Bobbers And Bobber Stops

[nitroduk]

looking for a place we can buy bobbers and stops that we can afford, any suggestions?

[salmurai]

As far as the stops go, tie them your self. It is really easy. I use miniature straws that they use for coffee stirrers. Use two, use one for tying a nail knot on the other. The one straw will usually hold about six bobber stops. I use a regular straw for storage. Just slip the whole works into the big straw. Works for me. I usually just buy bobbers at the cheapest place I can find them. It really isn't a big deal, considering how many you lose/don't lose. Good Luck on your fishing.....

[SafetyChain]

Don't know about bobbers, but making your own stoppers is really easy. Sparelink and I spent a couple of hours on tuesday making a lot, since we were snowed in. Do a Google search and you will find how to make your own. I make mine like the ones inthe store though. I use coffee stir straws to tie them on then cut as needed.

[nitroduk]

salmurai, i appreciate the response, but the problem with the bobbers is that i use them when i'm bank fishing and can't go get them back. i was hoping for a cheaper place to buy good bobbers. could you please explain how to tie the nail knot.thanks

[fishbait]

there are a few threads on bobber knots, do a search.... I use dacron fly line backing. take 8 inches, lay next to main line, make a loop with both lines, take the dacron tag end and pass through the loop you made 6-8 times, then just pull tight. Don't need any straws if you have troubel call me 5036404773, i"ll talk you throught it. can also use older style sturgeon line, or even tuff line.

[BuKuBass]

I use an uni-knot.
diagram here
It's one that you can tie stream-side with out having to thread it on the line.
Also...If you place another bobber stop below your float, you won't lose as many.
And if that doesn't work for you, end you main line at a swivel and tie on some lower test leader.

[nitroduk]

bukubass, the stop below the bobber is a great idea! i feel like an idiot now, that's a good simple way to keep the bobber.

[KingFisher85]

FishBait said it!
That backing fly line stuff works good! I only wrap maybe 4 times max tho.

[SilverFly]

BukuBass is right, the Uni-knot (a.k.a "Quick Knot") works great as an adjustable bobber stop. Take 8" of the same line test as your main line, make a loop, lay it beside your main line and wrap one end 6 times through the loop. Then pull tight and trim. I also like to slide a small bead on between the knot and bobber so the knot won't jam.

Sometimes I also use this knot to attach an weight dropper for drift fishing. The advantages, besides no swivel, is you can adjust your leader length at will, and you maintain 100% strength of your mainline. The disadvantage is the knot can loosen somewhat and may slide down to your hook when you cast, or when your weight snags. If this happens, snug the knot and add another quick knot below the dropper. This also works great as a tag to attach split shot when flyfishing.

[nitroduk]

thanks again guys.

[salmurai]

nitroduk, do what these guys have said. If you still have trouble, send me a pm and I'll meet you somewhere and show you what works for me. You can't be that far away. I might even bring a boat....

[guitgary]

Being new to bobber fishing, what is the advantage of using a bobber stop? I am learning to use one of the Thill or Thrill or whatever bobbers with the 2 bands that are used to secure the bobber to the line. This allows for quick depth adjustment. Should I be using another bobber? Why the bobber stop?

Thanks

[Fshklr]

guitgary,
The bobber stop is for inline sliding bobbers and multiple depth fishing. lets say you want to fish a hole of 10 feet but the next is 15 and then 4 etc.
do you hang out 10 feet of line, weight, bait/jig and then try to cast it? no, you simply tie the bobber stop at desired depth and then reel it up into your spool(depending on depth) after trimming the tag ends. then you can fish any depth by simply adjusting the stop along your mainline. makes casting easier and you are not limited to one depth.

[guitgary]

Thanks fshlkr. That makes perfect sense to me. I appreciate the help.

[Thumper]

I fish many mornings with a bobber/jig. My current bobber is the same one I used all last season. 20 pound Powerpro and a lower bobber stop knot is the key. If you hang up, the leader breaks. No biggee.

[StinkyH]

Thanks to BukaBass for the suggestion! I tried tying a few of these and it's a cinch.

I used about 8" of dacron string...



Hold one end along with the mainline and make a loop laying the working end over both(...


With the working end - make several wraps around both the mainline and the dacron through the loop(I made seven wraps)...



Pull slowly on both ends and snug it down to get a nice lookin' Uni knot( I've found that if you pull too quickly you can cinch it down on the ends before you get the slack outta the middle wraps)...



