How to Make Your Own Dual Fin Bobber

Dual fin bobbers, also called planer bobbers, are usually used for catching catfish and other large fish. These large bobbers can be quite expensive, but you can make your own for a fraction of the cost. Making your own dual fin bobber allows you to customize it for the way you like to fish. You can use glow-in-the-dark paint if you like to fish at night, or you can rig it with additional eye bolts if you like to fish in very choppy waters. A homemade dual fin bobber will help increase your catches.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 1-by-6-by-28-inch planks of redwood lumber
  • 2 12-by-1/4-inch threaded rods
  • 12-by-5/16-inch threaded rod
  • 6-by-1/4-inch eye bolt
  • 10 1/4-inch washers
  • 10 1/4-inch nuts
  • 4 5/16-inch washers
  • 4 5/16-inch nuts
  • Hand saw
  • Wood rasp
  • Bright-colored paint (fluorescent orange or yellow)
  • Paintbrush
  • Ruler
  • Electric drill
  • 1/4-inch wrench
  • 5/16-inch wrench
  • Wood sealant
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut the redwood plank in half with the hand saw.

    • 2

      Use the wood rasp to cut a 30-degree angle at one end of each of the boards so that one end of each of the boards has a right angle, and the other end of each of the boards is slanted.

    • 3

      Paint the boards with the brightly colored paint. Since the boards will be in the water, coat them with at least two coats of paint, waiting an hour in between each coat. Bright colors and contrast attract the fish, so add as much as you like. Adding stripes helps to make the bobber even more visible.

    • 4

      Lay the boards out in front of you with the right-angled ends to the left and the 30-degree angled ends to the right. Use your ruler to measure for your first drill hole. It should be 6 inches from the left edge and 2 inches from the top of the board. Make another mark 6 inches from the left edge and 2 inches from the bottom of the board. Use your electric drill to make 1/4-inch holes in these two spots.

    • 5

      Mark the other board 2 inches from the left and 2 inches from the top for the upper mark and 2 inches from the left and 2 inches from the bottom for the other mark. Drill 1/4-inch holes in these two spots.

    • 6

      At the right ends of the boards, drill a 5/16-inch hole 3 inches from the top and 3 inches from the right edge of the board closest to you and another 5/16-inch hole 3 inches from the top and 7 inches from the right edge of the board furthest from you.

    • 7

      Stand the boards up on their 1-inch edges parallel to each other about 10 inches apart. To get the holes to line up, you'll have to stagger the boards so their edges don't line up. Insert the 1/4-inch threaded rods through the holes on the left and the 5/16-inch rod through the holes on the right. Don't forget to insert washers and nuts as you thread so there are four sets of washers and nuts for each rod, sandwiching the boards in place. Adjust the nuts, washers and rods until everything lines up square, and tighten all hardware into place.

    • 8

      Drill a 1/4-inch hole into the side of one of the boards that is 2 1/4 inches down from the top and 2 inches to the left of the 5/16-inch rod. Insert the eye bolt into this hole. The eye bolt provides stability to the bobber on windy days. You can remove the eye bolt on calm days when you don't need the stability.