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View Full Version : The way to mount a spring bobber & how to work T.H.E. Jig


CrappieKeith
11-26-2007, 09:31 AM
I'd like to warn you that the round springs are too stiff & the coiled springs freeze up & are too soft.
I like the flat springs.
They are too long so I cut them in half so about 2 inches of spring hangs off the end of my rod.
The rod should be stiff with a fast tip so you can hold it still.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/HPIM0845.jpg
I like about 2 inches of spring off of the end of the rod.3"
is ok ,but the spring has a tendency to droop.You really
want it to be straight as can be.
That way if there is any bend in the spring,it would
indicate a fish is on.
A loop knot allows T.H.E Jig to hang horizontally.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_HPIM1335.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=HPIM1335.flv)
You'll want to add a small sinker 16" above T.H.E. Jig to help it fall faster.
Once you have the rod rigged you need to learn how to lift.
It takes some practice to know how far to lift & it changes
in every body of water or when the pressure moves.
For example I've seen new fellows say I can't get it to
move. I'll ask ,how far did you lift? They'll respond with
1 foot.
Sometimes you'll need to pull away from the fish
3-5 feet before it makes the break after your bait.
Sometimes you are suffering from the gentleman factor.
Let me explain. You have 2 or 3 fish tight together.
You lift and the fish say to each other you get it.
No you get it,that's ok you can have this one,no you
can have it.No,I had the last one you can have this one .
you'll need to get some serious seperation,but when
you get close to their ceiling which is how far they
will lift and no further 1 will say excuse me,I'll take
this one & scream up to drill the bait.
Having a Vexilar allows me to see how they are
reacting,what the ceiling is,when they are about
to hit my bait so I'm coiled & ready to rear back driving
the hook into the bone of their uppr mouth.It shows
me if the fish are even there.I can also get an idea
of the species and what the bottom of the lake is made of.
Once you have spent a season watching you'll learn
all of these thing if you pay attention.
There are in my book anyway , a few tools that are
a must have while ice fishing.
A good rod & reel rigged with a spring & of coarse a back up.
A good locator(Vexilar)
A good portable house
A good sharp auger&heater
Last ,but certainly not the least,
T.H.E. JIG!!!!

CrappieKeith
11-26-2007, 09:48 AM
some more.......

Let me start this post with to each his own......We all have our ways of doing things....

Having said that I have had the full gammet of rods.
The noodles are to whippy and bounce too much for me to see a spring or the tip reflect the hit.You have to be able to hold the rod still.Noodles are impossible to hold still.

Next,I've had the really stiff rods that are no fun to haul up pound crappies with.
You may as well fish a 2x4 plus when setting the hook they rip the hook loose all to often.
Sure loosening the reel's drag can help offset the losses .I just find that a rod should soak up some of the restistance.That's why they bend.

I have some rods like the UL lightning rod sig.series that can almost detect all of the bites yet I'll find that I'm missing the hit on those tough days were the fish barely inhales the jig I'm using.

So in the end I like a rod with a solid backbone and a fast tip.I get quick hooksets and I have the ability to play out the fish.

When it comes to springs....coil springs are to light.Dropping a 64th oz jig and a small sinker will make that spring bend.The spring needs to be straight out from the rod.

Round wire springs are too stiff to see those super light hits.

Flat springs are my choice through the trials and errors.
Their drawback is that they are too long.
Cutting them back to around 3-4 " and rapping them on the rod so that 2.5" overhangs.
The kink factor does not come into play being shorter and they stiffen some.

I'm thowing this out to help those that may be looking to get into ice fishing without a cork.
I've spent mucho $$$ and have made several choices that did not put more fish on the ice.
I hope this may help a few novices out there.

Finese fishing is tricky ,but with some practice you'll be the guy out fishing your buddies.

I should add that the aide of a quality flasher and a portable with heat is all you'll need you be productive no matter the conditions.

Oh an auger too.

