Strawberry 10/21

[Kent]

Pat thoroughly explained the rigging of a slip bobber.  I have tried just about every bobber stop that is out there and I am still searching for the perfect bobber stop: 

I like the pretied  thread design, but I have had a problem with the knot coming untied after several casts. 

The rubber stop works great, but when fishing with a rod, that the eye on the rod tip is smaller, the rubber stop catches on the rod tip when casting. 

The one I use most frequently is the flat strip with holes drilled in them.  I have found them with from two to four holes drilled in the plastic strip.  Two holes don't work at all and three sort of works.  Four holes works the best.  The problem with these the plastic strips often break apart after several casts.

At Strawberry, this time of year, the first thing in the morning the jig only needs to be a foot, or so, under the bobber.  I often see fish attacking the bobber.  When I see this, if my jig is a little deeper, I will give my rod a jerk to get my jig up where the fish, attacking the bobber, can see it.  As the day progresses I drop the jig down deeper [as far as ~12' down this time of year and even deeper when the water is warmer (although I rarely use a bobber, at Strawberry, anytime other than in the fall)].

A slip bobber also works great when fishing for catfish.

I have also been frustrated by having to tie a working knot on my line for a bobber stop...when I did not have any of the little plastic ones.  Here is a diagram of a knot that works pretty well with almost any kind of string or line.  It makes a knot big enough to catch the bead and stop the bobber, but runs cleanly through the guides.  If you plan to use it once in a while, it can pay to carry a small spool of brightly colored string or line with which to tie those knots.

That is the uni knot.  I use it all of the time and I don't know why I haven't tried it before, as a bobber stop, because it does slide through the guides with minimal resistance.  Thanks for the suggestion.