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Ice Fishing Tips -Check your local regulations! => Equipment => Topic started by: A man called horse on Jan 08, 2022, 12:16 PM

Title: Better spring bobber
Post by: A man called horse on Jan 08, 2022, 12:16 PM
Every trip I make note of issues, weaknesses, cumbersome aspects of the day.
Recently posted the way to keep Powerbait from being stolen.

Today is the better spring bobber idea.
All the spring bobbers I’ve bought get buggered up to the point of an ugly piece of spaghetti. Granted there are probably dozens I’ve not tried, but they’re not in my gear pack and I want to fix the problem now.

Save your old wire wound guitar strings. A set will provide a variety of sensitivity, plus you can shorten to fine tune.
To fasten these you will need to remove the rod tip guide. I discovered mine had a very minor movement already, just worked it till it pulled off. If a high end rod or you can’t get it off you could use Ferrell wrap thread to secure the bobber.
Cut the guitar string to a desired length from the bridge end as the attached ring will be your eye. W/ needle nose bend the ring 90* to the wire to form the eye.
Two short pieces of appropriately sized heat shrink are used. One captures the indicator bead slipped on behind the eye. Slip the other down the rod tip, then reglue the tip in place and cover the junction w/ the remaining shrink tube.
Makes a sleek, non slip interference free set up. YMMV. Will field test this afternoon.

(https://i.postimg.cc/Z91g34J3/129-DF13-D-6138-4-E24-9-F25-B5-DD4-FC465-AB.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/Z91g34J3)

(https://i.postimg.cc/d77pLLcw/58222-CFC-9-CE9-4230-9-F1-A-EC18-A50-FBE48.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/d77pLLcw)

(https://i.postimg.cc/fJfNNtDP/FCEFA0-F9-9-F29-4974-BA67-16-A90-B666813.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fJfNNtDP)
Title: Re: Better spring bobber
Post by: threewack on Jan 08, 2022, 02:03 PM
You did a great job!Ive used them as well.
Title: Re: Better spring bobber
Post by: kc_ on Jan 10, 2022, 09:46 AM
Been using them since I started ice fishing.
The end on yours is too small and looks like it will freeze up.
We make a loop out of the guitar string and bend the string 90 degrees. That makes an eye for the line to go thru.
Title: Re: Better spring bobber
Post by: 3300 on Jan 15, 2022, 01:05 PM
I made a bunch of them and don't use them because they kink and don't retract.
Title: Re: Better spring bobber
Post by: river_scum on Feb 03, 2022, 09:38 AM
i like the st Croixs i have.  adjustable for length.  sometimes its hard to hook fish with really long spring bobber.

 x2 on end too small.