Slip Bobbers for Walleye (The Complete Guide)

There's a lot that goes into slip bobber fishing for walleye - more than what meets the eye. In this video, Joel Nelson breaks down EVERYTHING you need to know to catch walleye dangling bait below a float.
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[@ColonelNickSteel]

I've fished my whole life and I'm continually amazed at how much I have to learn. 😄

[@brycealthoff8092]

There’s always something. That’s part of what makes this sport so interesting!

[@britneywhitney100]

Got these thinking they were the slightly larger Panfish floats kzbin.infoUgkx_rJB7cli5f1ofPVGgn80S7Yj4vqwq0gU they work just fine. The smaller size lets me carry more in my tackle box, and the 3 color choices are nice for different lighting conditions, backgrounds, etc. They aren't the most durable things in the world. But, as cheap as they are, it's not heartbreaking to lose one or have to replace a worn one. The price on these fluctuates wildly, from about $9 to almost $16. So, time your buy accordingly.

[@garageliving3658]

I always think it funny that after fishing my hole life with TONS of gear the simple bobber and hook will out fish the rest of my arsenal some days.

[@danielcallaway7764]

There are days where a simple bobber and bait have caught me my limit in a 1/4 of the time every other technique has lol

[@cabbycabby1770]

Great video. Always funny to me how folks who target certain species discount other methods. Methods they might find useful if they cared to try. I’ve heard a few say floats and bobbers are “for kids.” Makes zero sense, haha. It’s a great way to set depth and keep your bait swimming with the flow of the water. This kid is catching fish.

[@StormLaker]

This one of my favorite ways to fish for walleyes. Last year, around memorial day weekend fishing a boulder/gravel strewn man made reef in shallow water with a leech and slip bobber we had to limit ourselves to one line in the water at a time....if you put two lines in you didn't have time to set the hook, haha. We also love to fish a creek outlet that has a shallow sand bar and a little current, and also a sand bar off the end of an island, and now we have weed edges to fish out in the boat......all hotspots:-)

[@shanerust6969]

Thank you for the robust explanation of how and why you use this technique. Great information, keep it coming!

[@medsfromtrees2612]

Was using a 14g slip bobber with small minnows, with a weight stopper pinned about 8ft up the line, was casting the edge of currents at the dam and was catching walleye and small mouth. they work great

[@hakanyldz3721]

We’re happy with the bobbers. Haven’t fished in years, and worked as well as I remember years ago catching fish.

[@jasonw4053]

This is excellent! I think slip floats are the most underrated pieces of equipment in the tackle box!

[@beebob1279]

Trying to figure them out this week.

[@jaystretch01]

Bee Bob they are WELL worth the effort to learn to rig!

[@randysannicolas855]

Great video and great job in explaining slip bobber fishing. Great job Joel! Can't wait to try it on the water!

[@richardclayborne9783]

A lot of great info, especially for an angler that has never fished for walleye.

[@jaycolbeck9852]

Well delivered information! Thanks Joel.

[@bigfish2eatamericanangler740]

I'm a forever beginner's angler who dreams of catching a big fish to cook, Joel. Thank you for your fishing tip, sir!

[@jeffmorand4796]

Eat smaller fish, the mercury content in larger , older fish is way higher, just a heads up, keep the family safe. I try to eat fish that have been in the system for no more than 5 yrs, cheers

[@velvetfog8815]

This is an excellent and detailed video...I will be using the techniques this season. Thank you

[@jayfeiner2535]

This a great video! Answered a lot of questions I had about slip bobber fishing.

[@macvosbeck8064]

Great tips for slip bobbering! I have really started using this and it works!

[@northlandliving2482]

Great video! Thanks for such great detail!

[@chriscashatt152]

Excellent video! Love the in depth explanation! Thanks!

[@ava3432]

Very nice and informative!

[@coniferproductions1]

Well done. Excellent presentation.

[@ricanhavoc2828]

I out fished my buddies last month in South Dakota with the good old slip bobber. Works great

[@keenanmcc2075]

Great video and thanks for really breaking it all down. 👍

[@chadhagedorn282]

Outstanding video and insight!

[@ralphwitt9975]

Great video very informative.

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

I am moving soon to walleye fishing from Stripers and cats. I appreciate the info even though I will be bank fishing till I get another boat. I must learn different types of fishing lol. I subbed you because you were pretty concise in your vid. Thanks and keep em coming. Havagudun Mr. Buzz

[@mithuvalika1652]

Mate this was an awesome informative video!

