit for a bit, and then retrieve it slowly. Slow is the key to this type of fishing as the fish are still usually sluggish from the cold water temperatures.

It is a good idea to work the entire area, be it rip rap or culvert drainage. On rocky or sandy shorelines, try working the bait along the bottom. Allow it to just bump the bottom and then jig it along with a lifting motion.

For those who insist on using artificial lures, the small to medium size minnow imitations is probably a good selection. Twitch them on the surface or just below. Some people get good results with the rattling crankbaits in this situation. The floating crankbaits that actually suspend in the water if you stop the retrieve work well because they represent an easy meal to the fish.

The two keys to remember are: Fish slowly, and look for water that is warmer than that around it. Early spring fishing is often a hit or miss prospect, but with a slip bobber, ones chances are increased.


                                                        Don Gasaway – The Ground Pounder

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