Bobbers For Bass Fishing! Don’t Miss Out!

[@LoopKnot]

I believe most anglers just forgot about that technique. Super easy and effective. BRILLIANT

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@gregstabryla9945]

FINALLY, someone has the guts to say this. It's so obvious that everyone ( including me),has passed on this technique. No more. This broach of ' protocol ' will help all of us to catch more. Thanks Matt.

[@MattStefanFishing]

it works great!

[@dietwaffles5907]

I love finding gear in popular fishing spots! Bobber fishing is just so classic and fun.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@shawn_r_schultzfishing4883]

Makes sense to me, and if it catches fish that's all that matters to me! 🎣 Thanks Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet!

[@DanielOnTheBank]

im glad to see a bass angler not shy away from the good old slip bobber!

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@matthewwood110]

i am a HUGE fan of fishing wacky rigs under a bobber. i've used them in rivers, creeks, ponds, and lakes.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@tjwilliamson7882]

This is very interesting. Since I started bass fishing, bobbers have always been a taboo thing for me. I don't know why but they always seemed juvenile. But this brings new light to the idea of using one. Thank you!

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@IndianaSmallmouth]

Europe knows better. They are masters at match fishing with all sizes of bobber for super pressured fish.

[@TimEdwards-sx2pq]

I stumbled across this while crappie fishing with the buddy of mine back in 2003 but I haven't done it again since and you can bet I will be doing it again I'd forgotten all about that

[@MattStefanFishing]

it works great

[@jamesh7469]

Ive had great success using a bobber with a swimbait to fish some extremely snaggy spillways with high current. Presents the bait extremely efficiently and saves a lot of jigheads and plastics

[@bennyventures8204]

Great call man…I have a river that has huge boulders and the amount of baits I lose in it drives me nuts

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@bfishin2183]

Matt you have the best tips love your Channel

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks!

[@stevenkaminsky5817]

I have been a seat of the pants angler for a while now mostly using live baits and bobbers. I’ve been educating myself on what we called “fake baits”through YT videos (yours especially) and it good to see a pro defend the use of the bobber.

[@MattStefanFishing]

bobbers are great!

[@terrytresemer2864]

You did the video, like I mentioned before. The first time I did it my partner ask what the heck I was doing. I set the hook and said I was fishing! When the bite isn't on I reach under to grab my bobber. Stumps, brush or a pocket in the grass it my answer. It must piss them off with it working overhead. Throw past your target crank it in till it's where you want and give it slack. We're not crazy.

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@kennethsmith2752]

Wacky worm under a bobber....... BRILLIANT!! I say it should be called the Stefan rig. Probably the next KZbin craze!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Haha! its been caching them for me for a long time!

[@lesterreaper9696]

Love this idea,being 70 totally left handed and I shake a lot this could help me fish thanks Matt

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@ricksonora6656]

Im 66, and my back has started cramping from continuously working a lure, so I’m there with you, Lester. It’s nice to have a technique that doesn’t rely as much on athleticism.

[@richardbossman9875]

Seems like this could be an interesting way to fish a small flutter spoon from shore, the bobber will create the resistance that will make the spoon jump up instead of swimming forward with snaps of the rod and it can also keep the spoon off the bottom since it is difficult to retrieve lures hung on bottom from shore.

[@MattStefanFishing]

i like it!

[@kenneth9874]

We catch seatrout on spoons under a cork at times usually in a little current

[@MisterMello]

Found this because I caught my PB bass on a worm while fishing with my girlfriend. I used bobber alot as a kid and Wanted to see if someone had combined jigs and bobbers. This helped a lot! Thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff

[@lannyseals2084]

I used to use small fluke style minnows on slip float's on choppy water and did great and still can't find a reason why I stopped doing it lol awesome video Matt, this one took me back and also reminded of a killer technique!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it another try!

[@lljustice3877]

Funny name 😆

[@lannyseals2084]

@@lljustice3877 ?

