The fixed bobber runs out of usefulness at about four feet. The slip bobber has no limit: the float slides down to the hook for casting, then rides up the line until it hits a tiny knot you set at the depth you want. Set a leech 18 inches off the top of a reef in 22 feet of water and the float sits it there, all evening, while you watch it. Nothing on this site has caught more Canadian walleye.
What you need
- Bobber stopThread or rubber stop knot (packs of pre-tied stops)
- BeadSmall plastic bead so the stop can't pass through the float
- Slip floatWeighted or unweighted pencil/cigar slip float sized for the bait
- Split shot or slip sinker1–3 split shot 12–18" above the hook, or a 1/8 oz egg sinker
- Hook#4–#6 octopus hook or a 1/16–1/8 oz jig
- BaitLeech, minnow, or half a nightcrawler
- Line6–8 lb mono (mono floats and helps the stop knot grip)
How to tie the slip bobber rig
- Slide the bobber stop onto the line and snug it down; you will move it later to set depth.
- Slide on the bead, then the slip float (line through the float's tube, top to bottom).
- Add split shot 12–18 inches above the hook — enough to make the float stand up with only the tip showing.
- Tie on the hook or jig with an improved clinch or Palomar knot.
- Set depth: slide the stop up the line until the distance from stop to hook equals how deep you want the bait. Wet the knot so it slides, then it stays.
- Hook the bait: leech through the sucker end, minnow through the lips or just behind the dorsal fin, crawler through the nose.
How to fish it
Cast past the spot, let the bait settle and the float stand up, then let it drift or twitch it back a foot at a time. When the float goes down, reel until you feel weight and sweep. With circle hooks, just reel. Around dusk on a rock reef, this is the walleye bite.
Tips
- Use a lighted float after dark — walleye feed hardest in the last hour and after.
- A small jig instead of a plain hook adds colour and keeps the bait down in wind.
- Anchor upwind of the spot and let the float drift across it.
Common mistakes
- Setting the bait right on the bottom. Walleye look up; 1–2 ft off bottom is best.
- Too little weight, so the float lies flat and you miss light bites.
- Using braid; the stop slips and the line sinks. Mono or a mono top-shot is easier.
FAQ
How do I set the depth on a slip bobber?
Slide the bobber stop up the line. The bait hangs at whatever distance sits between the stop knot and the hook. Start 1–2 feet off bottom and adjust.
Slip bobber for walleye: leech or minnow?
Leeches from late May through July; minnows in cold water (spring and fall). Half a crawler works all summer.