By Nick Simonson

Slip floats not only represent a step up for a young angler from the red-and-white clip on bobber, but also a great way of targeting many species of fish.  From walleyes along a breakline or crappies against a developing summer weed edge, floating a live bait offering to any gamefish can be as precise and successful via a slip bobber as just about any other means.  However, there are some finer points in this versatile presentation that should be considered when setting up a slip float for a fishing trip.

Well Balanced

Balancing a slip float against the weight below it is crucial in getting the best presentation.  Foremost, a slip float and its buoyant nature represents a source of resistance against the take of a fish.  Too much pressure from the foam or balsa floating high up top may cause a wary fish, such as a walleye, to drop the bait as it feels unnatural. 

The placing of split shot on the line above the hook can help balance out the buoyancy of the bobber, but how much must be considered when doing so.  Stack too many weights, and the freedom of motion by a hooked minnow is minimized, not enough and the bobber will still provide unnatural resistance.

Thus, selecting the proper slip float is important. Bigger floats will require more downward pressure to submerge, smaller ones may not be big enough.  Through some trial and error, find the right mix for the presentation and the setup being used.  Use enough weight to make the bobber stand up when the bead and stop hit its top, but don’t overload the line either, noting that wider floats also provide more surface resistance, and slimmer bobbers will be pulled under more easily.

Electric Slide

Few sights provide more instant excitement in the outdoors than a submerged slip float.  To ensure things set up easily and a float deploys properly and can be retrieved without issue, consider first the line being used.  For fish that are less likely to bite through the line – panfish and bass, predominantly – monofilament works well, and easily slides through the middle of a slip float right down to the split shot as a fish is reeled in. Mono can be used for walleye slip floating as well, but just note that they too have sharp teeth and can cut the line, especially if they take a bait with a big inhale before the hookset.  Use small-diameter superlines that are more rounded, such as PowerPro and an abrasion resistant leader, such as fluorocarbon, to minimize bite-offs when fishing for toothier species.

Those rounded lines, like monofilament or certain braids designed to maintain a cylindrical shape, pass through  the float more easily, allowing it to deploy a bait faster, stand up taller, and slide down the line during the retrieve.  Keep that in mind when spooling up a dedicated bobber reel and rod – usually with a faster tip and a good load – so the system works the way it should.  Slipfloats can make for a successful day on the water, and while they’re a bit more advanced, they can easily be adjusted with a slide of a bobber stop to put any bait out there for whatever is being fished.  Utilize them to present offerings precisely, and find the float that works best and can be balanced with the right weight for a natural presentation any time this openwater season.

Simonson is the lead writer and editor of Dakota Edge Outdoors.

Featured Photo: Slip floats are a step up for some anglers, but in time provide the best way to accurately present live baits and other options to a number of fish species. Simonson Photo.