Fishing Forum

I am kind of new to bottom fishing, and i was wondering is anyone knew how to use a bottom bouncer, and what to hook onto it, Thanks!
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bottom bouncers are a whole differant deal. it's not just a drop and go setup. you would use a wormharness or a minnowharness. you want to troll them at about 0.5 to 0.8 mph, no more them 1.5. you will want to hold your rod straight out the side of the boat. this way you will be able to fish them better, and hook set better.
you need to be moving at your trolling speed and them drop your line down. don't drop your line very fast or you will tangle the harness. once it hits bottom tighten up you line. you will want to check for bottom contact about every 5 to 10 seconds. you should be able to touch bottom with about 1 to 2 feet of dropping your rod back, if not you need to adjust your line either up or down. thats one reason for holding your rod straight out the side. when you get a bite don't set the hook right away, feed it back a little and wait for it to start to get heavy. now set the hook with a long sweep forward motion (not up) forward.
trolling a bottom bouncer works better on a baitcast reel. also trolling a bouncer is adjusting your line up or down all day. you want to be able to touch bottom not drag bottom. hope this helps. later chuck
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Exactly
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While pulling a harness with a worm or minnow is by far the most common method with a bouncer, it is also very useful to pull a variety of crankbaits. I usually use small Rapalas, original floaters or even shad raps. The bouncer helps get them down and allows you to move them slower. Use a leader about 30 inches on the bouncer. Shallow running cranks are better than sinkers, but you can run a sinking one. A three way rig is also very good for running cranks. Check In-Fisherman to learn about rigging a threeway.

If you're going to try running cranks on bottom bouncers bring your checkbook as it's going to be an expensive day. Use a worm harness, they are designed to be used at that speed and as the therapist said by far the most common way of using them. Cranks for the most part should be ran faster to get the correct action out of them and even a floater will dive smack into the bottom if you're using a bouncer if you're bouncing it that is. If you want to use a three way swivel or use a bouncer weight as a sinker to bring a crankbait down deeper go for it but if you use it as a bouncer youre going to be spending a lot of cash replacing cranks.
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Thanks all for the help[]. Can i use one casting from shore, or will it not work?
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[] No.
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So say I am fishing in 15 feet of water, my line should only be out maybe 20-25 feet? I am new to bottom bouncers also and want to make sure I am understanding. They are pretty much trolled directly below the boat. Am I getting that right? Sounds like something that takes plenty of practice.
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i have caught walleye from shore using a bottom bouncer only. it don't matter what it is as long as the fish are wanting it. []
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No, just letting it touch bottom. If your boat was stopped just enogh line out for the bottom bouncer too touch the bottom as Chuck said not dragging it. Heres one coming up with a Walleye on it
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[quote Walleye_Guy]I am kind of new to bottom fishing, and i was wondering is anyone knew how to use a bottom bouncer, and what to hook onto it, Thanks![/quote]

This video explains most everything,one thing you will see right off the bat how straight up and down the line is,seeing what the bouncer looks like under the water shows you what Chuck was telling you.You lower the rod tip to touch the bottom to make sure you close.
There allot of diffrent worm harnesses,try bright colors,in muddy water,natrull colors in clear water,Holographic blades work great.
Look for these types of video's and you will have a good idea how it all works.
Then the tough part finding the walleye,and the color they want.
Good luck with this you may go fishless for the first 5 trips out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-WmSmw7rRw
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If you're trolling at .05 mph gps speed I'd say you should have about 17 feet out. It should tick the bottom with a slight movement downward of your rod tip. As someone else stated previously it shouldn't drag the bottom. I hear people here say they have them out 100 feet or more. That is not how you use a bottom bouncer. Line should be at a .45 degree angle. Depending on depth you may need a heavier or lighter bouncer to keep it at that angle.
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