Do any of you just throw out a crawler or leech on a slip bobber rig from shore while in camp, and leave it, (keeping it in sight), while you set up camp, etc? And do you have any luck at it with anything other than smallmouth?

I used to love tossing out a line while I set up. But that changed with the live bait ban in the Quetico waters that i frequented. But instead of a slip bobber I used a slip sinker and a floating jig head. That way, regardless the depth, I could present my bait a foot or 18" off the bottom and didn't have to worry about my bobber drifting in and having to continually recast etc. I like having a little bell on my rod tip just like when you are carp or cat fishing. Bait runner spinning reels are sort of cool in this regard as well. There was one particular small lake which shall remain unnamed where I could not set up.......I was unhooking to many fish and had to stop tossing a line out. That was fun ;-)

If your intention is to not keep the fish I highly suggest that you just cut the line as many such fish will have swallowed the bait and trying to retrieve your hook will surely end up with a dead fish. Have no fear as the little hook will dissolve.

What I really wanted to do, and have only tried it a few times in places other than canoe country, is to use a lighted slip bobber from camp after dark. Now that would be groovy and I suspect that many fish might just rise off the bottom to investigate the green little glow and stumble upon your offering.

As MT touched on , it can be a lot of recasting. Bottom slip sinker is a nice option . Usually evenings/dusk is calmer and always very cool seeing a lighted bobber slip under the water surface.

We always fish from shore with slip bobbers. Some lakes we can limit out after supper from shore. We put them on a stringer in deep water for breakfast. It’s a lot of fun to see that lighted bobber as it disappears underwater.

On windy days I will throw a slip float with a tube bait under it. The waves give the lure enough action. Typically catch smallmouth with this rig. An occasional pike will snatch it up as well.

Lighted slip bobbers are a common tactic with us. Deadly.

On a related note. I was fishing in the Bahamas a few years ago. Staying on a private boat and cruising around the islands. Spear fishing, fishing, snorkeling etc. One night as we were anchored in a quiet bay in the middle of nowhere under a shining moon and cool breeze we decided to go shark fishing off the back of the sailboat. Nothing huge, reef sharks mostly. But a 4 foot shark on light tackle can be killer fun. Anyway we were using live bait. And then 4 feet up the line we took a huge glow stick (that we cracked to activate) and tied it to the line (like a lighted slip bobber). So now a shark hits the bait and then of course goes berserk. Ripping off 100 yard runs in the blink of an eye.

But the really cool thing was that with the glow stick pumping off the light just under the surface the bay would light up as it was streaking through the water. Hundreds of yards out all you would see would be an underwater shooting star or missile. A dull pink glow screaming around a bay under a full moon.

-FT

From camp it's hard to beat the lighted slip bobber, but we also always pair them with circle hooks as the catch rate is good and we don't have to deal with as many swallowed hooks.

For sure! I love catching a Walleye, and eating it 10 minutes later. That is “fresh fish” !!!

nooneuno: "From camp it's hard to beat the lighted slip bobber, but we also always pair them with circle hooks as the catch rate is good and we don't have to deal with as many swallowed hooks."

Of course! good advice.........I use the Mutu light owners in salt water but never have used them in fresh. Usually sticks them just fine.

Cool story Fisherman Ted. I have a love-hate relationship with sharks. "Not another %$#@ Shark"!

We have done this late afternoon and early morning, having taken as many as 6 at a time. I have not found many camps where conditions favor being able to do this. So those camps are special (goes without saying)!

If we are not fishing out of the canoe we are shore fishing. We pick camps that we can fish off..and use a floating jig tipped with cisco or half of one..we always catch the biggest lakers from shore fishing..and using a bell like MT said lets you know right away when you have a fish..so you can set the hook before it swallows the whole bait. Lots of good times shore fishing!

Like others have said a slip sinker and a floating jig head is a great option. With this set up you know your bait is in the strike zone the entire time. No need to worry about your bobber and line drifting over deeper water leaving your bait in no mans land or drifting into shallow water where your bait just sits on the bottom. Its great for fishing when you've got other chores to get done in camp.

One trick I do is take a small piece of tin foil and pinch it on the line right by your rod tip and then leave the bail open. The tin foil allows you to see what a fish starts taking out line because the tin foil will start heading away from your rod tip.