Cut off the ends and you're good to go.



Will be nice to not have to spend the $ on these pre-tied. :smile:

StinkyH

[ 01-11-2004, 05:17 PM: Message edited by: StinkyH ]

[guitgary]

StinkH...incredible post. Thanks very much for the pictorial...even I get it!

[high_arc]

Great Job StinkyH, I get it too!!

[tt3886]

Great post.

[ampersat]

I'd leave more tag end on the uni-knot bobber stop. You'll need it when it comes time to retighten the stop, which will be necessary if you change depth often. To tighten, grab a tag end, hold the stop between your fingernails and pull gently. Do the same thing on the other tag end. One benefit to the dacron stop over mono is that the tag ends are soft and will lay on the spool and pass through the guides easily.

As for cheaper floats (which everyone else seems to have forgotten) that depends. Styrofoam floats should be relatively inexpensive regardless of where you are. If you're a little classier than that, you should be able to find cork readily available that you can work with. Be creative and who knows, you could just come up with the next big thing. Personally, I've been considering getting some balsa wood from my local hobby shop and carving my own floats. Drill the hole for the slip first, then carve the block down to your preferred shape. Finish it off with varnish and you're good to go and styling to boot.

[Beerbelly]

I use a rubber band you take the rubber band and put it under your line and pull the loup through the other loup and trim it will last until you loose your line on a snag.

[kayakfisher]

Thanks for the excellent visual aides...

m.

[FishOrDie]

I find that Using a rubber band as a bobber stop works real well and doesn't slide down the line at all.

I just slide a slip knot with the band onto my line and I am ready to go.

They are cheap and available at all your local drug stores.

Just a thought.

FOD

[nitroduk]

thanks for the post stinkyh, i really appreciate it!

[Paddlefish]

Thanks, Stinky, that's a better stop than the one I'd been using.

Because I'd rather spend a little winter evening time tinkering in my basement than spend a nickel, I tend to make my own floats/bobbers. I really like the tough, spongy closed-cell foam sometimes used for packaging (not styrofoam [img]graemlins/berry.gif[/img] ) I shape it into any size and shape I want, paint it to be either discrete or wildly obvious, then melt a hole through it with a hot coathanger or piece of # 12 electrical wire.

Other guys, expecially in small water situations, choose to use simple wine bottle corks. That doesn't work for me, 'cause my type of wine comes in 55-gallon drums with a MSDS label on the side and a Coast Guard hazmat warning. :shocked:

[Reel_Big_Fish]

I've read somewhere about using small rubber bands for bobber stops. I'm not sure if it works or not since I don't do a lot of bobber fishing. I guess just lay the rubber band over the line and then pull one side of the band through the other and cut off the excess. If someone tries this let me know how it works.

ReelBigFish :smile:

oops...I guess I should have read all the posts before posting scrolling back up I noticed a few other rubber band ideas. Oh well, glad to hear it works though! :grin:

[ 01-13-2004, 02:13 PM: Message edited by: ReelBigFish ]

[FishingNewbie]

thanks for the uni knot info. hubby used it and worked like a charm (and it was SO cute to see him practice in the garage).

[Fish_N_Russ]

nitroduk,

To answer some of your questions :smile:

I am getting in lots of balsa bobbers in a few days......I bought a large 'lot' of them because ive started to use some and like them a lot, but didnt like paying $2-$3 each. The ones I am getting will be less than $1, more like 2 for $1 (my end price) im thinking. Im sure ill have extra so will contact you when I get them

As far as bobber stops, if your talking steelhead fishing, you dont really need one. A fixed bobber will work just fine, as you will mostly fish 2-3' from jig/bait/whatever to your bobber. Two feet is easy to cast with most rods :smile:

But if you do want bobber stops, just get some 1/4" surgical tubing, cut it up into mini rubber bands and thread one above and below your bobber. Make sure you loop your line a few times around the band so it 'kinks' up........it will be tight on your line but you can easily adjust depth.....and you can make a bazillion with a foot of tubing! They cast fine also........dont mess with tying string on your line, thats a pain to cast sometimes (easier to hang up on guides).
Good luck
Russ

[Rakkasan]

StinkyH has got it. Dacron and how he ties it. Takes 30 seconds. Nice post Stinky

[Fred N]

This is the knot I use also, much better than spending extra money for something so simple. You should copy this post to the Tech Tips, I think it would really be appreciated!