I do this on the tops of flats or an area where the depth is fairly consistent. I will set it 4-5 feet off the bottom. When you mark a fish they are usually a foot or two off the bottom so the bait ends up 2-3 feet above them. You are going for active fish. They either take it within a minute, usually quicker, or you move on. Last year I marked a small pod of 4 fish and caught 3 of them. I think the 4th one finally moved away.
I love bobber fishing, yes it can get boring. But it is very effective. My buddy used to hate it until, we maybe still does but when it works it works. I also lindy and jig a lot. What I find mind numbing is trolling!
When Power Corkin’, we are using 10′ rods, fairly easy to eyeball the depth. When Power Corkin’ on Mille Lacs, you can be +/- a couple feet.
Thanks for clarifying. So you don’t set the actual depth then. Your bait could be too high or low if just guessing though, right? I feel like I’d drop mine right into the mud if the depth was originally set for 18 feet and you found a pod of fish in 14 feet.
Love bobber fishing and I would not classify it as boring if you’re doing it correctly! As mentioned “power corking” on Mille Lacs is a ton of fun, and you’re constantly on the move. Same with crappie fishing under a float. Also, lighted bobbers at night a super fun and effective too, whether out on a boat or from the dock.
Thanks for clarifying. So you don’t set the actual depth then. Your bait could be too high or low if just guessing though, right? I feel like I’d drop mine right into the mud if the depth was originally set for 18 feet and you found a pod of fish in 14 feet.
I’ll have 3-4 rods set at different depths for power corking. If you think your bait landed under the mark, reel up quick and hit the spot with a different rod.
-J.
Two words… Relaxing
When I don’t have to think about boat control. Just think about how far away my cooler is and if I brought enough beverages. 
I’ll have 3-4 rods set at different depths for power corking. If you think your bait landed under the mark, reel up quick and hit the spot with a different rod
Ah yes, now that makes sense. Thanks Jon
Many different ways to bobber fish. Growing up we never fished ML during the day-work around the cabin and go
anchor up and watch bobbers around sunset and into the night.
Power-corking like John Thelen does is a whole different technique in my mind. Spot and stalking versus stand hunting.
And when crappie fishing, I often drive around pitching plastics under a bobber and working it until we locate a school. Once located, hit spot lock and pick away at them.
Hard to beat the anticipation of a bobber going under and the versatility they provide.
Like others have said – You never get to old to enjoy watching a bobber go down. Other than spring time Crappies and sunfish I kind of got away from bobber fishing for a few year. 2 Years ago, 2 Friends and I decided to spend a morning fishing slip bobbers for eye’s and bass. We had a blast and last year decided to do it again. They are already looking forward to another outing again this year. Nice to sit back with a few good friends and drink a few cold ones while still catching fish !!!
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Netguy wrote:</div>
I’ve been power corkin’ walleyes on Mille Lacs for about 5 yearsSomething I can’t figure out when people say “power corkin” is how they set their depth properly. I understand the concept is to search for fish on your sonar and then drop your slip bobber when you see one, but without using a weight to set the depth of the bait I don’t know how it gets in the strike zone. It’s not like every time you see a fish it’s at the same depth.
When I “power cork” I’ll set the depth like 1-3′ off the bottom from the top of the flat or wherever I’m marking them and if they are slightly deeper off the edge or bottom of the break they will still come up and eat.
I run the same program on Mille Lacs as Brad Hawthorne in this video.
Boring? More like hand to hand combat!
-J.
I dislike bobber fishing 90% of the time.
There are some exceptions, spring cold front crappie fishing, power corking walleyes on Mille Lacs, fall Rainey lake mid- lake reef fishing.
The slow descent of a crappie bite OR the vapor trail of bubbles from an over aggressive walleye as the bobber is ripped below the surface, those both can be fun times.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Netguy wrote:</div>
I’ve been power corkin’ walleyes on Mille Lacs for about 5 yearsSomething I can’t figure out when people say “power corkin” is how they set their depth properly. I understand the concept is to search for fish on your sonar and then drop your slip bobber when you see one, but without using a weight to set the depth of the bait I don’t know how it gets in the strike zone. It’s not like every time you see a fish it’s at the same depth.
Your typically working the same depth for a period of time. Like others have said if you are on top of a flat they are all relatively the same depth as long as you set your bobber high enough you are more than likely going to be seen by the fish below. If you are working off a flat it is relatively the same depth. Multiple rods help but are not necessary either. Typically you are not going from 6ft to 25 ft and back to 12 ft. If you are it is pretty easy to measure the distance with your rod. Pretty easy to tell when you are set to deep and you are hitting bottom.
Typically you are not going from 6ft to 25 ft and back to 12 ft.
I didn’t expect that kind of fluctuation. My folks have often said they were “power corkin” but I’ve never been with them when they did it. My experience using slip bobbers is anchoring and setting depth so bait is about a foot or so off the bottom like they do on launches.
My question now is how effective it is in rough water? I assume most doing this are using a bow mount with spot lock, correct? But spot lock is pretty useless is 3 foot rollers. So how do you keep the boat in one spot, eye ball the depth, and get the bait on fish you see on the sonar all at once?
I drive around with my big motor. See a fish drop down right behind transducer. I use a heavier weight and larger bobber to get down fast. Don’t wait more than a minute before I am searching for next fish or going back through the pod I just saw. Sometimes I have trolling motor down if I am working a particular area that is holding more fish and will spot lock but usually if it is working they bite pretty much right away or they don’t. I am typically higher than a foot of bottom. 2-6 ft on average. It is basically a reaction bite for bobber fishing. Much different approach than sitting and waiting for a bobber to go down anchored up. Couple people in the boat it is usually a game of who’s bobber gets hit.
Can think of it as similar to hole hopping when ice fishing and you put your flasher in a new hole and see a fish, more times than not if they are interested they hit it pretty quick if it is the first time you are dropping down.
That is a great explanation. Thank you
I think I’d rather go with Jon’s strategy and have 3 setups ready for various depths rather than “eyeballing” it just to be sure.
Spot lock is not useless in 3 foot rollers. I have no problem staying put and casting off back of boat
Sometimes it’s just about the experience and fish are a bonus. I love pulling up on an underwater point on mid-summer evenings, quietly drop anchor, put on the leeches, make sure the slips are set right, pop a cold one and turn the swivel seat towards the West and watch the sun go down.
It’s also productive – My son caught his PB walleye when he was 11 doing this. Great memories!
Nothing better than watching a lighted bobber at about 1am, go down about a foot under the water and start moving away… of course this was when you could night fish ML.
I love using a slip bobber for crappies. I don’t just cast it out and let it soak, I’m usually letting it sit for 10 or 15 seconds then walking it.
Also use it for walleye on Mille Lacs certain times.
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