Some of my most memorable (and productive) fishing has come via fishing from camp in the evening. It can be a pain dealing with the wind during the day but when the wind goes down it's much easier to control a slip bobber rig. My go to is a plain octopus hook with a leech hooked in the middle of the body and a lighted bobber. The sight of that lighted bobber being pulled under on a glass calm evening is tough to beat. Add some kids to the action and it's even better.

Who makes the best lighted bobbers?

Thill nite-brite have been the best for us. They cast a mile and are easy to see. You need to have a spare battery if you are fishing at night a lot. We have had the most luck early morning and late evening for walleyes when the wind is blowing in towards camp.

Often practice this approach. Walleye, smallmouth and burbot I caught so far.
Very much enjoy shore fishing. BWCA allows live bait. It makes it a great option to catch supper at a timely manner.

fadersup: "Who makes the best lighted bobbers? "

I used to get the Thill night bright bobbers that have a replaceable battery. I would carry an extra battery and never use it. I now buy the Thill night bright bobber that only lights when it hits the water. The two ting wires activates the light only when I’m fishing. These ones that light up only when in the water have been better for me.

Yeah for sure. Have limited out on walleyes with this technique if conditions are right. Picking a camp with a steep dropoff out front, that is windblown (east side of the lake most often) will maximize your chances.

I like a thill nite brite, with some split shot above a #6 gamakatsu octopus hook with a lively leech hooked through the sucker. Finding the right depth can be done from shore but easier and less snaggy to check from the canoe on your way in.

Throw it out, mix yourself a cocktail, set up your camp chair on shore and enjoy the evening.

The last time I was in the BWCA the guys in my group were taking forever to get going in the morning. Making coffee when your camping just isn't worth it. So I got ansy and started fishing from shore in the morning. I caught a walleye on every other cast. I wasn't using a slip float but it would've worked. They weren't real big but good for breakfast. I had them fileted up and cooked before the coffee was even done.

As I've stated many times before, the best way to catch bwca 'eyes is half-drunk from shore.

manmountain8: "Making coffee when your camping just isn't worth it. . "

Making coffee is ALWAYS worth it. You can fish while you wait for your water to boil and making the coffee.

lundojam: "As I've stated many times before, the best way to catch bwca 'eyes is half-drunk from shore."

Ha, plus a million

lundojam: "As I've stated many times before, the best way to catch bwca 'eyes is half-drunk from shore."

Why would you want to get drunk in such a beautiful place?
Just sayin'.

KarlBAndersen1: "

lundojam: "As I've stated many times before, the best way to catch bwca 'eyes is half-drunk from shore."

Why would you want to get drunk in such a beautiful place?
Just sayin'."

Not drunk, only half drunk.

Besides, why would anyone want to worry about how others enjoy themselves? Just sayin'.

Clueless fisherman here, so please taunt gently. When you folks refer to a slip sinker, are you talking about something like a Carolina rig?

Frenchy19: "Clueless fisherman here, so please taunt gently. When you folks refer to a slip sinker, are you talking about something like a Carolina rig? "

basically yes .

shock: "

Frenchy19: "Clueless fisherman here, so please taunt gently. When you folks refer to a slip sinker, are you talking about something like a Carolina rig? "

basically yes . "

Thank you!

Frenchy19: "

shock: "

Frenchy19: "Clueless fisherman here, so please taunt gently. When you folks refer to a slip sinker, are you talking about something like a Carolina rig? "

basically yes . "

Thank you!"

I actually use a baby split shot to hold up my egg sinker instead of a swivel . Very simple easy rig.

shock: "

Frenchy19: "

shock: "

Frenchy19: "Clueless fisherman here, so please taunt gently. When you folks refer to a slip sinker, are you talking about something like a Carolina rig? "

basically yes . "

Thank you!"

I actually use a baby split shot to hold up my egg sinker instead of a swivel . Very simple easy rig."

Shock already knows this but failed to mention it.........if you decide to use a baby split shot to keep your sinker from sliding down onto your hook always use 2 side by side, one tends to not peg your sinker well.

shock: "

Frenchy19: "

shock: "

Frenchy19: "Clueless fisherman here, so please taunt gently. When you folks refer to a slip sinker, are you talking about something like a Carolina rig? "

basically yes . "

Thank you!"

I actually use a baby split shot to hold up my egg sinker instead of a swivel . Very simple easy rig."

That is simple-and anything to help my aging eyes!

Frenchy19: "

shock: "

Frenchy19: "

shock: "

Frenchy19: "Clueless fisherman here, so please taunt gently. When you folks refer to a slip sinker, are you talking about something like a Carolina rig? "

basically yes . "

Thank you!"

