rig.type · float rigs
Fixed Bobber Rig
A float clipped to the line at a fixed point, a shot or two below it, and a small hook. The first rig most people ever fish. We ran it through the compatibility engine for 5 fish it is tied for: 4 of 5 clear every check. For Bluegill & Panfish in Farm Pond the cheapest clean build is a #10 aberdeen hook on 4 lb mono, 0.1 oz split-shot + fixed float, on a 5.6 ft UL spinning rod. About $118.
tie it when
Shallow fish within a rod length of the surface: bluegill on beds, crappie in the shallows, stocked trout in a pond.
skip it when
Anything deeper than your rod is long. You cannot cast a bait hanging ten feet under a fixed float; switch to a slip bobber.
How to tie a fixed bobber rig
- Tie the hook to the end of the mainline.
- Pinch a split shot six inches to a foot above the hook.
- Clip the bobber on at the depth you want. The distance from bobber to hook is the depth you fish.
Solved for each fish
For every fish below, the solver searched the catalog at each water that fish is targeted in, under the rules in the next section, and kept the water where the fixed bobber rig scores best: fewest engine errors, then fewest warnings, then cheapest. Open any row in the studio to see the same verdict.
| Fish | Water | Hook | Line | Terminal | Rod | Approx. | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bluegill & Panfish | Farm Pond | #10 aberdeen | 4 lb mono | 0.1 oz split-shot + fixed float, natural bait | 5.6 ft UL spinning | ~$118 | clears every checkstudio |
| Crappie | Farm Pond | #8 aberdeen | 4 lb mono | 0.1 oz split-shot + fixed float, natural bait | 5.6 ft UL spinning | ~$118 | clears every checkstudio |
| Rainbow Trout | Farm Pond | #8 aberdeen | 4 lb mono | 0.1 oz split-shot + fixed float, natural bait | 5.6 ft UL spinning | ~$118 | clears every checkstudio |
| Brook Trout | Mountain Creek | #8 aberdeen | 4 lb mono | 0.1 oz split-shot + fixed float, natural bait | 5.6 ft UL spinning | ~$118 | clears every checkstudio |
| Largemouth Bass | Farm Pond | #2 aberdeen | 8 lb mono | 1/4 oz split-shot + fixed float, natural bait | 6.6 ft M spinning | ~$123 | 2 warningsstudio |
Every water each fish was tried in
- Bluegill & PanfishFarm Pond (clears every check), Weedy Lake (1 warning), Hardwater / Ice (1 warning)
- CrappieFarm Pond (clears every check), Weedy Lake (1 warning), Clear Reservoir (1 error), Hardwater / Ice (1 warning)
- Rainbow TroutFarm Pond (clears every check), Clear Reservoir (1 error), Mountain Creek (clears every check), River Run (1 warning), Hardwater / Ice (1 warning)
- Brook TroutMountain Creek (clears every check), Hardwater / Ice (1 warning)
- Largemouth BassFarm Pond (2 warnings), Weedy Lake (2 warnings), Clear Reservoir (1 error), River Run (2 warnings), Big River Channel (1 error)
The water links go to the unconstrained rig for that pair, where the solver is free to pick any rig at all.
What makes it a fixed bobber rig
A named rig is a rule set, not a parts list. These are the rules we hand the solver. Every stage not listed (line test, hook size, rod, reel) is the solver's call, checked by the engine.
- float.terminalrequired: fixed
- weight.terminaloptional: split-shot if used
- lure.platformnatural bait only, no lure
- swivel.terminalnone
- leader.connectionnone
The checks that decide it
The engine runs every check on every build. These are the ones that make or break a fixed bobber rig, with how many of the 5 solved builds each one still flags.
Fixed float depth limitflags Largemouth Bass
A fixed float caps depth at about what you can cast. Fish deeper than its limit get a warning: switch to a slip float.
Weight vs float lift0/5 flagged
More weight hanging under the float than it can lift, and it goes under and stays there. The engine errors.
Float under-shotted0/5 flagged
Under 0.35x of the float’s lift hanging below it, the float rides high and a fish has to drag it down. The engine warns.
Cast weight vs rod minimum0/5 flagged
Weight, bait and float together have to reach the bottom of the rod’s casting rating, or the blank never loads. The engine warns.
Hook over the fish’s window0/5 flagged
Over the window, the hook will not fit the mouth or the bait. The engine flags it.
