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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Slip bobber weight: above or below swivel?
 
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BWfishingfanatic12
08/10/2022 10:20AM
 
I really have not done a side by side comparison but I do like my new set up more. However, I did not have that many issues with the split shot set up either that I fished for a couple years but enough that I made the change. My two cents...


The split shot is on a fixed spot on your line. As you cast the leech, bobber, split shot, knot going through the guides, bead, wind, etc can all make little impacts on the cast and things possibly tangling.


With a split shot as you cast there just tended to be more tangles for me. I agree with you that it should cast similarly as the bobber rests on the weight in both scenarios but whatever reason seems different to me.


I do not know what exact weights the split shots people use are but they are definitely nowhere close to and 1/8 of an ounce. I think people often use two (maybe I am wrong on this, I used to sometimes) which further increases the chance for tangling.


With the sliding egg weight it just seems much smoother when casting and the weight transfer seems to provide longer and more accurate casting for me. It is more of the "power" slip bobbering concept that people have termed it where it is quicker and more efficient. When I am catching walleye in the evening on a great spot I like to be as quick as possible with catching, casting, and getting back down there as quick as possible.


I also didn't like that when you use a split shot you are crimping it down onto the line which allegedly weakens it. There have probably been threads on that in the past. Not sure if it really reduces the line strength of not but like that I do not need to worry about that variable anymore.
 
timatkn
08/10/2022 11:29AM
 
bobbernumber3: "timatkn: " ...and if you didn’t use the above set up you caught 1/4 the fish everyone else.



T"




What makes this 3x to 4x more effective, in your opinion?"



In normal use…and I bet at times it probably doesn’t matter that much. It was super windy and the egg sinker didn’t tangle as much. You had to cast away from the boat. If you cast and the leech/hook get tangled in the split shot you often will never know it, it untangles as you reel in but it is wasted time fishing. Sometimes you reeled in after 5 minutes only to see the tangle. Also on this lake the slower the bait moved the better, for some reason the concentrated weight of the egg sinker caused the bobber/leech to move more slowly the longer the bait sat in front of the fish the more likley they were to bite. If you didn’t have the swivel on your leech would spin on the hook…it will spin one way then the next and over time it will even out but the time it was spinning they would not bite. If you ever ice fish this can be an issue too…that’s why some people use a fly rod reel or a swivel. Allegedly the sliding egg sinker helped with line control and lessen spinning—-that’s what I was told.

THe egg sinker gets the bait down tot he fish faster. The more time in front of the fish the more bites, the more fish…


Otherwise it was as simple as leech one foot off the bottom…but the rig above just plain out produced our normal set up. I’ll admit I just don’t bobber fish much. I don’t really like it, so it was new to me. It also made me a sponge for what others were doing and no pre conceived ideas.


T
 
timatkn
08/08/2022 05:55PM
 
BWfishingfanatic12: "sure thing:



I also use 8# mono line as my main line
Bobber stop
Bead
Bobber
1/8oz or less egg sinker
bead
barrel swivel
12-18 " flurocarbon (6-8lb)
octopus Hook
Leech (1-2 feet off bottom)
"



Yep…you know how I learned this? I got schooled this spring fishing on Black Duck Lake :) The only method that seemed to work was bobber fishing leeches and if you didn’t use the above set up you caught 1/4 the fish everyone else. I got tired of the group next to us catching 3-4x more walleyes than us :( So I grabbed some beers and went to their cabin, made friends and they taught me all their tricks :) I did A LOT better but not due to any skill of my own :)


Normally details like this probably don’t matter…but when they do it’s dramatic.


T
 
bobbernumber3
08/08/2022 07:57PM
 
timatkn: " ...and if you didn’t use the above set up you caught 1/4 the fish everyone else.


T"



What makes this 3x to 4x more effective, in your opinion?
 
bobbernumber3
08/10/2022 04:03PM
 
Thanks timatkm! Lots of factors to consider here.


I one thing I see that might be critical is 12 -18" between the sinker and hook. This would allow the hook and leech to drift more slowly into the desired depth for walleye. And in windy/wavey conditions the longer leader may keep the bait from appearing jerky. My sinker is often only 6 or 8 inches from the hook.


I don't understand the cause of rotating bait and don't think I've had that happen. But I'm going to give this all a try next trip!
 
cyclones30
08/11/2022 09:42PM
 
A heavy sinker is more likely to cause a light hook/leech to get tangled on the way down than a lighter split shot. To each their own
 
thistlekicker
08/07/2022 05:18PM
 
I was taught to pinch split shot on below the swivel but have seen setups with a sliding egg sinker. Is there a consensus one way or the other?
 
Savage Voyageur
08/07/2022 06:08PM
 
No swivel, no egg sinker.


8# mono line
Bobber stop
Bead
Bobber
Split shot one foot above hook
Hook
Leech
One foot above bottom of lake
Fish on
 
bobbernumber3
08/07/2022 10:04PM
 
Savage Voyageur: "No swivel, no egg sinker.



8# mono line
Bobber stop
Bead
Bobber
Split shot one foot above hook
Hook
Leech
One foot above bottom of lake
Fish on"



Exactly.

