Float your way to more crappies with the expert insights in this comprehensive guide to bobber rigging for springtime crappie fishing.
Understanding Float Fishing Techniques
The quintessential image of springtime crappie fishing involves anglers using bobbers to present their bait. However, there’s more to float fishing than the typical red and white plastic globe attached to your line.
Fixed Versus Slip Floats
Fixed floats, attached to the line at a fixed position, come with various attachment methods such as wire springs, retractable metal clips, pegs, or silicone sleeves. The drawback is the end-over-end tumbling that occurs with each cast. On the other hand, slip floats move up and down the line, and their depth setting is determined by a bobber stop. Slip floats offer advantages in terms of longer and more accurate casts compared to fixed floats.
Choosing the Right Float
When employing a bobber presentation, slip floats are favored around 70% of the time due to their castability. The Thill Crappie Cork, specifically the 1/16 or 1/8-ounce model, is a preferred choice, ensuring proper balance with additional split-shot as needed. Properly balanced slip floats provide a smooth and accurate cast, contributing to a more effective fishing experience.
Situational Considerations
In springtime crappie fishing, especially in Northwest Pennsylvania, early open water bites occur after ice-out in late March. The choice between fixed and slip floats depends on the fishing environment. For fishing around submerged stumps, laydowns, or decayed milfoil beds in 2 to 5 feet of water, a fixed float on 6-pound monofilament is suitable. Braided line becomes essential when fishing in pad beds to prevent break-offs and ensure the durability of the float.
As the spring progresses, crappie behaviors change, and braided lines prove advantageous when casting to laydowns or weedbed edges. In post-spawn situations, using a float during a slow, tantalizing retrieve of a small soft swimbait can be effective, with fixed floats like the 1-inch egg-shaped Plastilite Bobber or the Adjust-A-Bubble standing out as suitable choices.
Image/Source: CrappieNow
