Featuring Nick Harrington, Mack's Lure Pro Staffer
When it comes to mastering walleye fishing on reservoirs, few techniques are as effective and versatile as bottom bouncing. Mack’s Lure pro staffer Nick Harrington demonstrates the fundamentals of this essential technique in a practical on-water demonstration from Lake Francis Case, one of South Dakota’s premier walleye fisheries. This Missouri River reservoir has earned a reputation as one of the most productive walleye destinations in the country, making it the perfect classroom for learning proper bottom bouncing techniques.
One of the most important parts of bottom bouncing is making sure your rig is at the perfect angle. In this video, Mack’s Lure Pro Staff Nick Harrington highlights how to make sure you’re running as snagless as possible and going to have the highest hooking percentage.
Bottom bouncing has revolutionized walleye fishing since its invention decades ago by a South Dakota angler. The technique’s popularity stems from its simplicity and effectiveness – it keeps bait consistently near the bottom where walleyes feed while providing the versatility to adapt to changing conditions.
At its core, a bottom bouncer is a wire weight system that allows anglers to maintain bottom contact while trolling or drifting. The setup consists of the bottom bouncer itself attached to the mainline, followed by a snap swivel that connects to a leader with various presentations. Nick Harrington’s preferred setup features a pink Smile Blade spinner on his leader, paired with a gold Aberdeen hook and a minnow – a combination that has proven deadly on Lake Francis Case waters.
The foundation of successful bottom bouncing begins with proper equipment selection. Harrington and other experienced reservoir anglers emphasize the importance of using a stouter rod when bottom bouncing. A 6’6” to 7’0” medium-heavy rod with fast or moderate action provides the backbone needed for setting hooks while maintaining sensitivity to feel bottom structure and subtle bites.
Rod selection is critical for another reason – snag avoidance. When fishing through flooded timber or rocky structure common in reservoirs, a stiffer rod will pop the bottom bouncer free from snags rather than loading up and getting buried. This is especially important when using rod holders, as the rod’s action must work independently to free the rig from obstacles.
For reels, larger spool baitcasting reels are preferred, with line counters being particularly valuable for consistency and helping less experienced anglers maintain proper depth. The ability to know exactly how much line is deployed becomes crucial when fishing with multiple rods to avoid tangles.
Line choice significantly impacts bottom bouncing success. Eight to twelve-pound Berkley Fireline is favored by many professional anglers due to its no-stretch properties. This allows anglers to feel every pebble the bouncer ticks across and detect even the slightest bites. The visibility of braided lines also helps anglers monitor the angle at which their bait is running.
Perhaps the most critical aspect of bottom bouncer fishing is selecting the proper weight. The standard rule of thumb calls for one ounce of weight for every ten feet of water depth. However, experienced anglers like Harrington often favor staying slightly heavier, especially when running multiple rods from different positions on the boat.
When backtrolling with multiple rods, strategic weight distribution prevents tangles and maintains proper presentation. Running 1.5-ounce bouncers from the front of the boat and 3-ounce bouncers from the back allows front rods to run with more line while keeping back rods directly below the boat. This system ensures all baits remain in the strike zone while avoiding line interference.
The key is achieving approximately a 40-degree line angle into the water. Too shallow an angle compromises hooksets, while too steep an angle reduces bottom control and increases snags. Weight selection and boat speed work together to achieve this optimal angle.
The most overlooked aspect of bottom bouncing – and perhaps the most important for snag avoidance – is the initial drop technique. Harrington’s method is precise and purposeful: drop the rig and let it fall freely until it contacts bottom, then immediately stop and engage the reel. This ensures the bottom bouncer lands in proper position directly beneath the boat.
Many anglers make the mistake of letting too much line out during the initial drop, causing the rig to drag behind the boat at an improper angle from the start. By positioning the rig directly under the boat before beginning the troll, anglers establish the correct bouncing action that keeps the weight tracking along bottom without snagging.
Once the rig hits bottom and the reel is engaged, the rod can be placed in a holder. The bottom bouncer will then maintain its proper bouncing motion along the bottom, staying in the strike zone where fish are located while avoiding snags through its designed action.
The versatility of bottom bouncing shines through the variety of presentations that can be employed. Spinner rigs remain the most popular choice, with blade selection varying based on conditions and preferences. The Mack’s Lure Smile Blade featured in Harrington’s demonstration excels at ultra-slow speeds, spinning effectively at speeds as low as 0.25 mph.
This slow-speed capability makes Smile Blades particularly effective throughout the season, from cold-water spring conditions requiring subtle presentations to summer fishing when lethargic walleyes need gentle coaxing. The blade’s adjustable angle allows customization – wide for a slow rolling wobble or narrow for vigorous shake and spin action.
