Is it an attitude thing, like bass fishermen don't want to be using something that's seen that's mainly for kids? Or is it just something about how the lure is presented that they don't like? 

 

Putting a soft plastic on a jig head under a slip bobber is one of the more popular ways to fish trout and panfish. I don't see why putting a using a bigger grub, a Fluke Jr. or even a wacky rigged Senko couldn't catch fish hanging around docks or drop-offs. 

I always keep one or two bobbers kicking around. For panfish I use them because I can use a heavier jig and maintain a depth while I slow roll. For bass I'm usually doing other things. I dont see why a bigger jig and bigger grub wouldn't work, but I also dont see why it wouldn't work on the bottom without the bobber either. If you're talking about cover like dock pilings it's been my experience that bigger fish hold that cover deeper.

Look up the technique float and fly

The Float N Fly guys down on Dale Hollow do it in the winter for Smallies. 

 

Edit, I didn't see the previous post....

I've caught plenty of bass under a poppin cork while redfishing in brackish waters, but I never use a cork when exclusively bass fishing.  Can't explain why. haha

For most bass techniques the use of a bobber will interfere with the feeling of the lure and the hook set.  Exc for slip bobbers, they are a pain to cast, too.  I'm not sure how slip bobber stops and some micro guides will get along.

 

 However, as mentioned , when the bass want it really slow and require accurate depth control, as the the float and fly, it makes sense and is effective.

 

I expect the last time I used a bobber was fishing for pike with live minnows.

 

But one way to get the depth control and very slow action is to use a drop shot, and the casting problems with bobbers are eliminated.

I’m a line watcher. A bobber screws that up big time by absorbing the wave that the fish sends up the line when they hit a lure. Another reason that bobbers are used for trout and panfish(especially crappie) is because those fish feed looking up. Bass feed all sorts of ways but mostly the feed face down towards the bottom. Bobbers limit the presentations that are required for more lures as well. Hope this helps. 

For bass, bobbers are helpful when fishing with live bait. 

But for artificial I see no advantage to useing them, and for certain lures it makes no sense.

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

I have used bobbers plenty of times when fishing with live shiners in Florida.

If you do go with a bobber presentation, be sure to check out a float and fly, a method of rigging them and the right equipment to use that will allow you to make longer casts where not so much line is out as is typical.

 

 

Brad

recall yrs. ago seeing a show on tv with guides in Fla. using balloons with a shiner dangling below them in the water...some big ones caught by folks who had never caught a large bass before...

 

good fishing...

A large bobber under a large shiner is money. I use poppers as bobbers with a small plastic or fly a foot or two behind. I also use a beefed up version of a crappie rig to drag and drop small baits sometimes. 

1 hour ago, reason said:

A large bobber under a large shiner is money.

 

I usually put my shiners under my bobbers ?

2 hours ago, Koz said:

 

I usually put my shiners under my bobbers ?

You got me, that's what I meant, or maybe I was thinking of barramundi...  

Years ago I used bobbers and live Shiners or a slip bobber and Nightcrawlers for Bass.

 

Since switching to artificial baits the bobbers have sat unused. I might have to try a grub and bobber someday.

First of all, bass fishermen should call them "floats" instead

of "bobbers" since it sounds more official ...

 

Well, technically, floats are not the red/white ones. I have 

used and sometimes use pencil style or other Thill variety,

even Asian variety of floats.

 

My sons and I have caught very nice bass with a wacky worm

rigged under a float. They work! Though for 99% of my bass

fishing I do not use floats. Moreso with panfishing.

Since I fish mostly ponds (shallow with lots of bottom vegetation), one of my favorite techniques is Ned rig under a weighted bobber, err... I mean float.