Spring bobber

I have not yet, found a spring bobber I like

I either end up with line twist or my line tangled in a spring bobber

Yes, I have some nice soft rods but, there are times I like a spring Without naming anything and making waves with something you dudes like, tell me what it is you do like. I hope to hear of something I haven’t used on the tip of my rod yet Or, maybe I’m just screwed, and have been using them wrong for the last ???? years

Thanks for any advise! Good luck on the hard water people

Bret

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I have not yet, found a spring bobber I like

I either end up with line twist or my line tangled in a spring bobber

Yes, I have some nice soft rods but

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Dump the spring bobber, Get a high quality graphite rod and good quality line like P-line. The rod is most important

Here’s what won the world championship at Alexandria.
http://www.stcroixrods.com/rods/default2.asp?rodname=56&section=ice

Read this every lake is different

http://www.in-depthangling.com/articles/johnston_hardwater_panfish.html

This may be just me personally now so don’t jump me. I think that spring bobbers give a fisherman a sort of false security in using them similar to what a bobber does. If you’re using a spring bobber odds are you’re doing some type of light weight jigging for panfish. Some people really rely on them. Many people don’t realize how often a fish just mouths the bait and could be caught even though there was no indication on the rod end. This is where a a light weight sensitive rod stands out. If you’re used to using nonsensitive or really floppy rods, this would be night and day for you to go a pick up a quality lightweight rod. I gurantee you will feel many more light strikes than you would ever see on a bobber or spring. Its just my opinion that a good quality rod makes all the difference when jigging. And you wont go cross eyed staring it the tip trying to see it move a bit.Instead you can be watching your flasher. But hey if it works for you, don’t listen to me. If it helps you catch fish, use it. I know some people swear by them.

Brett, I like the ones on the frabill panfish popper rods.
I guess I disagree, for finicky panfish, springs are definitely necessary in my book. A question to you guys that don’t use them, which rods do you use?

This is exactly why I ask. I’m nobody to jump anyone I thought I have good rods but, maybe not. I like to be able to watch my flasher, when there is interest watch my tip/line. I seem to be able to pick up a hit on the drop with a spring better than watching the line. On a still or rising presentation I feel the bite fine. What am I missing. On a fall, the spring seems to be very sensitive.

PS: Matt, yes I fish light for tight lipped gills, Crappies and perch in are area

Bret- I have four of the st croix spring bobber rods. I really like them, I think they help me catch more fish. I will say the line still gets twisted using them. But with the st. croix, it doesn’t go into the coils, usually. I have detected bites before the spring came into play, but that ultra light orange colored spring is ULTRA sensitive. I like using them, and I also like using high sensitive rods without the spring bobber.

Cool Luck, You and are are fishing the same

I bet you twist 2# faster than 4. I’m changing out 20-30′ of line a weekend easy

I’m still not convinced its my rods on a drop presentation, light line, light jig, a spring will stop dead in its tracks, no?

PS: I should say before the line, I am a line watcher

do not ice fish as much as all of you, got to much open water to do. but , i have not done this, i have seen some where in my readings that a guitar string can be used. the bigger one?
as for me i do not use them , i keep the jig moveing at all times and i watch the line. but i have had times when i rwest the rod on my leg and watch the tip for any movement.

I agree with Luke. I haven’t seen anything out there better than the St. Croix spring bobber. That allows you to have the spring action without running the line through the spring. I will be investing in that set-up soon since it drives me nuts to run my line through the whole spring. And yes, it is a must for me to to have the spring bobber. It is more sensitive than any rod you will ever find. I only am fishing crappie, perch, and gills though. This is just my opinion. Ted

I’ve got a couple of frabill spring bobbers that go right into the last eye of the rod. it’s pretty nice i havn’t had a tangle up yet so i like them… i don’t no is that helps or not. the guys are right above though it’s the rod that makes all the differance!the spring bobber is more of a vissual!