Illinoisgiller
11-26-2007, 10:13 AM
I would imagine tha most of my rods would be classed as "noodles" lol My son gets a kick out of me setting the hook on a deep gill by rapping the rod tip on the ceiling of my Shappell cloth 3000 .The noodle rods I normally use coupled with the flat spring bobber being too long calls forr a hefty pull to set the hook. :confused0024:
Thanks to you Keith, I'm picking up lots of tips and you can be assured someone is listening. I'll go through my rods and if I don't have the right ones, I'll find them. Thanks for the help, Mike

CrappieKeith
11-26-2007, 10:18 AM
Gander Mountain has a 24" light that is perfect.
It's the one in the pic.
Do not get Ultra light,get the Light.
The UL is too soft.
They sell for 12$ 9-10 on sale.They compare for me anyway to the 30$ rods I used to buy.

Illinoisgiller
11-26-2007, 11:28 AM
Now how handy is this. We have a Gander Mountain just across the river. Thanks, Mike

CrappieKeith
11-26-2007, 12:04 PM
I'd get over there and get me some of those rods. I have 3 now and if I can get over to G.M. I'd pick up a few more.
It' seems there's always someone on the ice without the correct gear and having a new set up lets' me help the guy get geared for cheap.

gofish
11-26-2007, 06:46 PM
ya dont like them rods i was tellin ya bout then? i havent tried the spring bobber on a rod with a reel myself,figured itd abrade the line.we git ice ill have ta give er a try.

CrappieKeith
11-26-2007, 10:42 PM
no issues at all.
We are making some serious ice this week.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_HPIM1378.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=HPIM1378.flv)

Illinoisgiller
11-27-2007, 05:20 AM
Thanks for sharing the video Keith. Was that from this last Sun. If so you are making ice fast. I and Schoe might slip over to Gander Moutain to have a looksee at those rods today :icon_cool:if all works out.

cattracker16
11-27-2007, 06:38 AM
If you guys make it to G M make sure ya pick an extra rod. I am getting the itch to do some hard water fishing, with all these kool video's that keith is putting up.

CrappieKeith
11-27-2007, 08:03 AM
I'm glad to get your blood pumping.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_HPIM1814.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=HPIM1814.flv)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_HPIM1843.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=HPIM1843.flv)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_HPIM1845.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=HPIM1845.flv)

Illinoisgiller
11-27-2007, 10:29 AM
CrappieKeith, Thanks for posting the neat videos. :icon_cool::icon_cool::icon_cool: I sure enjoy them. I click on one, go out in the shop for a while, and when I return I have a movie loaded and waiting. Life is good!!!:party0011::party0011: lol Mike

Illinoisgiller
11-27-2007, 05:48 PM
CrappieKeith- We got to Gander Mountain and still no rod.. There was a 5'X6' bank of rods there. There was 4 or 5 models of just the Gander Mountain brand offerings. Is there any model no# on yours? I had no problem finding the "noodles", but still a lot to choose from with them eliminated.:confused0024: Mike

jason454ci
11-27-2007, 09:02 PM
It amazes me how you guys sit out there on ice and act like it ain't even cold out. I'd have me a big ole bon fire going on out there. :icon_biggrin:

CrappieKeith
11-27-2007, 11:23 PM
When you have the right gear ,it's warm and toasty expierence.
We are also aclimated to the cold,I've fished in a portable at 40 below 0......now that's cold!
It was 4 below last night and right now it's 0.We are making ice quick.I'll be out Sat. morning so get ready for some new pics and video.
The early ice slabs are so tasty and the bigger ones are feeding hard.Click on the pic to see
the slide show.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/th_HPIM1623.jpg (http://s65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/?action=view&current=1174252927.pbw)

Illinoisgiller
12-10-2007, 07:58 PM
I couldn't tell for sure what CrappieKeith used for mounting the flat spring on the rod. This is what I came up with . Looks like it will work out fine.
I took some rod winding thread and wrapped it on the guides as one would wind thread to apply eyes on a rod. I then overlayed it with some Exo-Flex, a flexable body building stuff for fly tyers. At least it didn't leave any sharp edges anywhere. I stayed on top of the guide wraps so I wouldn't affect the rod action much. Mike

CrappieKeith
12-10-2007, 11:34 PM
That looks very good.
Nice job!