What to look for

[Alsept1]

When fishing for blues there are a couple of things to look for. The first is structure. Structure is any type of bottom change, like drop offs, underwater banks, and holes . The next is cover. Stuff like tree stumps, rocks, or even pipes in the lake. Keep in mind that blues love cool water.

[catfishbryan]

also find the drop offs and ledges in the lakes. heres a trick i use.
i take a non weighted slip float and 11inch one. then i i tie on a 2ounce egg sinker, i set them depth aproximetly at 8 ft ill cast it and slowly troll it in and i mean slowly and i watch the bobber very close and wait for it to stand, once u see that bobber stand u just hit a drop or ledge. and those blues like to lurk in those areas. hope this helps some. also keep in mind ask the bait house how deep there lake is. that way you can get a good idea as to where to set your stop on your float when trying to find some of these holes

[bobberdown618]

A LOT OF YOU CATFISHER'S MIGHT THINK I'M CRAZY. BUT I LIKE MY BOBBER TO SET A CERTAIN
HEIGHT OUT OF THE WATER. SO I TAKE SOME STRING THROUGH MY BOBBER AND TIE SOME SINKER'S ON FILL THE WASHER UP WITH WATER AND SET IT IN. IF IT'S NOT SETTING WRIGHT
I ADD OR MINUS THE WEIGHT. THEN I PUT SOME TAPE UNDER THE WATER LEVEL, AND WHEN
I GO TO A NEW LAKE, IF I SEE TAPE THEN I KNOW I'M TO DEEP.
THEN IT DEPEND'S ON HOW LONG YOUR LEADER IS.

[Mike]

bobberdown618 said:

I LIKE MY BOBBER TO SET A CERTAIN
HEIGHT OUT OF THE WATER.

I've heard that many times. One guy I was talking to at Cedar was going on and on about it. He swears by it.

[Alsept1]

Yeah me too. I set them as low as i can get with them not sinking all the way when trolling. This is so the fish will not fell the resistance.

[snake513]

me to alsept

[catfishbryan]

my uncle does same thing he barely wants his bobber above water. me i like mine to be exposed some but to each there own

[mark]

just like fishing bluegill....bass any thing that swims..

do you need a float 4 the float
or is this just for live bait like bigger bluegill/shad ect..??

how much wt gos on a 10'' float with no wt on it? 2oz??
1 1/2 oz??

[bobberdown618]

YOUR RIGHT MARK AFISH THAT SWIMS CAN'T HOULD YOUR BOBBER UNDER FOREVER HE MIGHT TAKE IT UNDER . BUT HE CAN'T HOLD IT UNDER FOR LONG TO MUNCH DEAD BAIT CAN TAKE IT UNDER AND NOT COME BACK UP. AND WHY BECAUSE DEAD BAIT HAS KNOW OXYGEN IN IT LIVE BAIT DOES.

[Mike]

My take. If a fish takes your bobber under, the more weight you have, the better. If he runs with it on the surface, the less amount of weight you have the better. I try to keep about 3"-4" sticking up when using a 12" bobber. My dad likes to keep about half up or more.

[bobberdown618]

MAYBE THIS WILL EXPLAIN BETTER YOU TAKE A 80# FISH WHEN HE DIES HE WILL FLOAT
UNTIL THE AIR SACK BUST INSIDE HIS BELLY. THAT IS OXYGEN WHEN IT IS GONE HE GOES TO
THE BOTTEM. AND HE WON'T COME BACK UP UNTIL YOU SNAG HIM OFF THE BOTTOM

[bobberdown618]

THAT'S RIGHT CINCY JUST WHAT ALSEPT1 IS SAYING THE LOWER THE BOBBER THE LESS
RESISTENCE THE FISH WILL FEEL. AND THAT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY TIME'S THE FISH HAS BEEN HOOKED. THEY GET SMARTER AS THE SUMMER GOES ON. WE WOULD TO WITH A SORE MOUTH.

[Big Smooth]

Remember the blue cat eats much like a shark does they hit it and run, this is why your clicker goes nuts when you get blue run. If they are on the move then I dont think it would matter what type of resistance they feel. They hit to quick to notice anything. However if it is early in the year and they are still a bit lethargic then yes the lower the bobber the less resistance, the more fish. I am not an expert, this is just what I have encountered. FISH ON!

[bobberdown618]

THAT'S FOR SURE ANY TIME YOU LOOK UP AT YOUR BOBBER. AND IT'S STILL STANDING AND IN 2 SECOND'S ALL YOU HERE IS CLICKER I CALL IT A RUNAWAY BLUE.

[joshcole]

I like my floats to sit low. This way it is easyer to take the float down for the fish.