I do VERY little with bottom bouncers – just don’t work in my style of things. Dave put some info out I think last year for using them on the river I believe. search his posts from the last couple years -” ecnook ” 
I have seen a couple good video’s on you tube, a couple done by jason mitchell and possibly a lindner video or two as well. they typically fish a pretty heavy weight like 1.5 oz + and try to fish pretty close to the boat to reduce junking up and allowing you to troll in tight to weed edges and fish near when you see on your electronics.
I have had pretty good luck with bouncers and slow death hooks.
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I have seen a couple good video’s on you tube, a couple done by jason mitchell and possibly a lindner video or two as well. they typically fish a pretty heavy weight like 1.5 oz + and try to fish pretty close to the boat to reduce junking up and allowing you to troll in tight to weed edges and fish near when you see on your electronics.
I have had pretty good luck with bouncers and slow death hooks.
That is exactly the presentation we use, 1.5 oz, a 4-5 ft Snell, with slow death hooks. Speed varies by depth and mood of the fish.
When fishing lakes, I use 1 ounce per 10 foot of water. Once the rig is deployed you’ll want your line running at about a 45 degree angle from the rod tip. Find the bottom and crank up just enough to keep the weight off of the bottom. I run about 8’ leaders with spinners in clear water and down to 4-5 feet in stained water.
You’ll need to experiment with weight size on the river according to the current.
I got some 3/4 ouncer’s for Christmas, are that small of a size a waste?
Optimum up to 7.5 feet. I guess it depennds on how deep you are fishing and your confidence.
Mid June I start fishing the deep gravel pulling spinners from 22′ to 32′. I’m running 3 ounces.
Some guys go lighter. I guess it just depends on what you are most comfortable with.
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Optimum up to 7.5 feet. I guess it depennds on how deep you are fishing and your confidence.
Mid June I start fishing the deep gravel pulling spinners from 22′ to 32′. I’m running 3 ounces.
Some guys go lighter. I guess it just depends on what you are most comfortable with.
Thanks for the time! 
I appreciate it.
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I got some 3/4 ouncer’s for Christmas, are that small of a size a waste? [/quot] Depending on depth 1/2 to 3/4 has its place pulling sd in dirty water.
I was all over this bottom bouncer rig when then I learned of these Denver and d Dubuque rigs. The choices are endless, first you decide on which rig, then on which bait to tie on, then figure out what speed. Only an insane person would subject themselves to this torture. Maybe I’m too obsessive compulsive, but count me in, can’t wait to get on the water and drive myself nuts.
I have found bouncers more effective in lake situations. Deep water where your bait can be precisely controlled and the proximity to the boat doesn’t matter too much. Rivers I go 3 way, less drag to deal with, and if it gets caught up in some nasty stuff all I lose is the dropper.
Thanks, will be trying both this week fishing below the dams on the WI river. They are drwing down the flowages, but not at an alarming rate, so current will be greater, but not a raging torrent.
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I got some 3/4 ouncer’s for Christmas, are that small of a size a waste?
No on days with fairly low wind and in 15ft or less of water they are good.
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I got some 3/4 ouncer’s for Christmas, are that small of a size a waste?
No on days with fairly low wind and in 15ft or less of water they are good.
Sounds good!
How about rods? I’m using a 7′ Med casting rod, would longer be better, 7’6″?
Again, you’ll have varied answers on this one.
I prefer a moderate action medium power. The moderate action allows the rod to slowly load up as the fish inhales the bait. When using a faster action, the rod will load up sooner and you are moere likley to pull the bait away from the fish.
You will be fine with either IMO. A fish inhaling your bait 20′ down the flex in the rod will mean little when it has to move a 3/4-1.5 oz bouncer as well. For me thats when line really comes into play, and having some stretch in the leader section will help that, depending on presentation.
In Canada last year we werent setup for bouncing much of anything, and found a nice current spot where the flow dumped out into the main lake and the big girls were stacked on the drop 16-20′ down. All I had was 66m casting rod setup with braid, and my dad had ,his 7′ heavy pike rod. Current was strong so on top of our 1.5 bouncers we added 3/4 rubber core to it as well to get our jointed raps down. Between the both of us we had to get 20fish between 24-30″ those couple days and I cant remember losing any fish BC of a bad rod setup. But, my dad lost all of our bouncers to rocks, and had quite a few fish hit the bait but never hookup. My guess would be I was running braid on my rig, and he had on big mono. Braid allowed me to get vertical more easy, have a better feel for bottom, and I ran a longer leader in than he did to counter the visibility of the braid, and it worked since I got easily 2x more fish. So my recommendation go braid, but make leaders longer than normal.
OP how did it go for ya?
I run a lot of BB and weight does depend on depth and speed. I like to stay in that 35-45 degree angle. I usually run a 6’10” pole or 6’8″, usually in a med power fast and x fast tip. Braided spool and a 5-6′ mono snell. I however will bounce the weight off the floor. My speed will vary anywhere from .5-.9 mph depending on what they want. Hope this helps
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