20 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Doesn't need a hard-set. A sweep will usually do it...long as it's a good, sharp hook.

What is the diff between a set and a sweep? Lol sorry just wanna get this right.

4 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What is the diff between a set and a sweep? Lol sorry just wanna get this right.

A hard-set is when you quickly yank the rod back - either overhead or to the side.

A sweep is usually to the side, and not fast or hard...more like if you were telling someone to go ahead of you with a hand motion.

 

Let Charlie Brewer show you a sweep.

 

14 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

A hard-set is when you quickly yank the rod back - either overhead or to the side.

A sweep is usually to the side, and not fast or hard...more like if you were telling someone to go ahead of you with a hand motion.

 

Let Charlie Brewer show you a sweep.

 

Lol the VHS days. That still looks pretty hard to me, but I will do it. Am I less likely to lose the fish w octopus vs circle?

I use the Octopus Circle Hook exclusively with live bait.  I don't lose many fish.

4 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I use the Octopus Circle Hook exclusively with live bait.  I don't lose many fish.

Problem is I’m used to hook setting, I’d rather not relearn lol

That is an issue. When I take guys smallmouth fishing I always bring traditional bait hooks.

Some guys just can't make the adjustment and that's understandable.

2 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

That is an issue. When I take guys smallmouth fishing I always bring traditional bait hooks.

Some guys just can't make the adjustment and that's understandable.

Yeah. If that’s the case what is my best option?

Gamakatsu 1/0 Baitholder Hooks

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Gamakatsu 1/0 Baitholder Hooks

Is that the same as a baitholder?

Yes

https://www.gamakatsu.com/product/baitholder-hooks/

3 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Yes

https://www.gamakatsu.com/product/baitholder-hooks/

Ok cool. Would mosquito hooks not be a better happy medium? Also I already have some eagle claw baitholders, are these much better for any reason?

Go with the baitholder hooks. Eagle Claw will work for you.

   And you may want to get these:   https://www.hloutdoors.com/

   They're the only bobber I use, whether for crappie or walleye.        jj

I've got one bobber that I haven't been able to find anymore. It's a cigar, but instead of a spring to hold the line, it's got a spiral that you swing the line through on the bottom...line runs free through it, and a clip about midway up to hold in place. With a bead and a bobber stop, skipping the mid-point clip, it's a terrific slip bobber.

 

I'm also trying to find the bottom spiral...I have some balsa block here and I could make one's like it if I could just find that one part.

 

Anyone know where I can get more of these, or at least the bottom part?

3 hours ago, slonezp said:

Forget Thill bobbers. Way over priced. If you don't need a slip bobber, the Rocket Bobber is the last bobber you will ever need.

I have wanted to try them to see how far they really cast. 
 

For now I use cheap Comal Tackle weighted floats from Walmart. They help me launch a #4 Aberdeen hook with a live worm and a small split shot rig. A little over a buck for 3 floats. I have gone through a few packs. Some of the trees at my local river bank fishing spots look like Christmas trees with the floats hanging on them.

31 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said:

I have wanted to try them to see how far they really cast. 
 

For now I use cheap Comal Tackle weighted floats from Walmart. They help me launch a #4 Aberdeen hook with a live worm and a small split shot rig. A little over a buck for 3 floats. I have gone through a few packs. Some of the trees at my local river bank fishing spots look like Christmas trees with the floats hanging on them.

Not only distance, but accuracy. Very easy to place the bobbers where you want. I use them exclusively fishing for panfish. I have posted dozens of pics on BR in the IL thread and the other species thread with 40+ fish in the livewell

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

I've got one bobber that I haven't been able to find anymore. It's a cigar, but instead of a spring to hold the line, it's got a spiral that you swing the line through on the bottom...line runs free through it, and a clip about midway up to hold in place. With a bead and a bobber stop, skipping the mid-point clip, it's a terrific slip bobber.

 

I'm also trying to find the bottom spiral...I have some balsa block here and I could make one's like it if I could just find that one part.

 

Anyone know where I can get more of these, or at least the bottom part?

That’s pretty cool, vintage. I thought of something, would a drop shot rig possibly be a good solution for me to keep the minnow on the bottom without the risk of getting hung up and easier to set the hook than with a bobber?

3 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

That’s pretty cool, vintage. I thought of something, would a drop shot rig possibly be a good solution for me to keep the minnow on the bottom without the risk of getting hung up and easier to set the hook than with a bobber?

Drop shot, you normally have the bait suspended above the bottom. But ya it'd work. main thing is you need to watch your line like a hawk. I use hi-vis line on my finesse rig for that very reason.

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Drop shot, you normally have the bait suspended above the bottom. But ya it'd work. main thing is you need to watch your line like a hawk. I use hi-vis line on my finesse rig for that very reason.

Yeah I didn’t mean like rock bottom just bottom of the water column where the fish are at. Is there any advantage to the bobber setup over this? Seems like removing the bobber gives me a direct connection to the bait/fish and better feel of the fight which is what it’s all about. Bobber kind of ruins this somewhat.

1 minute ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Yeah I didn’t mean like rock bottom just bottom of the water column where the fish are at. Is there any advantage to the bobber setup over this? Seems like removing the bobber gives me a direct connection to the bait/fish and better feel of the fight which is what it’s all about. Bobber kind of ruins this somewhat.

Personally - I wouldn't use the drop-shot with live bait. It's more a plastics presentation. Standard rig doesn't allow the minnow to swim about - which is a primary component of the bobber rig.

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Personally - I wouldn't use the drop-shot with live bait. It's more a plastics presentation. Standard rig doesn't allow the minnow to swim about - which is a primary component of the bobber rig.

Ah yeah good point. So bobber is really the only way to get the minnow down lower?

Just now, Ohioguy25 said:

Ah yeah good point. So bobber is really the only way to get the minnow down lower?

Unless you want to dispense with the bobber totally and just let the minnow run free. But again, you'd have to watch your line like a hawk.

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Unless you want to dispense with the bobber totally and just let the minnow run free. But again, you'd have to watch your line like a hawk.

That’s what I’ve been doing, free lining and it works great but I’m missing a lot of the fish that are down lower in the column.

I almost exclusively use thill bobbers, but I use them for walleye fishing with leeches (mostly).  In the spring before game fish season opens, I use small minnows for crappies on occasion too.  When I used to fish at night, I used the thill nite brite version.

 

The mistake I see a lot of people make when they use bobbers is using one that is too big.  If a fish takes your bait and the bobber is too big, it may spit the bait out because it can't pull the bobber under easily and it will feel that resistance.  You want to use just a big enough bobber so that it can float, but small enough that it can easily be taken under by the species of fish you're after.  In other words, don't use a standard size bobber for panfish and don't use a muskie size bobber for walleyes or bass.

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

I almost exclusively use thill bobbers, but I use them for walleye fishing with leeches (mostly).  In the spring before game fish season opens, I use small minnows for crappies on occasion too.  When I used to fish at night, I used the thill nite brite version.

 

The mistake I see a lot of people make when they use bobbers is using one that is too big.  If a fish takes your bait and the bobber is too big, it may spit the bait out because it can't pull the bobber under easily and it will feel that resistance.  You want to use just a big enough bobber so that it can float, but small enough that it can easily be taken under by the species of fish you're after.  In other words, don't use a standard size bobber for panfish and don't use a muskie size bobber for walleyes or bass.

That very well may have solved my problem, in fact I think it did 100%. The fish is spitting it out as soon as it feels the resistance of my bobber (which is about the size of a gobstopper) I need one the size of a marble.