[@twigmnberries]

4.5 hours till the road. 7.5 till I'm in the water. Thanks for scratching my itch!

[@curtiscarr8810]

Currently my favorite pro to learn from. Joel’s offerings are always super informative, clearly communicated, and thorough. Do yourself a favor and follow Joel for amazing fishing education

[@Kotaztrafee]

Thanks for the information about the rod length and mainline.

[@ML-ks2lj]

I use a styrofoam trout bead for my corky when my bobber is sitting pretty that corky lands in top of the bobber sits there perfect and helps mend the line for me when I'm drifting

[@joncooper107]

This was excellent

[@fishin2themax245]

Good advice👏🏻

[@diesel6594]

Great vid. Thank you

[@AnglingBuzz]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@timothyroche6445]

I have trouble with line type bobberstops , I like rubber football ones better but they don't cast thru guides, what to do

[@TheIridescentFisherMan]

Been having problems with my slip bobber where's it's on its side. But not on the bottom. Going to try adding that weight above the swivel you're using because I dont think just the hook and worms I'm using are heavy enough to cock the bobber.

[@donbarnt8168]

Awesome video! I’m just curious what size of swivels do you use?

[@TheHawkTheHawk]

Cool informative vid. Question: how far of line from swivel to hook?

[@IAmHere..]

Do u have to use leeches or will night crawlers work? Can’t buy live leeches where I’m at thanks

[@daveholte7658]

Thoughts on baiting with types of plastics like Max Scent or other artificial baits? Do you have success in the spring on a pre spawn or post spawn bite on river current systems? Thanks

[@hol6460]

Best way to fish them especially in the summer. Can pluck them right out of the weeds

[@davidhazen2394]

Thanks for the video. I have a question. My slip bobber gets tangled with the hook or the weight almost 40% of the time. I use the same string slip bobber you use. I prefer not to use mono line at the bottom and keep the braided line because he braided line does not lnot break as Walleyes teat will break the mono line. What is the right set up for Braided line? Also, How often do you expect braided will get tangles with the braided line?

[@thomasnorris1353]

Love the info. I have been messing around here and there the last three season with slip bobbers for Striped bass and Fluke in the salt. Many years back I got introduced to slip bobbers for fluke near structure at a marina. And it was lights out on short fluke. Now Im trying from the shore/surf but I am getting alot of break offs while casting. I am (forgive the term) plugging or adding a stop on a worm weight with a wood tooth pick. Everything is tied well and I use small glass beads at all joining knots but I cant keep a rig for the life of me. Im using 10lb spiderwire braid and 40lb mono to hook. Any advice on slip bobber brands to avoid. I think its sharp edges on the tube that is causing CUT OFF'S. Thanks in advance!

[@syedibrahim6991]

Great tips. Any amazon link to purchase the rod?

[@jaredolsen4242]

Great video, very informative. Thanks

[@Follower_of_The_Word]

Put a colorful corkie on your line above the bobber, you’ll see it better than the slip knot. It will stand on top of your bobber when the bait hits bottom.

[@gumball3049]

do you not find that long bobber stop tag ends foul up on the spool or when casting?

[@vaschier72]

Hi,just one question, for what you dont use aFloating jig on the end of this set up if they have a egg weight , tank to you

[@robertrolland9838]

I know a lot of people have boats but I'm a shore fisherman any tips for shore fishing with bobbers?

[@carolbarranco838]

Where are you. It looks like the Thousand Islands. My husband and I use to catch Pike 30 years ago using this method. Just came across this video to remember this method. How do you hook the bait? Tail or spine?

[@JakeRoy98]

Can your stop go into the eyelets of your rod? So to get your bait down deep?

[@whales302]

Out of curiosity how do you set the bobber stop if for example walleyes are 3 ft off the bottom and in 15 feet of water. I always wondered if anglers measure out exactly where the bobber stop goes on the main line. Is there a science to it or a good method to use?

[@thomaslawrence3232]

Does that slip knot wad ever get caught up in the reel and mess up your casting?

[@andrewspeer7655]

Let’s say your fishing 10 ft of water. How would you set your bobber stopper? 8 ft of line from your hook or how would that work ?