[@lljustice3877]

@@lannyseals2084 my name is Lanny also 😉

[@lannyseals2084]

@@lljustice3877 nice!

[@bobbybass1944]

I live in NH and fishing the float and fly is very effective and catches gaints . I also have used it with the flat worm and it's deadly with smallies .

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@Stumpjack]

Great video. I can't tell you (and I'm sure all of us would say the same thing) how many bass I've caught under a bobber while fishing for panfish. I always go out of my way to retrieve bobbers I see on the water. Heck, sometimes there's even a fish on the other end! lol

[@MattStefanFishing]

Well said!

[@kenneth9874]

I've caught quite a few targeting speckled trout in the marsh under a cork

[@TheRutanRenegade]

Glad I found your channel!!! You give some real solid advice that has already helped me catch more bass since I’ve found your channel a few weeks ago. Thanks man!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@bassman6211]

Matt I too will by any means pick bobbers, baits, leftover line etc, Out of trees and shoreline to remove litter, AND to not have to buy bobbers. Lol I haven't bought a float in YEARS.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@funkymojo111]

Yup, I have a bag of over 25 bobbers. And I found somewhere around 20 hardbody lures. Sometimes they are attached to fishing line left on the shore.

[@IV-fad]

Haven't watched yet but a bobber makes essentially a top-down drop shot weight. Of course it has a place!

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@donaldferris1638]

Started messing with this late winter early spring on lake mead and was surprised at the results. Large mouth and small mouth just dead sticking it while I’m doing something else. Setting up rigs or retying. Never fails you look away and that bobber going for a ride. Using a Ned head and a Berkeley flat worm under a float

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@thatguygio]

Bass on a bobber is so much fun. Bobber disappears at the speed of light, and goes deep--always breath taking.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Agreed

[@DeucesHighFishing]

Great video! The more I get back to fishing fundamentals the more my PBs grow.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff!

[@k1llerdir]

Also split shots have a place in bass fishing. I use split shots and bobbers with grubs for smallmouth and spotted bass.

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed!

[@kevinharrigan2727]

Dude the wacky rig with the bobber is absolutely genius, I just got some Thill slip bobbers for panfish but I’m absolutely going to try that! A bobber adds a little difference to presentation I think and it’s not huge but I have a feeling it’s definitely enough to perhaps get a few extra bites. I can’t wait to try that rig, I have a feeling it’ll definitely work especially in a more pressured pond!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Works great!

[@LowBrowFishing]

I've used a bobber to fish a small fluke, swimbait, or worm for a long time. When I was a kid, you could see guys doing that on Lake Michigan with a hair jig when the water was cold. Smallies would just crush it. Also - watched the weigh ins today again and it seemed that nearly everyone dropped in weight. It was nice to see Chris make day 3, at least.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yeah he did good

[@johnrayner5599]

Awesome, I have never thought of doing for this for bass fishing, great idea!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Go for it!

[@burdettehoeppner1062]

Great idea. Im going to try it this summer.

[@MattStefanFishing]

you should!

[@kbone87]

I'm on my way to the northwoods now. Just passed Steven's Point. Goin to north Vilas County. Thank you for all the content! It gives me more confidence while fishing up here to know your techniques and experience play well in this area of the country

[@MattStefanFishing]

I hope you waved when you went by!

[@pensnut08]

I came back to watch this one again. Deer season is just about done so I have a few places to try this out. I got a bunch of Guppy Heads, baits and slip bobbers!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds great!

[@kevinmoore7710]

I always pull bobbers out of trees too, but for a different reason. They're usually attached to a line with hooks, which can be detrimental to birds and other wildlife. Not even fish gorging cormorant deserves to die in a tangled line. I did hear another good tip for bobbers, more for the clip on type. If you're working a fish in cover and get hung up, and you don't want to disturb the spot, put the bobber on your line, cut the line, and come back a little while later to try the fish again and then retrieve your lure after that.

