It has come to my attention with spring around the corner we have a lot of new members and I am sure a lot of non members that are very inexperienced and want to take there kids fishing this year. I have messaged a lot of people threw PM and asked a few questions and many do not know the advantages of some simple techniques that are second nature to a lot of us. OGF has helped me out more than I can ever repay so I would like to donate a little time to go over some basic fishing techniques that will help the "new guy" take the kids out and have a good chance at catching fish. Please remember these are geared toward basics, there are many variations in the following techniques lets try to keep these posts simple and to the point.
The first thing I would like to cover is the slip bobber. Many people still use the old school red and white round bobber and after reading this I hope you give it a shot. Slip bobbers are much better you can tell water depth, fish much deeper, and also see more lite bites and hook more fish. So first lets go over setting up a new pole with a slip bobber set up.
You will need the following items:
![Image]()
Line: 4-6# (you can use thicker line if that is all you have)
Bobber stops: The green string by the quarter top left (buy any fishing supply or wall mart)
Beed: Will come with the bobber stops or buy in craft sections anywhere
Slip bobber: come in all shapes and sizes, smaller in calm water is better
Small weight: (up by the quarter)
Small swivel: This is optional, I will explain latter.
Finger nail clippers: any type
A simple effective knot to use would be the clinch knot. If you do not know a good knot this site will help you out http://www.sportsmanschoice.com/terminal_tackle_knots.htm
Ok lets get started. After you put the line on your reel and get it threw the pole you first want to put the bobber stop string on the line. You simply string the line threw the straw the line is tied on.
![Image]()
Slide the string off the straw taking the straw toward the open end of the line away from the pole so you can discard the straw. Then pull both ends of the string as tight as you can get it by hand. You want this knot on there tight to keep the bobber from just pushing it up the string.
fishintechnician told us:
![Image]()
Then use your finger nail clippers to clip the string from the knot. I cut them as close as possible to make the knot as small as possible. This picture isnt the best but it will give you the idea.
![Image]()
Ok so far we put a knot on a string! Would you believe the hardest part is over. Here are the steps to finish the process. Next you add your small beed and the slip bobber itself. Remember to put your line threw the top of the bobber and out the bottom so it sits right in the water after being cast.
![Image]()
Now comes the optional step of adding a swivel. If you have 2 different pound test lines you can add a swivel here to go from a higher test that is on your reel and make from here on a lower test line. The advantage to this is if you get snagged or the son tosses it and it ends up in a tree the line will break at the swivel (the lower test line will snap first) and you only lost your hook and a small weight, you save your bobber, beed and knot. Like I said this is optional but when you get snagged and are forced to watch a $2 bobber float away remember I told ya so
. After the swivel you may want to put a small weight if you want it to drop faster, this is also optional.
![Image]()
Last but not least is the hook, jig or whatever you want to use to attract the fish. This is the fun part, try different things for a few bucks you can buy a bunch of different plastics, jigs, lures that will catch fish. Believe it or not you can catch fish with many more things then a worm! I usually leave about 10-12 inches from the weight to the hook/bait/jig. Try using maggots, small pieces of worm or other small live bait just on the hook with the plastic so you get a little movement.
![Image]()
![Image]()
Ok, now you know how to hook up a slip bobber system but you might be asking yourself why go threw all the trouble. Here are the advantages of slip bobbers:
Fish at any depth. Say you are fishing off a causeway and the water is 25 foot deep. With an old school bobber it would be impossible to have 25 feet of line out, then you bobber then cast. With a slip bobber just slide the bobber stop knot 25 feet up you line, reel it in and cast out. Your bait will sink and when it reaches 25 foot the knot will hit the bobber and stop. If the bottom isn't producing fish move the knot a foot or 2 and cast back out, now your fishing at 23 feet. Rinse and repeat until you find the fish then every cast after that your bait stops right in the strike zone!
Have you ever used an old school bobber to tell how deep the water is your fishing? Of course not, its impossible but with a slip bobber it is easy. Ok lets say you find a good shade tree and want to try some fishing there, how deep is the water? Put your know say 10 feet up the line cast out and look at the bobber. If the bait is hitting the bottom then your bobber will be sitting at an angle and look funny. This tells you that your fishing to deep the water is < 10 foot deep. Reel in move the knot a foot or 2 and try again. If your bobber is sitting straight and looks good it means the bait is floating and not on the bottom. Try until you figure out how deep of water your dealing with. Once you get the hang of it you will notice if there is anything at the bottom or if the level of the water changes around where you are. Once you know the depth, any structure or drop offs this will tell you the most likely places to hold fish.
