To feed line to a fish while retaining the snag-resistant features of a bouncer, try a slip bouncer like the Quick Change Lite Bite. Much like a sliding slipsinker, the wire-legged lead weight clips into a clevis that slides down the line until it hits the barrel swivel at the end of the snell, positioning it a set distance ahead of the bait. Got a bite? Now feed all the line you want, so long as the bouncer doesn’t topple and fall between crags. And should you need a bigger bouncer, simply snap the first weight from the clevis and insert a heavier version. No retying.
Bouncers come in different wire lengths and thicknesses, depending on the manufacturer. Cabela’s and System Tackle offer bouncers with slip-on detachable lead weights for easy weight change. Walleye Angler adds a little rattle in their lead-free bouncers so fish hear ‘em comin’. Missouri River Tackle even has bouncers with spinners rotating on the wire shaft for added attraction. Once limited to dull lead finishes from basement manufacturers, sinkers now sport fluorescent orange, yellow, and chartreuse colors from tackle companies like Bait Rigs, Lindy-Little Joe, and Northland.
Split the Difference—From the heaviest heavyweights to the tiniest tidbits, lead provides depth control, even in the most subtle situations. For the ultimate in casting stealth, a simple split shot attached to your line about 18 inches ahead of a livebait combines slow-sinking stealth with on-bottom fishing. The ultralight weight minimizes snags and avoids spooking light-biting walleyes. Adjusting size and number of split shot fine-tunes the balance of slip bobber rigs, making them barely buoyant bite detectors, hovering a livebait at the desired level. A few shot up the line from a trolled minnow imitator sends the bait a bit deeper on the troll, reaching the exact depth needed to catch fish.
Carry an assortment of split shot in sizes BB, B, 3/0, and 7/0 for fine-tuning the balance and depth for subtle presentations. Shot like Water Gremlin’s removable and reusable split shot have tiny wings to bend the shot open and remove it from your line. Standard round shot is difficult to remove unless you pry it open with a pocketknife. Purists believe round shot reacts truer in shallow river drifting conditions to avoid snags and allow the most natural action. Most steelheaders carry round shot, and walleye anglers the reusable kind. Serious light-line bank fishermen of the Euro-persuasion often prefer ultrasoft shot like Dinsmores (available through Cabela’s or fly-shops) to prevent damaging extra-light line on the pinch—not a bad idea for ultralight ice-fishing for panfish. Some brands are billed as nontoxic.
Many walleye-oriented tackle companies offer sinkers in various shapes and sizes, colors, and configurations. Much of the time, however, plain old generic cheapie no-name lead sinkers perform just fine. Carry an assortment for adapting to conditions.