[@MattStefanFishing]

its always best to remove any liter in the water. I feel like it goves me good karma for cleaning up the lakes and rivers i fish.

[@larryswain6005]

Fantastic info. As a bass fisherman I have always shed away from bombers but not anymore

[@MattStefanFishing]

nice!

[@rogerstone6646]

My dad used to do this using a 4" tube in watermelon red. He caught some really nice smallmouth.

[@MattStefanFishing]

it works!

[@oregonsmalljaw3732]

A hair jig , ned rig and any type of drop shot bait on a little jig is killer under a float. I like using it in the river for Smallmouth.

[@MattStefanFishing]

works great!

[@AlistairYQOng]

Totally agree. I use a bobber (fix or slip) for the top or suspend when the fish don't bite. It will trigger them to chase and eat it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome! it works great!

[@brandonrainwater1776]

I've only got into fishing a few months ago and I started using a bobber with my jig more bc I was tired of getting it caught in the ponds I been fishing. Thank you though for the tips!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good stuff

[@mgdwj]

My wife and I bobber fish for bass sometimes. It’s nice in the heat of Texas to be under some shade and fish. I have also fought a couple bass while catfishing using hot dog wieners.

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds good to me!

[@troydarrellclark]

I use a slip bobber (split ring on my line and clip on cheap plastic bobber on the split ring) to fish Ned and Texas rigs from the bank. More up and down movement instead of pulling in to the bank. Plus, it seems that I get snagged on rocks way less by the up and down motion instead of dragging it along the bottom.

[@MattStefanFishing]

I love bobbers

[@pogoshad990]

I have done well with this on windy days and a wacky rig senko around grass. Didn’t have The General back then. :)

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@pollutedent4880]

Oh man, can't wait to try this technique with a green pumpkin Berkeley Pit Boss!!

[@davidnewton3064]

I love slip corking! All the fun of topwater frog fishing, and maybe even more. And its awesome to see people using Damiki brand products. Was one of my favorites while I was in Asia and it seems no store here carries it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Right on!

[@shannonkirby9295]

Good stuff, Matt. Hope you're catching the big ones

[@MattStefanFishing]

That's the plan!

[@calebpartenheimer7636]

I gree up fishing with a bobber and I just can't believe how many people just won't use a bobber. I use bobberless techniques now too but nothing like seeing a bobber go down!! It has actually been hard for me to fish confidently without a bobber.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Agreed

[@johnlantz7278]

I sure like that stick worm for suspending bass ,in therms In mid day,as if the nerf fishing was not enough of an example can’t wait for a float an fly guy.

[@twiggsherman3641]

Off topic, but as a bank angler on a tidal river, I stumble across some nice tackle from time to time. Last year I found a giant musky sized whopper plopper. Not sure what it's called, it's not a River2Sea. Doesn't come close to making up for all the tackle I lose after getting hung up and not being able to go out to get it unhung, but it still makes for a good trip to come across a cool piece of tackle on the beach.

[@MattStefanFishing]

probably a tally wacker

[@jaredraynor9067]

There's an early 2010s bill dance episode of him throwing 6" hollow belly bellow a bobber for suspended largemouth.

[@MattStefanFishing]

interesting!

[@TedJ71]

I got this idea a few years ago fishing a wacky worm drifting along an outside weed line with great success! It’s funny because people think I’m crappie fishing that come by !

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@TedJ71]

@@MattStefanFishing it works!

[@FishingWithDamon]

Love this video, I personally won my first tournament not too long ago and very proud! Anyways bro another banger of a video remember the grind never stop💪💪

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks so much and congrats on the win! I hope there is many more for you in the future!

[@caroferg8857]

Now… gonna hit the store for some of those bobbers. Lazy fish around here… so hot! Thanks!