Leader length typically ranges from two to four feet, with shorter leaders used in snaggy areas and longer leaders when fish are finicky. The Smile Blade’s quick-change capability allows rapid color and size adjustments without retying, enabling anglers to adapt to changing fish preferences throughout the day.
Bottom bouncing’s effectiveness extends throughout the open-water season on reservoirs like Lake Francis Case. Spring fishing often involves targeting shallow flats and creek mouths where walleyes stage for spawning. The technique’s ability to maintain bottom contact while covering water makes it ideal for locating active schools during the dynamic spring period.
Summer applications shift to deeper structure as walleyes follow baitfish to cooler depths. The old river channel becomes a highway for fish movement, and bottom bouncers excel at covering these areas efficiently while maintaining precise depth control. The abundance of summer forage means presentations must be more refined, making the subtle action of quality spinners like Smile Blades crucial for triggering strikes from well-fed fish.
Fall fishing sees walleyes feeding aggressively before winter, and bottom bouncers allow anglers to target both shallow and deep fish as they follow migrating baitfish. The technique’s versatility means a single setup can be effective from spring ice-out through late fall.
Experienced bottom bouncing anglers employ several advanced strategies to maximize effectiveness. Varying rod lengths creates a spread that reduces tangles while covering more water – long rods keep baits away from the boat while shorter rods maintain tight control. This system also helps in clear water situations where boat avoidance becomes critical.
Periodic bottom contact checks ensure proper depth maintenance as contours change. Occasionally dropping the rig back to touch bottom confirms the presentation remains in the strike zone. Speed variations can trigger following fish, with brief pauses and twitches often producing strikes from reluctant walleyes.
The bottom bouncer’s wire construction transmits valuable information about bottom composition and structure. Learning to interpret these signals helps anglers understand the areas they’re fishing and make informed decisions about boat positioning and presentation adjustments.
Lake Francis Case exemplifies the type of water where bottom bouncing excels. This 107-mile-long reservoir covers over 102,000 acres with a maximum depth of 140 feet. The current from Big Bend Dam influences fish behavior throughout the system, particularly in the upper third of the reservoir.
Current strength directly impacts fish mood and feeding behavior. When current is strong, walleyes become more aggressive and position shallower, creating ideal conditions for bottom bouncing success. Reduced current typically means more challenging conditions requiring refined presentations and location adjustments.
Key areas include creek mouths like Crow Creek and the Kiowa Flats, bridge areas around Chamberlain, and the numerous tributary arms throughout the system. The reservoir’s diverse structure – from shallow flats to deep channels – provides year-round opportunities for bottom bouncing applications.
Several common errors can undermine bottom bouncing effectiveness. Using weights too light for conditions results in poor bottom contact and increased tangles between multiple rods. Conversely, excessive weight can cause the rig to dig into bottom rather than bounce cleanly.
Improper initial deployment – allowing too much line out before establishing bottom contact – creates poor rig positioning from the start. The bouncer ends up dragging behind the boat rather than beneath it, compromising both presentation and snag avoidance.
Speed management requires constant attention. Too fast eliminates the bouncer’s ability to maintain bottom contact, while too slow can cause line slack and poor strike detection. Finding the optimal speed for conditions takes practice but becomes instinctive with experience.
What makes bottom bouncing so effective is its forgiveness and adaptability. Unlike other techniques requiring precise boat control and constant attention, bottom bouncers allow anglers to cover water efficiently while maintaining consistent presentations. The technique works in shallow or deep water, with live bait or artificial lures, at various speeds and in different current conditions.
For guides and experienced anglers, bottom bouncers provide a reliable method for putting clients on fish regardless of their experience level. The rod simply loads up when a fish strikes, making detection obvious even for novice anglers.
The educational value extends beyond fish catching. Bottom bouncing teaches anglers to read bottom composition, understand structure, and develop boat control skills that apply to all fishing situations. The technique serves as both a fish-catching method and a learning tool for reservoir fishing.
Nick Harrington’s demonstration from Lake Francis Case encapsulates why bottom bouncing has become a cornerstone technique for reservoir walleye fishing. By mastering the fundamentals – proper equipment selection, weight choice, deployment technique, and presentation options – anglers can consistently catch walleyes throughout the season. The technique’s combination of simplicity and effectiveness makes it an essential tool for any serious walleye angler’s arsenal, whether targeting the legendary populations of Lake Francis Case or applying the methods to reservoirs across the country.
The bottom bouncer’s invention by a South Dakota angler revolutionized walleye fishing, and techniques demonstrated by professionals like Harrington continue that tradition of innovation and success on waters like Lake Francis Case. For anglers seeking to improve their reservoir walleye success, mastering bottom bouncing provides a foundation for consistent fishing throughout the open-water season.
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