Bottom Bouncing

[Meanderer]

Am trying to understand the mechanics of bottom bouncing. Found this web note:

Bottom Bouncing is a technique where you work your bait down the current by slowly bouncing it... moving it up and down, on the bottom.

You put a Weight part way up your line and attach a baited hook below it. Be sure that you have enough weight to hold the bait on the bottom in the current.

Position yourself up stream from the area you wish to fish.

Cast your line out and leave the reel open. Using your hands slowly raise the weight off the bottom then let out some slack line to allow it to move down current as it drops. Repeat this many times until your bait is through the area you want to fish.

Basically you are slowly walking your bait along the bottom using the current to bring it into the area you want to fish and away from you.

Is this fairly accurate?
No float is used?
What weight is good for the tribs?
Does it work for steelhead?

Thanks.

 

[LogJam]

Am trying to understand the mechanics of bottom bouncing. Found this web note:

Bottom Bouncing is a technique where you work your bait down the current by slowly bouncing it... moving it up and down, on the bottom.

You put a Weight part way up your line and attach a baited hook below it. Be sure that you have enough weight to hold the bait on the bottom in the current.

Position yourself up stream from the area you wish to fish.

Cast your line out and leave the reel open. Using your hands slowly raise the weight off the bottom then let out some slack line to allow it to move down current as it drops. Repeat this many times until your bait is through the area you want to fish.

Basically you are slowly walking your bait along the bottom using the current to bring it into the area you want to fish and away from you.

Is this fairly accurate?
No float is used?
What weight is good for the tribs?
Does it work for steelhead?

Thanks.

yes that pretty much how it works, i find getting the right amount of weight is key, to much and it just sits on bottom in slow water, but in fast water it will "diggel" around
not enough weight's in slower water, it wont make it to the bottom, to much weight and it sticks in the mud.. lol


i like to bounce the starting of big holes, where fish may be waiting for passing food, or waiting for a break to make it up faster slower water.
i will use enough weights so i can feel my weights stick to the bottom and then have my bait pull it off and move a bit...
only done it with worms tho, lol they cover the hook better, less snags...

hope that kinda helps ya!

if not i can go into my detail, and im sure others will have good advice for ya!!
cheers

ps, keep ur line tight, that way when a fish hits it will almost every time set the hook for ya.

 

[staffman]

The article you posted isn't how I bottom bounce. When bottom bouncing for steelhead I tie a swivel to the end of my line and tie on a swivel to which I attach a 18 to 24 inch foloro leader (6 lb. ), and hook. You can use a tag end at the swivel to attach split shot to or add a separate mono dropper at the swivel to put your split shot on. Getting the amount of weight right is important, your rig should be tapping bottom regularly. To little weight and you will not be tapping bottom, where as to much weight will lead to snags. Cast up stream to a 10 o'clock position so that it has time to sink before it gets back to you. Hold your rod high at the start of the drift so your offering sinks fast, then follow the drift with your rod tip ,lowering it slowly as the the offering gets further down stream. At the end of the drift let the offer hover for a moment before retrieving your line and starting over. When people ask, "how do you know when you have a hit " , the best answer that i can give is that ,if it isn't obvious , that there was a break in the bottom ticking pattern or that something didn't feel the same. Back in the seventies everyone fished this way until float fishing and pinning became popular. I haven't bottom bounced in a few years now , but it is an effective fishing method , once you catch on to it. Make sure to close your bail and fish with the line over your index finger for maximum feel of what is happening. Placing the shot on a dropper means that when you get hung up you can pull on your rig and most time just loose the shot.

 

[Blair]

You basically got it right!
Logjam & Staffman added some great insight as well.


Since ... I have NOT started Centre Pinning/Float Drifting ... "yet" (This spring).... Bottom Bouncing is the ONLY WAY I fish for Steelies.
Killer technique!