[@MattStefanFishing]

You bet

[@jimmyjackson2361]

My PB both small and largemouth were caught on a bobber.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thats awesome!

[@MichaelGaston-yb6sg]

Great Video Once again MS.. Why the bobber stop peg and not the theaded kind ? that peg stop will wind up in your spool ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

I just tend to prefer it over the thread but both will work

[@drock5404]

I've been thinking about just this lately. Good video Matt!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@bennyventures8204]

Seems like a great way to present the bait to suspended fish…I’ve wanted to try this in the past on a highland reservoir I fish, but never have gotten to it…besides a float n fly, but I can see a finesse swimbait being a phenomenal bait to try with this set up

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@BWOUTDOORS]

out west their is fisherman that has won tourm- using that bait, and in the winter time it sure works. using a slip bobber. west they use their tectneek for the depth up or down, from bottom totop. they control the depthand don't set it .

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@jwm2588]

I do a lot of fishing for crappie/white bass with a bobber and a jig. I guess I never really thought about transferring that over to bass fishing. It sounds like it would be good on a dropshot.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@toddclarke3132]

I'm thinking of using a light Core Tackle hover rig with a 3" Flash Trix. I watched a video from California where the fish weren't interested in moving bait, and the Spro Fly with a bobber was money. I'm thinking the hover rig may work well. PLUS, we can run 2 rigs at a time here in BC, Canada on stillwaters without additional licensing. Having one active setup and another static bobber rig should work nicely. Can't wait for my next trip.

[@MattStefanFishing]

It works

[@dclark583]

About ready to put it into play

[@MattStefanFishing]

go for it!

[@shanescott3168]

I saw an old Bill Dance video on using bobbers for suspended bass and always wondered if it would work. You got me thinking...

[@MattStefanFishing]

interesting!

[@brkyq]

Suspended drop shot with a short distance between weight and lure (6 to 8 inches) works great this way as well.

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@markanderson8290]

I use it in small eddys in small rivers an creek's in winter slot.l like it.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@GopherHayes]

Dude you have to float n flat worm with the hover shot it floats the flat worm horizontal pretty sweet around rocky humps

[@MattStefanFishing]

Yes it does!

[@ameen88]

I've caught some really nice bass while using bobbers .but i always get funny looks and questions like u use bobber's to catch bass with the eye roll but it works

[@MattStefanFishing]

They work!

[@adrianthayer4591]

Bobbers/floats are legit. In the PNW we use them a lot for salmon and stealhead in rivers. I've used it for bass too. A roboworm and 3 inch Yamamoto shad shaped worm on a 1/16 oz jighead have got me a few from the bank over submerged weeds. I use a clear bobber

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing

[@heinrichkellogg7563]

🍺well I don’t have anymore room for another technique/rods/tackle😊. I’ll have to pass on this one. I already used Neil and Lebrun the week they won their tournaments. 🤠 So my picks this week were Pike, Cox, and Lucas who is my (second) favorite Berkley pro to yours truly 😎👊🏻. They all get to fish tomorrow, we shall see. 🤷‍♂️With that said I’ll also be rooting for Chris Groh👍. 🤔Neil has won 5 times more money 💰on the TW pro circuit then he has on the Bass Pro Tour this year and will likely win TW pro circuit AOY. Very impressive season indeed.

[@MattStefanFishing]

hes a great angler

[@vincentlivoti4184]

When I was a teenager, my friend had and still does have a summer house on lake Champlain on the New York side. We used to fish down in a place called bawagi Bay and there was some areas with flooded timber and I saw guys on a bass boat fishing a balloon rig similar to the bobber and I was asking my buddy what are they using and he said they're using live bait, probably shiners or saw bellies for bass.

[@MattStefanFishing]

most people assume a bobber is for live bait but im sure lots are using them with artificial lures as well.

[@vincentlivoti4184]

@@MattStefanFishing they use giant floats to catch Aligator Ghar so why not Bass. alligator Ghar are also a predator fish.

