I have been asked a few times and it seems to be coming up more often. How to Bottom Bounce? I wrote a description on Sportfisherman.com back in January. I figured it could help a few folks to put a couple more fish in the boat............. Bottom Bouncing
One of the most productive ways to catch in the Chesapeake is Bottom Bouncing. This will work on Stripers and will nail trout. This is a trolling set-up. This is how we rig our bottom bouncing or drop rigs. Keep the sinker in contact with the bottom at all times. the rod stays in your hands. pick the rod up till the sinker comes off the bottom and slowly let it back down till it touches. Keep repeating this until you are hooked up.
It involves taking in line and letting out line as you work up and down the ledge. the captain can help out by calling out the depth. 20, 25, 30...we are coming up on a hump to 15' etc...This makes it easier for the guys in the pit to adjust the amount of line out. We use this on our wire line rigs with lead of 12oz to 24 oz. Leader is 30#-40# Flouro. the length of leader can vary but we like to keep the top lure half the weight of the bottom. Not too many guys use it any more but pork rind is always in our box. tie on a 1/2-1oz. white bucktail with yellow pork rind and the trout are all over it!!
