Question about F-N-F

For the guys that don't live close to Dale, are there other jigs that can be used with good success beside punisher jigs?

And one other question:

Why doesn't anybody use a slip bobber and bobberstop instead of the swivel, bobber and long rods?

I don't live close to Dale but i order my punisher jigs through their website...great service.....they just had a big post about the slip bobbers...the jigs arent heavy enough to pull the line through the bobber...especially on a windy day...also a lot of your bites will just tip the floater over because they are hitting it from underneath and the slip bobber wont do that...again the jig isnt heavy enough

I have some hand tied ones from Backwaters in Lexington that I witnessed catch a big smallie just this week. They have an odd shaped hook, but it seemed to hook-up just fine.

Also, I've seen a few fish caught on some that my brother tied. He just buys the jig heads from Punisher and then ties his own.

Slip bobber doesn't work for several reasons.

Not that I am doubting you, but I am just trying to find an alternative to buying another rod for the F-N-F. I do a lot of crappie fishing with slip bobbers, and they will tip over if a crappie hits and comes up with the bait. What about putting a split-shot 3-4 feet up from the jig? Maybe paint them black so they don't stand out as much?

Also, my jig question is geared toward finding an alternative to the punishers at my local tackle shop to fish with the F-N-F. Maybe something more readily available to people that don't live close to the lake. Not that I am against punisher or anything, just wondering if there are alternatives.

You might want to check your local Walmart. Some of them are stocking the Punisher jigs. Also Gander Mountain in Bowling Green has them if you get down that way. Hope this info helps.

I fish the f-n-f mainly for croppie myself and I have found the little tubes fished on a 1/32 oz or 1/16 oz jigs seems to work well and they are readily available at walmart or at least they seem to be in the mt sterling store...I fish the punisher jigs also but I have to make a trip to lexington to get them or order them from basspro...the tubes may not be as productive for bass ...haven't caught bass on the rig but just a couple times..

I have never done the f-n-f, but I know many guys on here swear by it and can't wait for those freezing temps (crazy! :D). However, every early spring, when I am hitting my private crappie lakes, I'll hook into some big greenbacks with my crappie jig under a slip float. When the water is that cold, they really can't pass up that little crappie jig tangling in front of their face.

After reading hundreds of f-n-f rig threads on here, I can see the pros and cons to using the fixed bobber technique. Personally, with 6-8lb fluro and a 1/16 or larger jig head, I don't see how the line wouldn't go through a slip bobber. Using a slip bobber with the lead band on it would ensure the bobber to stand tall once the jig is through. I know this goes against the f-n-f bible, but it sure would make it an easier method. Regular length rods, easy casting, easy fish landing, and increased distance would all be pluses. I understand that occasionally a fish will hit the jig and continue swimming upward, but I know with crappie fishing, that rarely happens. The fish tend to feed looking upwards and will grab and either swim level or dive down. All these motions should be detectable by a slip bobber. It seems every f-n-f fishing report I read on here talks about their bobber going under (usually ending with a 20+in brownie). Haven't heard too many guys say the bite began with their bobber laying sideways. I'm sure somebody will make a post saying that every fish they catch on the f-n-f causes their bobber to go sideways! lol! :D I better stop before I start getting bricks through my windows from angry f-n-fers! :D

-Rich

I have caught several croppie on the f-n-f since I started learning the thing last winter ...and have had only 1 fish cause the bobber to turn up on it's side (taking the weight off the bobber I guess) the rest have hit the jig and taken it down or sideways... I'm hoping somebody figures out a good way to fish the light weight jigs on a slip bobber of some kind...so far I haven't had any luck getting the line to pull through the bobber... have tried adding weight to the thing and it does pull the line down but I just don't like the rig with the added weight....If your fishing with a leader length of maybe 8 feet or less I have found a 6'6" or 7' spinning outfit works for me and is easier to handle than the longer rods.

Adding weight to the rig would take away from the action. It falls very slow and that is part of the way its fished. A fish may not want to chase something thats zooming downward past them. But if they see it falling slowly towards them it looks more natural and they don't have to expend as much energy to catch it. I'm sure its been tried both ways, and if the slip bobber worked as good, then everybody would be using it instead of doing it the hard way.(it aint easy casting out 10 to 14 feet of line with a fixed bobber)

[QUOTE=Rudypoo4444;392996]Not that I am doubting you, but I am just trying to find an alternative to buying another rod for the F-N-F. I do a lot of crappie fishing with slip bobbers, and they will tip over if a crappie hits and comes up with the bait. What about putting a split-shot 3-4 feet up from the jig? Maybe paint them black so they don't stand out as much?

Also, my jig question is geared toward finding an alternative to the punishers at my local tackle shop to fish with the F-N-F. Maybe something more readily available to people that don't live close to the lake. Not that I am against punisher or anything, just wondering if there are alternatives.[/QUOTE]

Well in Colorado where Fly fishing is popular. A lot of people cannot or do not learn to use a regular Fly rod.( Casting the fly line ) But have come up with a way to use any weightless fly with a regular spinning rod. And have great success when only a fly will do! They use a Torpedo float. Your main line ties to the top, And then tie Fluorocarbon tippet to the bottom for desires depth. And tie the fly to that. The float is heavy enough to cast and take the fly with it. And they work pretty good! My Daughter loves them! That way she can catch a fish on one of Dads flies ! Without learning to cast a regular fly rod.
I have a pack in front of me that is 1/8 oz. Made by Rainbow plastics in Berthoud,Colorado. Ph # 970-532-7090 These are a chartreuse color. I have had clear or red also.

I am pretty sure that I bought these at the BP/ Bass Pro shop in Jamestown , Ky. But have seen them several places. This would take the three way swivel out of the F-n-F setup ! And allow you to use any bait or spinning rod !!! :D