Hi all, I just purchased a few St. Croix Spring Bobbers and I can’t figure out how to attach them to my ice rods. Anybody got any hints?

I’ll add another plug for the St. Croix Legend ice rod after buying one last year. It’s worth the $ IMO.

The St. Croix spring bobbers are made to fit their Legend ice rod. You might be able to duplicate that system if you’re creative and good with a solder gun. However I just bought the rod even though I build rods.

uffdahpete is right. The st. croix spring bobber only fits the st. croix pole. There is another spring bobber out there that fits in the furthest eye on the rod. I picked up a bunch of them at fleet farm. Ted

The St. Croix system just requires a rubber grommet in a cheap guide and a little creativity to have their spring bobber fit in the grommet. Not worth $50 for an 8 dollar spring bobber when the blanks are available and the guides are often crooked on them. Hard to believe St. Croix sells them for this price and how crooked the guides are on so many of them – check them next itme you are in a store that caries them. There are also many other good spring bobbers available from European importers. Chuckles

Something I haven’t heard off, European importers. I will look for them, any leads?
Do they still create line twist?
Bret

Hey do you guys know where to find St. Croix spring bobbers? thanx

Cabela’s Rogers has them.
Good luck
cheers

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Hey do you guys know where to find St. Croix spring bobbers? thanx

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We carry them and have adapters available as well.

Are you still shipping Dean?

We ship everything here except fresh baked cookies to Camper #9.

Bret,

Came into this late. Early last ice season, I picked up a couple of the St Croix Legend spring bobber rods. And again this year, picked up a couple more (thanks, James, for spending all my hard earned cash for me!). Anyway, when fishing for panfish, this is my go-to rod. If the fish are tight lipped, and barely just sucking the jig in, I can see it all right at the spring. yeah, I have noodle rods too… but I like the back-bone of my St Croix Legends for a sure and solid hook set. Though you can see a light bite on a noodle rod, the hook-set is not quite as solid. I haven’t had as much success with the Medium Heavy St Croix rods for larger fish such as eyes. Those larger fish you usually can feel the initial bite. I guess I personally haven’t encountered a light bite with eyes yet that would require the spring. In my opinion, I will fish with the spring bobber with panfish above anything else.

WOW, didn’t realize the original post was from 3 years ago. Sorry. I am sure you know all about them by now. lol

Dean , how much of a job is it to add on an adapter and spring ?

Pretty simple Mr Fireline…a piece of shrink tube or rod cement and your ready to go.

I don’t have a problem with line twist and use the Frabill type. If you break off carry a sewing needle and you can re-thread in no time. When using almost exclusively Purist jigs the spring bobber really helps along with colored line like Cortland green 2lb. You can look at many different types of spring bobbers at little-atom.com. It appears they have merged with another company.

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But with the st. croix, it doesn’t go into the coils, usually.

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I’ve had mine caught in there plenty of times on my St.Croix! I was so pissed at it last time…..The sping is no longer there. I could’nd even adjust my sring to make it a little stiffer. There’s gotta be better options out there! I’m willing to sell my St. Croix….Not worth the money to me!

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But with the st. croix, it doesn’t go into the coils, usually.

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I’ve had mine caught in there plenty of times on my St.Croix! I was so pissed at it last time…..The sping is no longer there. I could’nd even adjust my sring to make it a little stiffer. There’s gotta be better options out there! I’m willing to sell my St. Croix….Not worth the money to me!

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You using the croix like a twirling baton or what?

Yea the line will get up in the spring once in a while after I toss the rod to the side to grab the dead stick or something…

Remember Chap, you have to push the spring from either end to adjust the sensitivity, don’t pull on the spring to adjust it…

Go see Dean, grab a new spring and all will be better.

I can honestly say that my catch rate has gone up dramatically using the croix spring bobbers, I don’t use anything but them anymore.

Jami

Hardware store trip for 1/8″ grommet, size 8 (I think) guide from tackle shop and rod cement. That is what I used to get st croix spring bobber on a few of my rods.