Homemade marker buoy

[Big Al1]

I was looking to buy a marker buoy for trolling, mostly for crappie. Anyone outa there use marker buoys when trolling. I've never used one but it seems that lots of times there will be a spot where I'll get many hits: either 2 rods go down or I'll troll back over the spot and catch another fish. I've looked in catalogs and haven't seen any under $40. A lot of times the water depth is fiarly consistent so I could get by with a milk jug with 10 to 15 feet of line and some kind of weight. The $40 ones let the weight drop until it feels bottom and stops letting line out. It seems like you could make the same thing. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Homemade marker buoy

Big AL1<br />The marker bouy's that I use are just Styrofoam<br />with line wrapped around them with a lead weight<br />attached. The line unravels of the bouy until <br />the weight hits bottom 10 ft or 50ft or what <br />ever depth. I use pink Styrofoam insulation glued<br />together. rectangular shape seems to work fine<br />for me.

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: Homemade marker buoy

you can get them online or in person at a BassPro Shop. walmart or kmart might carry them also. look like plastic dumbells, with nylon cord & lead weight... $6 at BPS, probably cheaper at the other places

 

[Boatist]

Re: Homemade marker buoy

Big All<br />I have used marker buoys in the past but not any more. Just mark it on your GPS. Marker Buoys tell everyone on the lake you caught fish there.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Homemade marker buoy

I'm usually too busy reeling to think about the buoy or gps. Usually thro them out after, and then make repeated approaches from same direction. I use them mostly on those slow days, when you are working to find them.<br /><br />The dumbells by Lindy are nice, and big. If you don't want to spend the dollars, just use a one ounce sinker, some heavy braided line, and tie on a bobber.

 

[shooter26]

Re: Homemade marker buoy

You could try a dish soap bottle with decoy cord tied around it and a decoy weight, wrap it around and when you find a good spot toss it out the weight will unwind the cord until it hits bottom.

 

[Dman]

Re: Homemade marker buoy

I personally do not like the H shaped markers. Get the round markers. The H shape doesn't always unravel line well. <br />Get the round ones. Another trick is to paint the marker with spots of black paint so you can tell if they are spinning when you throw them in<br />D

 

[letsbarbq]

Re: Homemade marker buoy

I get the fisherman floats. Melt the middle and its perfect. That way it looks like a spool. Strofoam float is cheap. a buck. get line then for the weight. I get pvc and fill it with sand and then cap it and have a loop throught bol to tie the line to. I use it for offshore buoy makers in salt water. The pvc pipe doesn't scratch up the fiberglass interior. hope this helps.