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How to Use Bobber Stops? (All Types Explained)

How to Use Bobber Stops? (All Types Explained)

If you are new to bobber fishing or want to try out slip bobbers, you may be wondering how to use bobber stops, as they are necessary for slip bobber fishing. There are several different kinds of bobber stops and each one of them is rigged and used in a different way.

Bobber stops are small pieces of string, rubber, or plastic that you tie or thread onto your fishing line in order to set the depth for your slip bobber. To change depth, you simply slide the bobber stop either further up your line to fish deeper, or down your line to fish higher up in the water.

Continue to read this article if you want to learn how to rig and use the different types of bobber stops.

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What Are Bobber Stops?

a rigged slip bobber with a bobber stop on fishing line

As the name so aptly suggests, bobber stops are small pieces of string, rubber, or plastic that go on your line in order to stop your slip bobber from continuing to slide up your fishing line.

Without such a stop in place, the line would simply continue to run through your bobber, until your rig hits the bottom.

And so, in order to present your bait at your intended fishing depth, you will need a bobber stop on your line!

The stop bead that often accompanies the bobber stop prevents your slip bobber from sliding onto the bobber stop and getting stuck on it so that it will be able to slide down the line again, once you are reeling in your rig.

The greatest advantage of using slip bobbers with bobber stops, as opposed to fixed bobbers, is that you can simply and quickly adjust the depth at any given time during your fishing trip.

So, if the fish are suddenly biting near the surface, after having taken your bait at a depth of 15 feet, you can smoothly slide your bobber stop down your line, from 15 feet to, say 2 feet.

Being able to consistently change the depth can greatly optimize your fishing and improve your catch rate immensely.

There are four main types of bobber stops out there. Let’s take a look at each one of them and see how you use these stops.

How to Use Rubber Bobber Stops?

This type of bobber stop is made of rubber and often comes in three different sizes (S, M, L), which depend on the pound test of your line. Here is a little guide to help you decide which size to use:

SizePound Test
Small2-4lb
Medium4-8lb
Large8-12lb

Rubber bobber stops, or egg bobber stops, as they are also called, are strung up on a wire trace with a little loop on the end, together with a stop bead.

Here is how you rig a rubber bobber stop the right way:

  1. Take your fishing line and run it through the little wire loop
  2. The tag end should be about 2-3 inches long, measured from the wire loop
  3. Now, grab one of the small rubber stops with your thumb and index finger and slide it over and onto your line
  4. Do the same thing with the little stop bead

Once again, all that’s left to do is to put on your slip bobber and end tackle and you are good to go. If you want to change your fishing depth, simply slide the little rubber bobber stop up or down your line, using your thumb and index finger.

Find the best and most reliable rubber bobber stops on Amazon here

How to Use a Slip-Knot Bobber Stop?

Slip-knot bobber stops are the most commonly used type of bobber stops. Many slip bobbers actually come with a set of these stops, so that you don’t have to buy them separately.

These stops consist of a short piece of string that is tied around a small piece of tube. A standard stop bead is also included.

Here is how you put a slip-knot bobber stop on your fishing line:

  1. Slip your fishing line through the little piece of tube
  2. Slide the piece of string onto your line
  3. Now that the string knot is on the line, you can take off the piece of tube
  4. Next, pull each end of the string until the stop knot is sitting tight on your line
  5. You can then cut off the ends of the string so that only the knot remains (not too close to the knot though)
  6. Slide your stop bead onto the fishing line

Now, all that’s left to do is to slide the slip bobber onto your line and attach your tackle. Whenever you want to adjust your fishing depth, simply slide the stop knot up or down the line, until you reach your target depth.

Check out Thill’s Premium Bobber Stops on Amazon here

How to Use 4-Hole Bobber Stops?

These bobber stops are made of plastic and have 4 tiny holes in them. They are commonly 5-7mm in length and come together with a stop bead.

The 4-hole bobber stops, although made of plastic, are rather flexible and bendy, which is important when winding them through your line guides and onto your reel’s spool.

The stops’ holes are large enough for lines up to 12lb test to pass through without a problem.

Here is how you put a 4-hole bobber stop on your line:

  1. Take the end of your fishing line and thread it through the first hole of the bobber stop
  2. Now, take the tag end and start weaving it in and out through the remaining 2 holes
  3. Slide the stop bead onto your fishing line

As soon as you have put on your slip bobber and tackle, you are ready to go. The installed 3-hole bobber stop sits nice and tight on your line and the only way to move it is by sliding it up or down.

Thanks to its 4 holes and the woven line that goes through them, it will not slide down your line on its own.

Want to try out fishing with 3-hole bobber stops? You can find them on Amazon by clicking here

How to Use a Dogbone Bobber Stop?

how to use dogbone bobber stops

Now, we have come to the last type of bobber stop; the dogbone stop. This type is also made of plastic and works in a similar way as the 4-hole bobber stop. And just like all the other types of bobber stops, this one also comes with its own stop bead.

Here is how you use the dogbone bobber stop for fishing:

  1. Take your fishing line and run the end of it through one of the dog bone stop’s holes
  2. Now, and this is important, twist your line around the dog bone 2-3 times
  3. Run the end of your line through the second hole of the dog bone stop
  4. Put the stop bead onto your fishing line

Twisting the line around the dogbone will prevent the bobber stop from sliding down your fishing line when casting out or reeling in, which will be the case if you simply run the line through both holes.

Congratulations, you now know how to use and rig up the four different types of bobber stops Happy fishing and tight lines!

If you want to know more about slip bobbers and how to fish with them, here are a few helpful articles that you should definitely check out as well: