Bobber fishing can be a very exciting type of fishing. It can be as passive or as active as you want. If you feel like throwing a line out, letting it sit and lie back in the grass to rest, you can. Or, if you’re targeting salmon or steelhead running up the rivers from the ocean on their way to spawn and floating a bobber along with the current, you can do that.
What I’m trying to say is that bobber fishing is a very versatile style of fishing. And even thought there are more advanced and complicated methods of setting up a bobber fishing rig, it’s still an excellent way for beginners to get started with the sport of fishing.
How Far Above The Hook Is The Bobber Supposed To Be?
When it comes to setting up a bobber rig, one of the most frequently asked questions is how far above the hook is the bobber supposed to be? In other words, how far up the line should the bobber be.
The answer is pretty simple:
The bobber should be as far above the hook and equal the same distance of depth that you want the hook to be suspended below the surface of the water.
For example, if you are fishing is relatively shallow water, and you want the hook (and bait) to be 2 feet below the surface of the water, then you would place the bobber on the fishing line two feet above the hook.
This will allow the hook to stop sinking at exactly 2 feet.
If you’re not exactly sure how to attach a bobber to your fishing line, I’ll cover that below.
How To Attach A Round Bobber To A Fishing Line
- Determine the proper depth you’d like to target fish at and pull that much line from your reel through the rod tip.
- The majority of clip on fishing bobbers have a plastic button on one side that you can press to lower and raise the short wire hook. Press that button on the edge to release one side’s hook and slip the fishing line under the wire hook. Then release the button, so it applies pressure to the line.
- Finally, run that line down the side of the bobber and fully press the button, so the other side’s hook presents itself. Secure the line to that side of the bobber and release the button. Now the line is held in place at two points between the top and bottom of the round bobber, and you are ready to attach your hook, shot, and bait.
Final Thoughts on Proper Bobber Placement
The best part about using a fishing bobber is creating the perfect bait presentation. A properly rigged fishing float can suspend your bait wherever you want it and allow it to drift naturally with the current.
But in order to create the ideal presentation, you first need to know how far above the hook a bobber should be, which you now know.
Bobber fishing is a highly interactive and effective angling technique because of its natural presentation combined with an ultra-sensitive strike indicator.