3 ways or Bottom bouncers

If you had to choose one of these presentations river fishing for walleyes which one would you use and why?

Let’s hear the reasons why you would choose one over the other.

I’ve only used bottom bouncers a few times and produced some nice 24″ to 26″ walleye on the Chippewa River. Very big for what I’m used to catching for walleye. I’ve only used them once or twice on the Miss. River and they haven’t produce anythign for me. I’ve never used 3-ways.

Then again I’m not a walleye angler. I’d like to be, but the learning curve scares away those who fish with me. They only want to catch fish! And since I don’t have a problem finding and catching bass, well….

Though this year I think it will be time to focus more on the crappie so I can have something to eat. I’ll get to the walleye eventually…

For me it depends on bottom structure and depth of fish. About the only time i’ll go with a 3-way is if the fish are holding off the bottom because you can make the dropper longer and put the bait in the fishes face. I like a bottom bouncer better, because it wont get hung as much yea i know weights are cheap but you cat catch as manny fish when you have to keep retieing them on.

I use bottom bouncers more than 3-ways up here on Lake Wisconsin. That has alot to do with all the submerged lumber. For me, that has brought a higher comfort level with bottom bouncers than 3-ways. I still use 3-ways depending on where I’m fishing, but more often than not, bottom bouncers get first call.
I don’t always run them right on the bottom either. From July thru September especially, I like to run them up off the bottom two to four feet at times.
JWB

I love to use bottom bouncers on wingdams. I think I can feel the structure alot better,also it seems to go with the flow of current along the wingdam great. Great set up in the summer on the hard to catch eyes.

3ways with pencil weights. Don’t like the bottom bouncer weights cause I have a hard time telling if just the tip is touching bottom or if the whole thing is laying down.

Bell sinkers or pencil weights for this guy. The only time I’d opt for a bouncer on the river would be in a vertical or near vertical presentation over a hard, snaggy bottom. Most of our rigging is in fairly shallow water with long lines. Bouncers fall over and drag and just don’t accomplish what we’re looking for.

I have only fished with bottom bouncers a few times and never had much luck. Love to fish with 3 way with a crankbit and jig with plastic. We fish a lot of side channels and sloughs in the summer where the water is only 8 to 12 feet and sometimes shallower. On the dropper for the jig I put lighter line on . If my jig gets snagged up I’d rather lose it then my crankbait. Last summer probably at least half of the walleye I caught were on the jig versus the crankbait.

I use 3-way rigs except for vertical jigging or occasionally pitching jigs. I use 3-ways to fish wingdams and structure. I use a heavy jig for my weight on the 3-way rigs. The weight varies from 3/8 oz to 1 oz depending on the current. I would have to guess that around 1/3 of the fish I catch on a 3-way rig are caught on the jig. 3-ways are perfect for working wingdams. The drop jig works the face and trough of the dam while the long line works the face and top of the dam. Occasionally I have taken doubles with one on the jig and one on the long line. My drop jig doubles as a bottom bouncer in a way. I never drag it but instead jig it along bouncing on the bottom.

Eyehunter

I thought i’d better add that when I’m using 3 ways this way we are trolling.

Why is it better to use a 3-way/bell sinker for pulling cranks than a bottom bouncer???

Well, I’ve never seen a 4 ounce bottom bouncer, and that’s the weight I use at a minimum, to pull stickbaits. So that disqualifies bouncers for me right there. But, if I could find heavier bouncers, they would lack the needed adjustability needed to accurately present a variety of baits. I need a 12″ dropper to run #7 floating raps. About 16″ for #13’s. Little rippers need almost 24″ of dropper to stay out of the bottom. I can adjust that distance with bell sinkers and a mono leader but my choices are few with bouncers.

That sir, is GREAT info!!!

Thanks very much!!!

I like 3 ways with a jig. You have twice the chance of catching fish. Plus they seem to work better for me! Just my $.02.

When you fish a 3 way with a jig dropper you can only fish one rod. When I troll 3-ways n’ cranks I use two rods. One in the holder, one in the hand until I get over 5 Ounces and then holding them is a bit too much like exercise and then they both STAY in the holders… lol

James:

When pulling 3-ways, with that heavy of a weight, what type of rod are you using? Wild River rods???

No, I prefer a set of 8′ 6″ cheapie dipsey rods. You need some backbone, along with a little give in the top 2′ of the rod to keep from ripping hooks loose, to pull those heavy bells. The wildriver rods are great for longlining but would bend under the weight so much that the tips would be in the water.

In my experience, I’ve found that a 3-way has less drag going thru the water than a bottom bouncer. If you are moving relatively slow, as in pulling harnesses, its not as big a deal, but at higher speeds it makes a huge difference mainly because of the added line you would have to put out to maintain the desired depth. When you have all that extra line out, the opportunity to snag up increases greatly, and its more difficult to make preciece changes in your depth as the bottom fluctuates.