I like it the most in Deeper/Fast water.
In the "Slow Pools' it's almost "Static Fishing" - other than letting it gently ride the bottom through the pool.

I reccomend Staffman's advice and hook your weight to a separte lead. Avoids losing whole setup on snags.

SNAGS will discourage the average fisherman from this technique.
Once you know the pool ... it gets more enjoyable. (If you have a good memory and dont get lazy)

The fish are on the BOTTOM, so ... thats where your bait should be.
Tap... Tap... (Not a rock) SET and WHAM! Fight on


DOUBLE CHECK your LINE & HOOKS, after every bottom bounce drift (Just quick glance)


ps; Fun to fish with all the Pinners this way. (With proper etiquitte of course)
The "rude & arrogant" ones .... dont "understand" what your doing - they actually think your trying to "Snag" steelies.

The polite ones will always strike up a pleasant conversation at how they used to fish that way, and how effective a technique it can be!
*SMILES*


At the end of the day, if you master this technique, it will do you well.
Follow the regs, be polite and enjoy yourself.... makes for a great day out!

 

[Meanderer]

The article you posted isn't how I bottom bounce. When bottom bouncing for steelhead I tie a swivel to the end of my line and tie on a swivel to which I attach a 18 to 24 inch foloro leader (6 lb. ), and hook. You can use a tag end at the swivel to attach split shot to or add a separate mono dropper at the swivel to put your split shot on. Getting the amount of weight right is important, your rig should be tapping bottom regularly.

Great input. What exactly is a mono dropper?

 

[staffman]

Take a 10 inch piece of your mainline or a 10 inch piece of your leader material and run it through one eye of your swivel so you have 5 inches on each side. With the two ends held in one hand tie an overhand knot with this close to the swivel. , now you have a small loop at the swivel with two loose ends hanging down. . Put your shot on the 2 loose ends, which means that both loose ends run through each piece of shot. You will find this holds your shot better than a single tag running through your shot. I hope this helps and remember as others stated keep a tight line to your offering so you can feel your shot tapping the river bottom. You could also just double the 10 inch piece of line pass the loop through the eye of the swivel then run the loose ends through that loop and pull tight.



Blair you've got to try pinning. Anyone that loves fishing as much as you do must give pinning a go.

 

[Blair]

Blair you've got to try pinning. Anyone that loves fishing as much as you do must give pinning a go.
[/quote]


*SMILES*

Opener 2012 ... I shall be standing in a Trib with a CENTRE PIN!
Figure I'll pick one up in mid Feb or early March and Practice, Practice... Practice.

I will end up being one of few centre pinners who doesnt think the "Reel" is the most important thing in a Pic.

*SMILES*

Could never figure out that Strange Habit of Vanity.
Too each their own...

 

[hightechdecks]

you can dropshot w/ baits other than roe....try it with a small flatfish in deeper runs w/ moderate current seen a few fish taken this way though personally i have never tried it.

 

[NADO]

[/quote]
*SMILES*

Opener 2012 ... I shall be standing in a Trib with a CENTRE PIN!
Figure I'll pick one up in mid Feb or early March and Practice, Practice... Practice.

I will end up being one of few centre pinners who doesnt think the "Reel" is the most important thing in a Pic.

*SMILES*

Could never figure out that Strange Habit of Vanity.
Too each their own...
[/quote]


If you can I would try to get one on boxing day, not sure if there will be any deals in February/March

 

[NOTTA STEELER]

Hey guys , just adding my little bit here .
Many times out fishing with the guys , come to a part of the day when things slow down from a floaters point of view.
I take off my float and slide my weights down together and simply cast into the flow with my float reel and I always suprise the others with a few fish .
Then slide my weights up , attach the float and I'm back at floating again , who needs another reel ? Not me ... LOL

 

[hightechdecks]

Lol ....yup i hear that there has been times i have beach casted meaford w/ the center pin when the river was blown. my buddy took a chinook a few years back casting a J-9 on his pin as a joke.