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Sounds like a great technique!!! Can you use it in a Bass Tournament?? Stay Safe & God Bless!!!

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep its legal as long as not with live bait

[@timg185]

You can fan cast around standing timber with a bobber . Faster than you can maneuver your boat through it sometimes.

[@MattStefanFishing]

good point!

[@arniejohnsen2353]

Good video thanks

[@MattStefanFishing]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@millytopshotta]

I'm honesty new to fishing and I love it only thing is I hate getting snagged but I love watching people catch bass and was wondering could you catch them on tear drop or slip bobbers ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep you can catch them on slip boobers

[@williamknight5142]

Watched a red fish show and they were using popping corks with some type of soft plastic looked like it would work for bass.

[@MattStefanFishing]

they do it all the time for reds

[@docgillygun9531]

Good vid. I can see how this would be particularly deadly on ultra- clear water lakes with spooky and lethargic suspended bass that have schooled up. You could bomb cast it out to them from a distance. With forward looking sonar you could make sure you are in the right spot too. If you get the school fired up you could switch to a crankbait or swimbait.

[@MattStefanFishing]

AGREED!

[@Surfer-727]

Thanks Matt, amazing video, I always wondered if bobbers were legal in pro tournaments ! I'm suprised you do not use Gulp Alive with a bobber. My educated guess is Gulp Alive is about 33% as good as cut bait ?

[@MattStefanFishing]

its very much legal in tournies as long as its not with live bait

[@danlaminger5265]

Wish I would have thought of that when my kids were young..

[@MattStefanFishing]

hank has caught so many bass on a wacky rig under a bobber

[@jasondaniels209]

I remember taking my dad out years years years ago on my old tri-hull. He was throwing a slip bobber with 2 1/16th ounce jigs heads with a red and white squid “plastic” he absolutely obliterated em! I’m just up front swinging away, can’t buy a bite. Shiiiet if I had dynamite it wouldn’t of helped me. Really opened my eyes. I’ve always wonder the exact technique and heads, colors etc…. He used but we’re not on speaking terms anymore. Ever heard of this technique Matt?

[@MattStefanFishing]

sounds similar to a floating n fly

[@jasondaniels209]

@@MattStefanFishing very similar but it was like a crappie setup. Slip the jig head inside the little plastic bait and tie 2 on your line with a bobber

[@1965JB]

Can’t believe I never did this, and I’ve fished slip bobbers with live bait for decades.

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@ely410]

It’s not taboo at all. I use a popping cork for saltwater fishing all the time. Matter of fact? I decided to use a similar technique, but a downsized version of a popping cork for freshwater. I basically just used a coned shape slip bobber and rig it just like a popping cork. The goal was to create that “bubble, splash” on the surface like how a popper sounds while suspending the bait from under it. Same technique for saltwater worked for Freshwater and caught me a few.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@joelwolfe7579]

Mr. Crappie rattle fixed float works well to

[@MattStefanFishing]

thanks for sharing!

[@pimtool9351]

I live on the salmon river and have always successfully fished bass with traditional techniques. there are HUGE small mouth in here and hammered them during spawn sight fishing them. now that they have moved on im just breaking off so often with jigs ned rigs drop shots and even crank baits. the only logical thing to do is to switch to a float rig.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Thanks for sharing!

[@davidgarner4716]

We call it a cork rig. Here in these cypress tree lakes in Louisiana it keeps your bait out of the silt on the bottom of the lake.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@travisbruno1988]

The first time i used a bobber it was because i kept getting snagged from tje bank in the brush i used a 1/32 oz jighead with a 1" curly tail grub i caught crappie and bass non stop mainly crappie but when i went size up a little it was a bass slayer and all i did was pop the tip of my rod 2 times and pause the way back to me

[@MattStefanFishing]

Nice!

