Rattle Reel Setups

For you permanents/wheel house guys, how are you running your rattle reel setups?

Like most guys I know, I run fly line to a swivel and then a fluoro leader. From there i’ll either run a bobber or set the tension on the reel just heavy enough where the minnow can’t pull it down and trip it.

Has anyone running fly line and a bobber found a decent solution for a bobber stop? Or is there another solution i’m missing entirely? Seems like everything i’ve tried works to an extent, but I can’t seem to find anything i’ve been super happy with.

Small splitshot works great for a bobber stop.

Why use a bobber stop? If you use a bobber on your rattle wheels, just use a clamp on bobber.

Personally, I typically use a plain hook/split shot and mark my depth with a tip up line marker to indicate position.

They sell tiny bobbers that are for this use, that’s what I use. Or I have seen people use twist tie’s.

I use twist ties, clip on bobbers or wrap the fly line on the ice buster bobbers twice around the red portion.

I use a small clamp on bobber and i attach it to the fly line right below the rattle reel. (bobber never sees water unless fish pulls enough line out to do so) This is only there so when i catch a fish, i can set it to exactly the same height as prior.

Disassemble your rattle reel, and add some washers and lube so the reel has the exact right tension and never tightens or loosens. I typically use a lock nut on the threaded rod. Advice may not apply to all styles of rattle reels.

Also, you can ditch the swivel (Pain to tie fly line to it) and simply tie a Uni-Knot over the fly line with you leader. It’ll cinch tight to the line and hold well.

I have 6 rattle reels i custom made and attached them to a clamp. I’ve clamped them to buckets while on the ice hole hopping, clamped to ceiling of one-man house for a quick bobber (rattle reel) setup, and of course, to every rental house that has dogcrud rattlereels they get clamped to whatever i can clamp onto – haven’t found a house i couldn’t do this on every hole yet.

Just use a bobber and have the right amount of weight by the hook so the minnow can’t pull it under but any fish will. Don’t need to be fancier than that.

Like Ryan. Small split shot

I use a match stick. Works great.
DT

A very small barrel swivel. Loop end in one side, and out through the other hole. It slides up and down easily but won’t cut and sinch in to the fly line. Or else those multi colored craft beads with the large hole in the center, in and around twice.