I actually use a baby split shot to hold up my egg sinker instead of a swivel . Very simple easy rig."

That is simple-and anything to help my aging eyes!"

yes 1 less knot ;) and the shore scavengers in the BW don't notice a thing , MT i usually run #12+ XT-triline and give it a good pinch with my campmeat set ups ;) so 1 split shot does fine and is better than 2, less weight of course and if your egg does get hung up it will slide to the hook and get unhung more times than none. still want to retie but you lost nothing ;)

Novice Here. I have never used a slip bobber rig, but plan to this summer. Do you leave the bail open or closed? How far do fish typically swim once they have the bait, if you are not paying close attention? Thanks.

At camp I leave the bail open because I'm often tinkering with something while my bobber is out. I'd rather not have a fish pull my rod into the lake if I get distracted.

The distance a fish swims once it takes the bait will depend on the mood of the fish and they type of fish. Some take it no more than a few inches, some will take it for a stroll around the lake.

Oldtown13: "Novice Here. I have never used a slip bobber rig, but plan to this summer. Do you leave the bail open or closed? How far do fish typically swim once they have the bait, if you are not paying close attention? Thanks. "

I will speak to a Walleye with a slip bobber setup.
For day fishing:We use a basketball net filled with rocks for an anchor. Then we use Leeches on a hook with a small weight. Only use enough weight to get the bobber to sink about 3/4 of the way into the water. This is because you want a very light feel to the bait. If the fish has to really tug the bait to get the bobber down they tend to just spit it back out. So be sure you weight the line properly. When the bobber goes down, wait about 5-10 sec then set the hook. I only leave the bail open when it’s windy and the line is drifting my line out of the strike zone.

For night fishing: same setup just use a Thrill lighted bobber, the kind that lights up when it hits the water. At night it’s really fun to see the lighted bobber disappear under the water. When it is gone from sight, set the hook. I only leave the bail open at night if I throw it out and go back to the fire. Then I can see the bobber go down and run for the rod.

shock: "

Frenchy19: "

shock: "

Frenchy19: "

shock: "

Frenchy19: "Clueless fisherman here, so please taunt gently. When you folks refer to a slip sinker, are you talking about something like a Carolina rig? "

basically yes . "

Thank you!"

I actually use a baby split shot to hold up my egg sinker instead of a swivel . Very simple easy rig."

That is simple-and anything to help my aging eyes!"

yes 1 less knot ;) and the shore scavengers in the BW don't notice a thing , MT i usually run #12+ XT-triline and give it a good pinch with my campmeat set ups ;) so 1 split shot does fine and is better than 2, less weight of course and if your egg does get hung up it will slide to the hook and get unhung more times than none. still want to retie but you lost nothing ;)"

Well that splains it..........12lb XT and a handy dandy pair of pliers! I am always worrying about damaging my line by crimping my split shots to hard on the line and 1 shot has never worked for me. I like your line choice for this method.........heavier line lying on the bottom is seldom noticed.

I have to second the recommendation for baitfeeder reels. I use the ones made by Okuma (which are re-branded as Cabela's Salt Striker). I fish with them a lot and they hold up well. The adjustable bait "drag" keeps the wind from blowing your line all over, and clicks when a fish hits.

We ALWAYS fish from camp. For lake trout we skip the bobbers and use half a sucker minnow on the bottom. But, if fishing for walleyes I use a 1" oval slip bobber and a glow white 1/4 oz jig. The slip bobber rests on the jig when casting making an aerodynamic and tangle free presentation.

I am surprised by the amount of concern given to "gut hooking" fish. These hooks are not hard to remove with a pliers or hemostat. If you can see the hook, gently reach in through the gill cover and turn the hook towards yourself. Any short shanked hook will have room to turn and easily pop out.

In-Fisherman does a better job of describing it than I can.
http://www.in-fisherman.com/gear-accessories/through-the-gill-hook-removal/

I am surprised by the amount of concern given to "gut hooking" fish. These hooks are not hard to remove with a pliers or hemostat. If you can see the hook, gently reach in through the gill cover and turn the hook towards yourself. Any short shanked hook will have room to turn and easily pop out.
In-Fisherman does a better job of describing it than I can.
http://www.in-fisherman.com/gear-accessories/through-the-gill-hook-removal/"

Thanks thats very useful!