Wondering how people rig their slip bobbers. With a Jig underneath? Or a sinker/swivel, hook. We are bringing leeches.

If a jig. What weight? Will be in 8-14 feen in a few weeks is my guess. Going 6/6-6/10. My first thought was 1/16 or 1/8.

Thanks.

There are a lot of previous threads on this topic. People's opinions vary widely. Personally, I feel that a jig would cause you to miss fish as they can tell its not realistic and would drop it but a lot of people use a jig so it must not matter too much!

My order from bottom to top is octopus hook (chartreuse or red preferable but I have used normal plenty) Red bead, 2 to 3 feet of line, swivel, egg sinker 1/8 or 1/4 oz, thill bobber with grommets, knot.

We slip bobber fish a lot!

Never a jig. Never a swivel. Always a single medium-weight split shot with an offset walleye hook. Used with a leech, it's fish-on!

Jackfish: "
Never a jig. Never a swivel. Always a single medium-weight split shot with an offset walleye hook. Used with a leech, it's fish-on!"

Yes! This set up exactly. Nice diagram.

Jackfish: "
Never a jig. Never a swivel. Always a single medium-weight split shot with an offset walleye hook. Used with a leech, it's fish-on!"

This is my setup too. No idea what size or style of bobber you are using so use enough split shot to float the bobber correctly.

I agree that a split shot up the line that’s heavy enough to upright the bobber is the ideal setup. That said, I had my best walleye fishing trip ever last year and caught most of the walleye on a 1/4 oz jig with a leech under a slip bobber, mostly in 6-10’ of water in early June.

I'm usually a plain hook guy like in the picture. But a jig sometimes if the bobber is bigger or I want to get the bait down faster or whatever

It depends on the wind -- especially if casting from shore. Simple jig is better into the wind than and split a single hook for LACK of twists/tangles. -- anyone that argues that has not fished enough. However- under near calm conditions - a single red/orange/char hook under a shy bite bobber and a single split is deadly!!! DO NOT use a two split shot as they will tangle your line much quicker or the banana type sinkers.

I use the same setup as Jackfish but with a larger bobber and add a 1/4 or 3/8 egg/slip sinker above the split shot. This allows greater casting distance. I also usually tie my own bobber stops out of mono fishing line by wrapping a piece of line above the bobber 3 times, running line ends through the loops, pulling knot tight and cutting tag ends leaving enough line to catch on slip bobber hole. This is needed as I usually forget the slip knots when rigging or run out of them.

Sorethumbs: "I use the same setup as Jackfish but with a larger bobber and add a 1/4 or 3/8 egg/slip sinker above the split shot. This allows greater casting distance. I also usually tie my own bobber stops out of mono fishing line by wrapping a piece of line above the bobber 3 times, running line ends through the loops, pulling knot tight and cutting tag ends leaving enough line to catch on slip bobber hole. This is needed as I usually forget the slip knots when rigging or run out of them."

If you're looking to get max casting distance from shore check out the weighted bobbers they sell at Marine General in Duluth for Looper fishing. They are by far the heaviest bobbers i've ever used and you can easily cast them 50+ yards. I know they sell weighted bobbers elsewhere, but I've never seen anything that casts close to as far as the bobbers they sell on the north shore.

I keep it simple. Just a #8 red octopus/circle hook with a spitshot about 12-18" above the hook. I don't use a bead just the sliding bobber stop.

The most important thing is to make sure you are close to bottom within at least 24". That can be difficult in deeper water but can be all the difference in making sure you are in the zone where fish are spending the majority of their time.

Either works. Try both and see what the fish prefer. Sometimes the color of the jig is a trigger. You can add a bead or two or use a colored hook as well. That said, it's tough to beat a red hook. Or a glow. Or chartreuse. Or... or...

I always use a jig to prevent tangles, especially if it's windy. I started slip bobbering with a plain red hook on all my slip bobber rigs, when I switched to a 1/16 or 1/32 size jig head, it was a game changer and I never went back.

Jig head prevents a lot of tangles and seems to hook the fish in the lip vs. gut hooking fish with a plain hook. A 1/32 pink or yellow jig head with one split shot about 6-12" up is my go-to setup.

frlu0501: "I always use a jig to prevent tangles, especially if it's windy. I started slip bobbering with a plain red hook on all my slip bobber rigs, when I switched to a 1/16 or 1/32 size jig head, it was a game changer and I never went back.


Jig head prevents a lot of tangles and seems to hook the fish in the lip vs. gut hooking fish with a plain hook. A 1/32 pink or yellow jig head with one split shot about 6-12" up is my go-to setup. "

I also like to use a jig as I seem to have less hook swallows. I would agree however that for a light bite that a plain hook is better.

cburton103: "I agree that a split shot up the line that’s heavy enough to upright the bobber is the ideal setup. That said, I had my best walleye fishing trip ever last year and caught most of the walleye on a 1/4 oz jig with a leech under a slip bobber, mostly in 6-10’ of water in early June."

This is what I run pretty much every time I'm bobber fishing and it always seems to work great. You never know how many you miss but it sure has worked well for me in the past! Heading up next week to SAK and I think I'll try the natural presentation for comparison though.

Related note - is there any issue finding leeches right now? I was up in GM last weekend and thought it was odd that the Holiday was completely out. Small sample size for sure but I want to be sure!