What is a bottom bouncer when fishing?

A bottom bouncer is a simple piece of terminal tackle that is comprised of an inverted “L” shaped wire form with a weight and snap swivel attached. It’s typically used for drifting or trolling natural live bait, artificial plastics, spinners, spoons and crank baits in depths from 10 to 35+ feet.

Can you use bottom bouncer from shore?

You can also use a bottom bouncer from shore. Either way, as you drag, the bait or lure will bounce, raising puffs of sand or mud. It is also helpful to know how to make a bottom bouncer rig to keep your bait in the right position.

How heavy should my bottom bouncer be?

The basic rule: one ounce of weight for every 10 feet of depth. A 2-ounce bottom-bouncer is pretty versatile, but a 3-ouncer may be necessary to get your spinner down to the bottom when fishing around 30-feet deep. You want to keep your line at about a 45-degree angle for the best action and feel of your presentation.

How long should the leader be under the bottom bouncer?

Bottom bouncer setup Next, attach your leader to the snap swivel of the bouncer. The leader should be 3 to 7 feet long, and you should use 8 to 10 lb test fluorocarbon for this. You can then attach a wide variety of rigs or lures at the end of your leader, or just a single hook baited with a live minnow or leech.

Can you cast a bottom bouncer from shore?

Yes, you can fish bottom bouncers from shore, by casting them out and retrieving them with a spinning rod setup. Just keep in mind that you need to use a shorter leader when you do this (less than 3 feet long), as long leaders are harder to cast, and tend to get tangled with your main line during the casting process.

Can you use bottom bouncers for catfish?

Used primarily to catch walleye, the bottom bouncer rig is highly productive on crappie, catfish, white bass, black bass and other pan- and sportfish that dwell near bottom. Here is how to tie a bottom bouncer rig. – Tie main line from rod to the loop in the L-bend of bottom bouncer.

How far behind the boat should a bottom bouncer be?

Set your trolling speed first and maintain a consistent speed while fishing. Select a bottom bouncer heavy enough to easily fish at about a 45° angle behind the boat. Use big and lively nightcrawlers for bait and replace the crawler if a short strike rips the tail off.