The sight of a slip float all of a sudden sinking beneath the floor courtesy of a hungry walleye unable to withstand reside bait by no means will get outdated. Under, two walleye consultants share slip-float methods for catching summertime walleye. 

Summer season spots for corkin’

“By way of good slip bobber areas, I have a tendency to think about shallow or deep, not average or in between,” stated Joel Nelson, a walleye professional and angling educator from Minnesota. “Deep stuff tends to be flats or deep gravel bars…. [and] for essentially the most half, you need a constant depth as a way to pitch throughout you.”

Nelson additionally makes use of a slip float shallow, particularly on wind-blown buildings. Once more, a reasonably uniform backside is most popular to cut back hang-ups. He positions the boat deep, then pitches the float up shallow to keep away from spooking walleye in clear water.

One other slip float supporter is Adam Pugh, a fishing information and proprietor/operator of Lake Temagami’s Loon Lodge (loonlodge.com) along with his spouse, Kayla. Whereas he prefers synthetic shows, Pugh depends on floats and reside minnows in summer season to assist purchasers catch walleye from snag-riddled, rock reefs and shoals in 20-plus ft of water. No pitching right here, although, given the uneven terrain. As a substitute, he units the bobber cease to maintain a back-hooked minnow eight to 16 inches off backside, then has purchasers drop the float immediately off the facet of the boat.

“I exploit the slip bobber fairly a bit for extra inexperienced anglers. It prevents snags and in comparison with a drop-shot, its effectiveness is fairly related,” Pugh stated.

Reducing-edge meets old style

“With forward-facing sonar, we’re seeing a resurgence in slip bobbering. Garmin’s Livescope has revitalized new purposes for the slip bobber idea. You may pitch to fish you possibly can see,” Nelson stated.

He shared tales of anglers cashing cheques in walleye tournaments utilizing forward-facing sonar to search out walleye in weedbeds, then concentrating on them with a float dangling reside bait.

In my expertise, Nelson’s observations are bang-on. There aren’t any ensures in fishing. However with the ability to pinpoint walleye, after which dangle live-bait of their faces is perhaps as near a positive factor as you’re going to get.

Additionally noteworthy are the legions of anglers counting on side-scanning sonar to find and catch walleye scattered on flats, regarding weedlines, or stationed on sand bars, to call just some areas.

Sharp-shooting slip floats

“As soon as fish are deep, they’re not very boat shy. I exploit a method some name sharp-shooting,” Pugh stated. “I would spend a half hour trying, then a half hour to 45 minutes fishing.”

Sharp-shooting depends totally on 2D or down-view sonar to get immediately over walleye, then shortly dropping a fast-sinking presentation whereas staying over fish. Jigging Raps, bladebaits, and drop-shots are standard selections, however a slip float has lengthy been the gold normal for live-bait techniques. That is usually referred to as “energy corking” or “energy bobbering.” 

Rigging floats

“The best strategy to do the entire thing is with a jig head,” Nelson stated. “If fish aren’t shy and are consuming it, 75% of the time that’s what I run.” When walleye are fussy, he switches from a jig to a extra finesse and free-swimming leech on a #4 or #6 octopus hook.

“With the water being so gin-clear I really feel an extended lead is essential,” says Pugh. “Sure, the sinker is sliding and sure it does bang towards the hook. Name me loopy, however that clacking sound, I really feel, acts like an attractant and in addition helps for those who’re casting. As the minnow swims across the weight will make a noise.

Setting depth

Electronics give clues on setting the bait depth. Inactive walleye would possibly require reside bait a mere eight inches above the ground. Energetic fish suspending off backside are more likely to rise a pair ft for a meal.

“It’s very easy to be too far down,” Nelson stated. “Too low of a bait can cover behind a boulder. I feel lots of anglers can set it loads increased than they assume and get away with it, and in addition not fear about getting snagged in the event that they occur to forged shallow.”

If the midsummer doldrums discover their strategy to your favorite walleye lake, attempt these slip bobber techniques to make ‘em chunk.

Initially revealed within the July 2022 situation of Ontario OUT of DOORS

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