[@stevevaughn9093]

Here in Eastern WA on the Columbia and Snake Rivers the migration of shad back to the ocean drives smallies nuts and I do well with a fluke on a dropshot rig. However, the weights hang up a lot on our rocky (basalt) bottoms. I have been thinking the bobber with fluke rig can accomplish the same thing without the annoying hangups.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep!

[@troydenlinger7587]

Imagine watching Seth Feider sit down an chuck a bobber out on bassmaster live.

[@MattStefanFishing]

wouldnt surprise me if seth has done it

[@cjn8730]

I've filled two six-pack sized coolers with bobbers that I find floating or snagged. I give them away to families who are fishing along the bank with their kids.

[@MattStefanFishing]

awesome!

[@garyhanna2388]

I bought some earlier this year but have yet to try them. Good luck in tournament hope the bad vibe has gone!

[@MattStefanFishing]

Good luck!

[@bob5899]

I have never tried using a float before but am interested in trying. What confuses me is wouldn't that bobber stop damage the guides from casting?

[@MattStefanFishing]

nope

[@rodlinvon-hugenstine5142]

Dude, please start taking tournaments with a bobber!! …. But have Berkley make one with Blaukats face one it. … I’ll buy em

[@MattStefanFishing]

hahaha

[@ricksonora6656]

Great way to regulate lure depth, and you can use the wind or current to move the lure into places you can’t reach with skipping. I’m going to convert some clear Christmas tree ornaments for even greater finesse.

[@MattStefanFishing]

Very true!

[@stevekeen7035]

Wow. Never thunk it. Ive tried the float n fly but never thought about trying it with other baits.

[@MattStefanFishing]

give it a try!

[@MichaelRomero]

Great video and an awesome technique I use a bobber a lot because I do a lot of fishing for trout where I'm at. But it also works great for bass and panfish as well. I always wondered why the only technique I would see used for bass is the float and fly. Anyways another great video 👏🏼

[@MattStefanFishing]

Sounds great!

[@danielradebaugh9687]

I've thought about using one (as long as nobody was watching). It's hard to get over the stigma. For some, it would be like taking a mo-ped to Sturgis, or taking your mom to the senior prom.

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha! give it a try it works great!

[@ronforeman5317]

You don't need to tell anybody else, I get it. 😁🎣

[@MattStefanFishing]

haha!

[@richardmajewski3815]

Any uses of the bobber rig fishing current seams?

[@MattStefanFishing]

you can do it by holding updtream and fishing downstream using the bobber to hold in the eddy

[@Senkomaniac]

Do not forget to do this trick for super finicky bass sitting on a nest. Especially since they suck the bait in so softly you dont even feel the bite. The bobber is a great way to see those sneaky bites. You can also use an open hook now that wont get snagged if you were fishing beds with snags. The hookup ratio of sneaky fish biting the exposed goes way up.

[@MattStefanFishing]

agreed!

[@maxcole3930]

I do think that is true, why ,& how do you think that bass anglers don't want to be seen throwing a bobber? I have multiple bobbers in my kayak, different sizes & kinds. I use them mostly to catch bluegill & perch, then I'll use them as bait sometimes or just to fine them so then I know bass are close by in area. I don't have any electronics on my yak yet so that's how I find bait when I can't see them

[@MattStefanFishing]

they work on bass!

[@mattwest6669]

Thank you for the tip. What about the Ned rig to.

[@MattStefanFishing]

works great!

[@charlesgrahammacleodstuart510]

It’s called float and fly, and it’s been used in bass fishing for 20 years.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep! I mentioned the float n fly! but nobody uses bobbers for anything else

[@pdfahie]

I always meant to try a wacky worm with bobber, figured no reason it wouldn’t work.

[@MattStefanFishing]

it works!

[@zap7759]

If it's choppy on the water those Wobble Bobbers basically autojig the bottom.

[@MattStefanFishing]

yep