Boatless Fishing Forum, Reports, Info

hello, I am new to this site so first let me say hello. I live in the ATL but drive down to SSI to fish from the pier. I was using some bolloons that I picked up at the dollar store, and had a time getting the bolloons off of the line.My ? is what are you using and how can I make it eazier

You can tie your balloon on to your swivel or use mono to do the same.

bolo wrote:You can tie your balloon on to your swivel or use mono to do the same.

thats the setup I use but if I float out 300~400yd it takes about 50 to 100 yards to get if off.I saw some balloons for sell online for a high price is there a real diff.

Tie it to your hook with at least 3ft of light mono, then you can pop it off by setting up your bait will stay close to the top and it will travel a lot faster then if tied to the swivel. also the shark will cut the mono when he eats it.

Does the balloon work well casting from the surf?

Snook hunter wrote:Does the balloon work well casting from the surf?

No. With the ballon and the large bait it will limit you on your distance.

Do you know of another balloon trick that can work from the surf?

West wind is how a baloon is most effective from the surf. Use on an inlet it works good.

Boca Jetty Rat wrote:West wind is how a baloon is most effective from the surf. Use on an inlet it works good.

As long the surf is not rough then yes a west wind will help.

Snook hunter wrote:Do you know of another balloon trick that can work from the surf?

Use smaller bait otherwise kayak your bait.

Hi Guys:

Tell you what we use to do many years ago. I use to use a roll of Life Saver candies. I'd tie one end to a balloon and the other end to the swivel just before my bait. The wind and the current would float my bait out to where I was happy with it. The roll of Life Savers would melt and my bait would drop away to the bottom. I found this method most effective if used off a jetty vs. the beach. I fished south Texas and the wind down there is always out of the Southwest or in the winter months the north. So, if you are wanting to float a bait out to sea (west)you have to pick the right day. Oh, by the way, you'll have to expirement some with the life savers to see how many to use. I nearly always had to use a roll and a half to get my baits out to where I wanted them. Besides, their good, you can always eat the left-overs.

Best and tight lines,

Norman Bateman
Cape Coral, Florida.
ncbateman1@aol.com
http://www.batemanphotography.net

ncbateman1 wrote:Hi Guys:

Tell you what we use to do many years ago. I use to use a roll of Life Saver candies. I'd tie one end to a balloon and the other end to the swivel just before my bait. The wind and the current would float my bait out to where I was happy with it. The roll of Life Savers would melt and my bait would drop away to the bottom. I found this method most effective if used off a jetty vs. the beach. I fished south Texas and the wind down there is always out of the Southwest or in the winter months the north. So, if you are wanting to float a bait out to sea (west)you have to pick the right day. Oh, by the way, you'll have to expirement some with the life savers to see how many to use. I nearly always had to use a roll and a half to get my baits out to where I wanted them. Besides, their good, you can always eat the left-overs.

Best and tight lines,

Norman Bateman
Cape Coral, Florida.
ncbateman1@aol.com
http://www.batemanphotography.net

A lifesaver works

In the past I would take a knife and fray my mono that attaches to the float devise, this way it will break easy.

Now I leave my balloon on and just retrieve it back, but I bend my wire tag back towards the balloon instead of removing it and when I reel in some the balloon will slide toward my steel leader and will push against and pop. My instant popper

BoatlessFisherman wrote:

ncbateman1 wrote:Hi Guys:

Tell you what we use to do many years ago. I use to use a roll of Life Saver candies. I'd tie one end to a balloon and the other end to the swivel just before my bait. The wind and the current would float my bait out to where I was happy with it. The roll of Life Savers would melt and my bait would drop away to the bottom. I found this method most effective if used off a jetty vs. the beach. I fished south Texas and the wind down there is always out of the Southwest or in the winter months the north. So, if you are wanting to float a bait out to sea (west)you have to pick the right day. Oh, by the way, you'll have to expirement some with the life savers to see how many to use. I nearly always had to use a roll and a half to get my baits out to where I wanted them. Besides, their good, you can always eat the left-overs.

Best and tight lines,

Norman Bateman
Cape Coral, Florida.
ncbateman1@aol.com
http://www.batemanphotography.net

A lifesaver works

In the past I would take a knife and fray my mono that attaches to the float devise, this way it will break easy.

Now I leave my balloon on and just retrieve it back, but I bend my wire tag back towards the balloon instead of removing it and when I reel in some the balloon will slide toward my steel leader and will push against and pop. My instant popper

Great idea. I've had my balloon pop accidentally by getting stuck by the tag end of the wire, never thought about rigging it like that intentionally.

that does seem like a pretty clever trick

i've never tried floating a bait out but now i might, thats probably the best idea i've heard

Ive worked with balloons countless times from the Skyway Pier near Tampa. I would just take my balloon and hook my swivel in the plastic between the tip and the knot... maybe 1/8th of an inch of plastic between holes. Then i carefully lower the whole rig into the water (usually a large cut ladyfish or stingray wing). The tide takes it out, and when i want to get rid of the balloon, i just give a good tug or two and it comes off. this only works with braid and not much mono topshot because of the low stretch obviously. Works like a charm every time. Biodegradeable balloons are best.