Swivel? Egg sinker? What the Dickens?

 
timatkn
08/07/2022 10:27PM
 
The sliding egg sinker is for power bobbering/corking. You get less tangling and the weight is more concentrated to get the bait down faster. Sometimes the split shots get tangled/twisted in the bobber, the egg shape tangles less as it slides on the line with the bobber and is a round/concentrated weight.


If you just fish casually catching a few fish, the swivel is not needed. It won’t make a difference. If you are catching and casting a lot then a swivel will make a huge difference and reduce stress on your line especially with monofilament maybe not so much with super lines. The swivel will also keep you bait from constantly twisting/twirling if you are casting a lot. Your line develops memory and while your line is under the bobber the leech on the hook will constantly spin…eventually will even out, but typically fish won’t bite a spinning leech.


Most people put the split shot above the swivel because eventually they will slide. The swivel stops that. If the split shot doesn’t slide then it doesn’t matter to you.


T



 
BWfishingfanatic12
08/08/2022 08:31AM
 
I'm with Timatkn... I use a small egg sinker above a swivel. Far les tangles and more efficient I feel for how much we slip bobber and they way we fish them. Many less tangles then we used to get with the other way listed above. Not saying any way is better than the other, to each their own. I do put a bead in between the egg sinker and the swivel to protect the knot. Not sure if that matters at all or not.
 
bobbernumber3
08/08/2022 10:24AM
 
timatkn: "The sliding egg sinker is for power bobbering/corking. You get less tangling and the weight is more concentrated to get the bait down faster. Sometimes the split shots get tangled/twisted in the bobber, the egg shape tangles less as it slides on the line with the bobber and is a round/concentrated weight.



If you just fish casually catching a few fish, the swivel is not needed. It won’t make a difference. If you are catching and casting a lot then a swivel will make a huge difference and reduce stress on your line especially with monofilament maybe not so much with super lines. The swivel will also keep you bait from constantly twisting/twirling if you are casting a lot. Your line develops memory and while your line is under the bobber the leech on the hook will constantly spin…eventually will even out, but typically fish won’t bite a spinning leech.



Most people put the split shot above the swivel because eventually they will slide. The swivel stops that. If the split shot doesn’t slide then it doesn’t matter to you.



T



"



List the sequence of tackle when including a swivel and egg sinker please.
 
lundojam
08/11/2022 10:32AM
 
Sometimes it all matters, sometimes none of it does. It's weird.
Things that sometimes matter, sometimes not:


flouro leader. One time ice fishing side by side flouro v mono, same diameter: 19 to 1


light line. Sometimes (often) you get more bites on 2# than 4# than 6# etc.


what kind of sinker. I've broken some 4# where the split shot clamps on


size of sinker. Sometimes if it falls too fast, especially in clear water, they won't like it. Sometimes if it falls too slow, especially in wind and deep water or weeds, you don't spend enough time in front of the fish


an oft-overlooked factor: distance between sinker and bait


hook size
hook color
hook v jig
leech size
main line mono v flouro v braid. I know, but yep.
how far off bottom
letting it sit v giving it a little jig now and then. Sometimes this one is all or nothing
So, make a plan, fish the plan. Start shallow. Make a plan B. Make a plan C. Be ready to scrap all the plans and call an audible. The fish will give you input; listen.




 
bobbernumber3
08/11/2022 12:33PM
 
lundojam: "Sometimes it all matters, sometimes none of it does. It's weird.
Things that sometimes matter, sometimes not:



Lively leech. The walleyes were biting like crazy. Needed a new leech and hooked one on. It didn't wiggle and squirm as usual. Three casts, no bites. Put a new lively leech on and went back to catching fish.
 
cyclones30
08/08/2022 12:53PM
 
Savage Voyageur: "No swivel, no egg sinker.



8# mono line
Bobber stop
Bead
Bobber
Split shot one foot above hook
Hook
Leech
One foot above bottom of lake
Fish on"



This is usually my approach. If I know casting distance is at a premium for some reason, I'll swap out the plain hook for an appropriate sized jig head and no split shot. Same amount of weight, but when casting the bobber is right with the bait so it flies through the air easier.
 
BWfishingfanatic12
08/08/2022 02:40PM
 
sure thing:


I also use 8# mono line as my main line
Bobber stop
Bead
Bobber
1/8oz or less egg sinker
bead
barrel swivel
12-18 " flurocarbon (6-8lb)
octopus Hook
Leech (1-2 feet off bottom)

 
cyclones30
08/09/2022 08:11PM
 
I don't get how it's better casting the slip sinker than it is a split shot. The bobber is resting on the weight in either case, they're both round in shape, and if you're using the same amount of weight and same leader length......it flies the same.


I get a swivel having an impact on line twist. But not casting
 
schweady
08/07/2022 06:48PM
 
Savage Voyageur: "8# mono line
Bobber stop
Bead
Bobber
Split shot one foot above hook
Hook
Leech
One foot above bottom of lake
Fish on"

Well explained. How many times have I tied on the hook and then realized I missed a step? Don't answer that...