[@MegaTechno2000]

Use a snap swivel instead, and tie loop on your leaders so you can change them out quickly .

[@jeffmorand4796]

wHAT IS THE BEST BOBBER type and stop to use for deep water, heavy current, weed edges. need A BOBBER TO CUT CURRENT AND A STOP THAT GOES ON THE REEL AND THRU THE EYES easily ?? thanks

[@stevecarlson2242]

What are your thoughts on drop shot vs. slip bobber? Also do you use glowing jigs at night?

[@michaelrichter1896]

If it wasn't for slip bombers I would have come home empty many times.

[@davidhazen2394]

So when you cast a Slip bobber and you do not get a fish. Do you reel it in a certain distance before you remove the bait from the water? What would that distance be?

[@tazcgnso8653]

Just slow trol use a 1/16 short shank jig with a swivel above the swivel use a 1/8 weight with a thrill wobber bobber

[@BitBurritos]

I like to use a bead as my bobber stop. You just put the line through the bead like 3 times. Then you can easily move it up or down. Also it's easy to see, like keeping the tag end of the tie.

[@BitBurritos]

If your hook is on the bottom and your bead bobber stop is set to high you can see the bead not on top of the bobber from far away

[@gordjohnson70]

Big slip bobbers are equal to small ones and often better. WHAT ? Ya, add more weight to bigger bobbers and they'll be equal in buoyancy and they stay in place better. They don't pull back to the boat as much. Heavily weighted bobbers cast a country mile. Fish at a distance. Keep boat out in deep water while drifting and fishing shallow. This is a technique nobody uses. To me, it's a no brainer.

[@shyman9023]

Good point. I tend to do the same. Depends on the situation. Depth, wind etc.

[@leowgl1472]

Do you use a bobber stop or tie a bobber stop knot?

[@Brandon-xd5mf]

I believe a bobber stop is just a Uni knot

[@borhap399]

What do you do about panfish stealing your live bait when slip bobbing for walleye?

[@garageliving3658]

Eat panfish instead lol.

[@JoelNelsonOutdoors]

@@garageliving3658 - lemons to lemonade!

[@JoelNelsonOutdoors]

That can be an issue, esp. with gills and leeches. I'll run jumbos in that instance or simply move to the deeper side of structure to get away from them. Usually it means that you're too early in the evening or morning to be that shallow for the lakes I'm fishing. With perch it's more difficult, but again, in most of the lakes I'm fishing the same is true. Start deeper with the eyes and follow them up to stay away from panfish. When the bite is "on," esp. during the evening, I find that there's very few panfish around feeding as it's mostly eyes roaming for food.

[@evan4856]

Don't use a slip bobber or go in deeper water.

[@hellosweetheart3350]

When to cork. .......

[@daniellemalan8832]

Never dis da boober!

[@fishingwitheddie1535]

When will these fishing guys understand that I can’t afford side imaging I have a simple fishfinder like a lot of fishing KZbinrs that cover walleye specific fishing I’ll talk about side imaging side imaging side imaging etc. but I’ll make do with what I have great video though

[@killdeerperiland3303]

corkin? whats that

[@BassNinja]

Do you have to have a boat to catch walleye?

[@TheJoez1973]

Not always. Here in South Dakota along Missouri River reservoirs literally hundreds of people fish from shore catching 1000s of fish. Many times bank anglers out fish boats especially around Chamberlain and other popular areas. Get on the Google and search shore fishing in your area.

[@BassNinja]

@@TheJoez1973 oh I catch fish all the time but I'm talking about for walleye I live in Oklahoma and I have walleye in the lake close to me. I just only se those fish caught in cold way off shore so I'm very curious in catching those from the bank

[@tannerdavis6195]

@@BassNinja find a rocky shoreline. Up here in canada i catch them frequently around feeding hours near rocky shoreline. The waves will bring baitfish right to them.

[@bobchapman5898]

You should use pencil floats a lot less resistance

[@supergirl2997]

Too much talking and action. Lost interest in your channel.

[@UncleKrusty68]

adding a vignette to your video looks horrible, fire your video editor.

[@UncleKrusty68]

@@cncsolutions7266 I shoot lots of video for others and this is not due to a wide angle lens.

[@dandeschane3294]

Clearly you overvalue your opinion.

[@keithszymanel5483]

two mutch talking get to the point already talking just like a woman