Float Fishing

No, I'm not talking about floating down the river with a stick and string. I'm speaking of the good old bobber. The tried and true style of fishing that works everywhere, all the time.

Until recently, this technique has been reserved for the poor shore fisherman, stranded on the banks of lakes and rivers around the country. Now, this simple tactic is coming to a boat near you. Own a boat? Are you too much of a man to tie one on?

Nay, bobber fishing (now known as 'float fishing'), is gaining strength in the walleye circuit as young and old fishermen alike are once again recognizing the obvious strengths of bait-display. While fishing lures will still remain as a consistent go-to weapon, your bobber presentation can still out perform many lures depending on your knowledge of the water.

Small Lakes - If you fish in a small lake with your boat, and already have a good idea of the underwater land layout, then your day will be that much more relaxed. Without a depth finder, you'll need to guess at the water depth, and simply tie on a leader of desired length. Drop bobber and leader in the water, and sit back, waiting for the bites. Add a leech to maximize the presentation, as leeches tend to wiggle around, trying to get off the hook. Fish can't resist!

Large Lakes / Rivers - If you're fishing in a larger areas.... say, one of the Great Lakes, then chances are you'll be relying a lot on 'Drift Fishing', where the boat does not drop anchor, and lets the natural waves push the boat along. A float fishing rig would be ideal for this set up, however, information is the key here. First, you'll NEED a depth finder, as the depth will change as you float along. Hopefully your depth finder will have a fish locater as well. You'll need to keep several leaders on hand to maximize your strike potential, and the length will be much higher (some places the depth could be around 18-30 feet). Choose leaders that would keep the bait off the floor by about 5-8 feet, during the beginning season, and possibly higher during the hot summer months (this is where your fish finder will come in handy). Add size 3-4 Colorado spinner blades to add flash. Leech? Worms, minnows, anything will be just as effective here. You'll be after the scent from the given bait, more than the aesthetics of the bait itself. Also, a proven bit of flare to add to the line.... beads. Small plastic beads, preferably red or white, have proven effective many times. Just keep an eye on your depth finder, and the bites will come naturally.

A cousin technique to this has risen in the bass world, called drop-shot fishing. Maybe those guys felt that using a bobber would ruin their credibility on the water. hahahha In the end, it's almost the exact same thing. ;)