Every check on the Bluegill & Panfish build
15 checks, each with what the build measures and what it is measured against. Lines for this rig's deciding checks are marked.
| Check | This build | Against | |
|---|---|---|---|
| pass | species.water | Farm Pond: fresh | Bluegill & Panfish: fresh |
| pass | rod.reel.seat | spinning reel | spinning rod |
| pass | mainline.species | 4 lb | 2–8 lb window (warns over 12) |
| pass | mainline.rod | 0.2 mm ≈ 4 lb mono | rod rated 2–6 lb (under 1.2 warns) |
| pass | rod.power | UL rod, rated to 6 lb | 1 lb fish (warns over 10.5 lb, fails over 15 lb) |
| pass | reel.capacity | ~359 yd of 4 lb mono | 120 yd for a 1 lb fish |
| pass | reel.drag | 13 lb max drag | 1 lb floor |
| pass | hook.size | #10 | #16 to #8 |
| pass | hook.strength | 10 lb before it opens | 1.2 lb (1.2 × 1 lb fish) |
| pass | float.balance | 0.1 oz hanging | 0.087–0.25 oz lift window |
| pass | float.depth | fish near 6 ft | fixed float tops out at 7 ft |
| pass | float.reach | fish near 6 ft | float rigs work to 30 ft |
| pass | float.bottom | depth bias 0.40 | bottom feeder from 0.90 |
| pass | cast.weight | 0.187 oz on the line | rod rated 0.0625–0.25 oz |
| pass | weight.still | 0.1 oz | under 1 oz in still water |
Parts for the Bluegill & Panfish build
Eagle Claw Aberdeen Light Wire
Long-shank fine-wire hook for crappie and panfish. The long shank makes unhooking easy and the light wire bends out of brush instead of costing you the rig.
No exact product destination has been verified for this item.
Water Gremlin Removable Split Shot
Pinch-on weight with ears you squeeze to reopen. The fastest way to add or remove a tiny amount of weight without cutting the rig apart.
No exact product destination has been verified for this item.
Betts Classic Fixed Bobber
The red-and-white one. Clips on, sets one depth, and catches an enormous number of bluegill every summer with zero configuration.
No exact product destination has been verified for this item.
Berkley Trilene XL Monofilament
Smooth, limp, cheap mono. For a beginner filling a first spinning reel this is genuinely the right answer, and it forgives a lot of mistakes.
Verified destination: 8 lb / 330 yd / Clear (2026-10-20). Other sizes or packs are not verified by this link.
Okuma Ceymar Spinning Reel
The floor for a reel that is actually worth owning. Smooth enough, a real drag, and light enough not to fatigue you on a full day.
Verified destination: Ceymar C-30 (2026-10-21). Other sizes or packs are not verified by this link.
Daiwa Crossfire Ultralight
A true ultralight for trout, panfish, and creek work. Loads on a 1/16 oz jig, which no medium rod on earth will do.
No exact product destination has been verified for this item.
About $118 at street-price estimates from our catalog, not live Amazon prices. 0.187 oz on the line in total. Other fish need other parts: use the table above.
frequently asked
06What size hook for a fixed bobber rig?
It depends on the fish, not the rig. Across the 5 fish the engine solved, the hook runs #10–#2: #10 for Bluegill & Panfish, #8 for Crappie, #8 for Rainbow Trout, #8 for Brook Trout, #2 for Largemouth Bass. Each size sits inside that fish's window on our hook size chart.
How much weight on a fixed bobber rig?
0.1–0.25 oz in the builds we solved, set by the water: 0.1 oz for Bluegill & Panfish in Farm Pond, 0.1 oz for Crappie in Farm Pond, 0.1 oz for Rainbow Trout in Farm Pond, 0.1 oz for Brook Trout in Mountain Creek, 0.25 oz for Largemouth Bass in Farm Pond. The engine sizes it against current (it asks for weight to hold bottom from a current rating of 0.5) and against the rod's casting window.
What line for a fixed bobber rig?
4–8 lb mainline across the solved builds. Braid ratings are compared to the rod by diameter, not printed test, because rod line ratings are written for mono.
What fish is a fixed bobber rig for?
We solve it for Bluegill & Panfish, Crappie, Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout and Largemouth Bass. Largemouth Bass (2 warnings) still carries engine flags, listed on this page.
What knot do I tie a fixed bobber rig with?
the Improved Clinch Knot (85% retained strength). Where a leader meets braid, use a line-to-line knot such as the double uni or the FG.
When should I not fish a fixed bobber rig?
Anything deeper than your rod is long. You cannot cast a bait hanging ten feet under a fixed float; switch to a slip bobber.