I am sure I will be editing this is the near future but and questions/comments feel free to PM me I will try to help out if I can. If I don't know I will ask around until i find an answer for you. I hope this answers a lot of questions you new comers out there have and it help you and your kids connect with more fish and build memories. Please remember pick up your trash! God is not building any more land so lets keep what we have clean and beautiful.
The first thing I would like to cover is the slip bobber. Many people still use the old school red and white round bobber and after reading this I hope you give it a shot. Slip bobbers are much better you can tell water depth, fish much deeper, and also see more lite bites and hook more fish. So first lets go over setting up a new pole with a slip bobber set up.
You will need the following items:
Line: 4-6# (you can use thicker line if that is all you have)
Bobber stops: The green string by the quarter top left (buy any fishing supply or wall mart)
Beed: Will come with the bobber stops or buy in craft sections anywhere
Slip bobber: come in all shapes and sizes, smaller in calm water is better
Small weight: (up by the quarter)
Small swivel: This is optional, I will explain latter.
Finger nail clippers: any type
A simple effective knot to use would be the clinch knot. If you do not know a good knot this site will help you out http://www.sportsmanschoice.com/terminal_tackle_knots.htm
Ok lets get started. After you put the line on your reel and get it threw the pole you first want to put the bobber stop string on the line. You simply string the line threw the straw the line is tied on.
Slide the string off the straw taking the straw toward the open end of the line away from the pole so you can discard the straw. Then pull both ends of the string as tight as you can get it by hand. You want this knot on there tight to keep the bobber from just pushing it up the string.
fishintechnician told us:
Then use your finger nail clippers to clip the string from the knot. I cut them as close as possible to make the knot as small as possible. This picture isnt the best but it will give you the idea.
Ok so far we put a knot on a string! Would you believe the hardest part is over. Here are the steps to finish the process. Next you add your small beed and the slip bobber itself. Remember to put your line threw the top of the bobber and out the bottom so it sits right in the water after being cast.
Now comes the optional step of adding a swivel. If you have 2 different pound test lines you can add a swivel here to go from a higher test that is on your reel and make from here on a lower test line. The advantage to this is if you get snagged or the son tosses it and it ends up in a tree the line will break at the swivel (the lower test line will snap first) and you only lost your hook and a small weight, you save your bobber, beed and knot. Like I said this is optional but when you get snagged and are forced to watch a $2 bobber float away remember I told ya so
. After the swivel you may want to put a small weight if you want it to drop faster, this is also optional. 
Last but not least is the hook, jig or whatever you want to use to attract the fish. This is the fun part, try different things for a few bucks you can buy a bunch of different plastics, jigs, lures that will catch fish. Believe it or not you can catch fish with many more things then a worm! I usually leave about 10-12 inches from the weight to the hook/bait/jig. Try using maggots, small pieces of worm or other small live bait just on the hook with the plastic so you get a little movement.
Ok, now you know how to hook up a slip bobber system but you might be asking yourself why go threw all the trouble
. Here are the advantages of slip bobbers:Fish at any depth. Say you are fishing off a causeway and the water is 25 foot deep. With an old school bobber it would be impossible to have 25 feet of line out, then you bobber then cast. With a slip bobber just slide the bobber stop knot 25 feet up you line, reel it in and cast out. Your bait will sink and when it reaches 25 foot the knot will hit the bobber and stop. If the bottom isn't producing fish move the knot a foot or 2 and cast back out, now your fishing at 23 feet. Rinse and repeat until you find the fish then every cast after that your bait stops right in the strike zone!
Have you ever used an old school bobber to tell how deep the water is your fishing? Of course not, its impossible but with a slip bobber it is easy. Ok lets say you find a good shade tree and want to try some fishing there, how deep is the water? Put your know say 10 feet up the line cast out and look at the bobber. If the bait is hitting the bottom then your bobber will be sitting at an angle and look funny. This tells you that your fishing to deep the water is < 10 foot deep. Reel in move the knot a foot or 2 and try again. If your bobber is sitting straight and looks good it means the bait is floating and not on the bottom. Try until you figure out how deep of water your dealing with. Once you get the hang of it you will notice if there is anything at the bottom or if the level of the water changes around where you are. Once you know the depth, any structure or drop offs this will tell you the most likely places to hold fish.
I am sure I will be editing this is the near future but and questions/comments feel free to PM me I will try to help out if I can. If I don't know I will ask around until i find an answer for you. I hope this answers a lot of questions you new comers out there have and it help you and your kids connect with more fish and build memories. Please remember pick up your trash! God is not building any more land so lets keep what we have clean and beautiful.
