Bottom bouncer setup

[nathanhooper]

I want to try bottom bouncers this year. I know that you don't have to have a super special setup to catch a fish, but there has to be some kind of reasoning behind what you use right?

My biggest concern is burning up a reel with the weight of the bb and lure. Do you match a reel and rod based on total weight? Most rods I see are not rated that high.

Give me some insight please. Cabelas has their rods 30% off right now.

[Tanderson15]

I use BP bottom bouncing rods, med action 7 ft rods. I use flipping reels, one left hand and one right hand. That way I can hold two rods at one time. I lower the bouncer with flipped switch and if I have to raise it I crank with my knees. Even though they say one oz for ever 10 ft, even at 30 to 35 I never go over 2 oz. if I am say fishing 20 ft, I use 2 oz and my wife uses 1/2 or 1. That way even sharp turns you can avoid tangles. I use 30 # power pro with 12 to 15 # fluorocarbon spinner leaders. Always make my own. Some people use medium HV rods but I like the the rod to stack up ( I think that's what it's called) when a fish grabs the bait. Sometimes they will grab the bait and hang on for 15 to 20 feet before you get a chance to set hook. Many opions but this what I used up north for 33yr and 7 yrs here. Love my walleye. Fish for them 98% of the time. Sorry for the book.

[Feathers and Fins]

I use 7ft st croixe med/fast rods with Shimano Stradic spinning reels and never and issue. 1 to 2oz is max I use as well with the spinner on a 4 to 5ft leader.

You are not trolling more than control drifting I try never to go over 1.5mph with target speed about .5 to .9

[kjackson]

I use an older Pflueger crankbait rod that is seven feet long and has a parabolic action--that is it bends through the blank. When a fish hits, the softer tip gives. I like this as I use 50-pound braid; it's what I had on hand, and I'm cheap; also, I tend to fish around wood. That way I don't lose many bouncers. I run a tiller boat, and because of that, I have a lefthand bait caster for ease of use. The speeds I run generally are faster than F&F's, so I go with heavier bouncers as a rule--up to three ounces depending upon water depth. I tie my own leaders and use fluorocarbon usually around four feet or so in length.

[Blll]

Cabela's 7' medium Whuppin stick ($35 on sale) would work well. I use Ugly sticks very similar. Diawa line counter reels with 15#-20# braid. Thin line gets down without loads of line out. I use mono on my 40" crawler harness because I don't want it to sink to the bottom with slow troll/drift speeds or on turns. Have not used heavier than 2oz. Remember you're not wanting the bouncer to constantly drag the bottom. I may go to a 3oz this season as I sometimes felt the need to go deeper. Lots of fun, catch all different species. PB last year (my first on Beaver) was a 6# walleye. good luck!

[rps]

Every comment made so far is good advice. You ought to see Terry's two handed approach in action.

If you are going to buy, buy the Falcon HD medium action, medium power 7' rod.

http://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Rods-HD-Casting-Rod/dp/B008ES5F46

For my take on BB, read this:

http://www.ozarkanglers.com/white-river-walleye-on-worm-harness/

I run Power Pro Depth-Hunter on any reel with a good drag.

[Tanderson15]

Speed is important. I normally go .8 to max of 1.5. I currently add 2 floats when fishing southern lakes, snages. I never go past 3.5 feet with spinner leader because of snags. I'm hung up on gold and copper unless muddy water. I always have one with slow death rig with peril gulp minnow and one with crawler. Just tick bottom. If you drag bottom you get a mess. The lakes around us ar friendly for BB.

[eyeman]

run your line at a 45 degree angle. this is determined by your speed and BB weight if you are going slow early in the year you want need as much weight as later in year . when you go faster add heavier weight to keep that line about 45 degrees.

[nathanhooper]

Thanks for the info guys. I was surfing tonight and these caught my eye. Any thoughts?

Well, can't get the link to work right tonight. Stinking phone....

They are the Abu Silver Max with Cabelas rod combo. On sale for $80

They have several different rod lengths and actions.

I just want to get a good setup that lets me concentrate on the BB instead of fighting the equipment. I have burned a spinning reel in the past with heavy equipment. Of course, that's all I have used really. I do have bait casters for my trolling setup, but they would not be what I would want to hold in hand for slow trolling BBs.

[rps]

Thanks for the info guys. I was surfing tonight and these caught my eye. Any thoughts?

Well, can't get the link to work right tonight. Stinking phone....

They are the Abu Silver Max with Cabelas rod combo. On sale for $80

They have several different rod lengths and actions.

I just want to get a good setup that lets me concentrate on the BB instead of fighting the equipment. I have burned a spinning reel in the past with heavy equipment. Of course, that's all I have used really. I do have bait casters for my trolling setup, but they would not be what I would want to hold in hand for slow trolling BBs.

The medium power rod choice would work for two or three seasons - certainly long enough for you to perfect the method.