Do you find that when using a spring bobber you like a rod with a stiffer tip so you can see the spring move before the blank tip does?
Broke my primary panfish pole(with spring) in half during a trip a long time ago and am still using it today. I just happened to have a little shrink tube in the glove box and the rest is history. I keep some in my tackle box now. Clipped a perfectly good pole for my backup rig..
Try it with an old pole that just sits around or find a clearance cheapie available now. Leave just enough past an eyelet to dual wall shrink tube a bobber on.