The Forgotten Art of Bottom Bouncing

Back in the olden days before soft plastics and injection-molded crankbaits, bottom bouncing with bucktails was a primary fishing tactic. Although few employ it these days it’s still as effective as is ever was, particularly when fish are schooled around structure in moderate depths. So, why don’t more anglers still try it? Somehow, it seems to be a lost art. The next time you have trouble keeping that jig or retrieving that crankbait at just the right depth to work it over and around structure fish are holding on, give it a shot—you might just be amazed at how well it works, and bottom bouncing may well become a standard part of your angling repertoire.

• Rig a three-way swivel with a two-foot leader on one eye and a six- to eight-foot leader on the other.
• Tie a quarter-ounce bucktail, jig, or similar offering to the longer leader.
• Tie a bank sinker to the shorter leader; the appropriate size depends on water depth and the amount of current and wind, but as a general rule start with two ounces for under 10 feet of water, three ounces in 15 feet of water, and four ounces in 20 feet of water.
• Set a trolling speed of two or three mph. That may seem slow but when you add in some action, it’s plenty of speed.
• Drop back the rig until it hits bottom, and hold the line taunt for five or six seconds. Then freespool again and let it hit bottom a second time. Lock up the reel and hold it, then give it a third drop-back. At this point, you should have approximately enough line out for bottom bouncing, but still need to fine-tune it a bit.
• Sweep the rod tip forward, then drop it back while maintaining minimum tension. If you feel the weight hit bottom before the rod tip is halfway back, take a few cranks on the reel. If you don’t feel it hit bottom before the rod tip is all the way aft, let out some additional line.
• Continue fine-tuning until you feel the weight tap down on bottom when you drop the rod tip back all the way or at least three-quarters of the way.
• With the line set accordingly, steer for the structure. As depth comes up or drops down, constantly take in or let out additional line as you sweep the rod, drop it back, and feel the weight touch down.

Most of the time, fish will take the lure right about when the weight touches down on bottom. That means your rod tip will be all the way aft—perfect for a forward-sweeping hook-set.