Every fisherman has a tackle box full of their favorite gear, including hooks, sinkers, and bobbers. Every fisherman needs this gear but have you ever asked yourself, “What are fishing bobbers made of?” or better yet, “Why red and white?”
What are fishing bobbers made of? Why red and white? Fishing bobbers are made of a few different materials:
- Balsa
- Plastic
- Foam
- Cork
You’ll see many red and white bobbers, mainly because, before the early 20th century, red was the brightest color readily available, and white offers the best contrast to red.
There’s more to these fishing bobbers than one might think. We’ve done the research to determine why these are so important to a fisherman’s gear. If you’re in the market for bobbers, check out what we’ve learned.
What Are Fishing Bobbers Made of?
The first thing to clarify is that fishing bobbers are also frequently referred to as fishing floats. Whether you’re using a bobber or a float, it’s all the same thing.
The next most important thing to cover is to explain the material fishing bobbers are made from. As discussed above, here’s a look at some of the materials used for fishing bobbers:
- Balsa
- Plastic
- Foam
- Cork
While there are other materials used for fishing bobbers, the above four are the most common. The reason these materials are used in fishing bobbers is simple; these materials float. You obviously don’t want a sinking bobber.
Which Material is Best for a Fishing Bobber?
With quite a few materials to choose from when it comes to fishing bobbers, you may wonder which is the best material. There’s not a clear-cut answer, but that doesn’t mean there’s no debate among fishermen.
Obviously, plastic and foam are not as environmentally friendly as balsa and cork. While there are some environmentally friendly foam options, they’re generally not used in things as small as fishing bobbers.
Many professional fishermen believe balsa is the best choice for a fishing bobber. Balsa is very light, easy to shape, and buoyant – all good qualities in a fishing bobber.
Different Shapes and Sizes of Fishing Bobbers
In addition to the materials in a fishing bobber, their shape is also important. Fishing bobbers are usually round, pear, pencil, or barrel-shaped. The material and shape help the bobber perform in certain winds and currents.
You’ll see fishing bobbers in the above-mentioned shapes and also a variety of sizes. When a fisherman heads out to the water, he considers the waves, wind strength, and depth of the water when choosing the appropriate shape and size bobber.
For example, wider floats are better for rough currents because they’re more stable. With that being said, you want to use the smallest bobber possible while still having it float high on the surface of the water and being very sensitive to a tug from a biting fish.
Experienced fishermen will also consider the shyness of fish, the current, the size and type of bait used, and the required casting distance when choosing the appropriate bobber as well.
Why are Fishing Bobbers Red and White?
Now that we have the shape and material of bobbers covered let’s talk about the color. You may be wondering, “Why red and white?” Well, in reality, there are a lot of different colors available today for fishing bobbers. Still, the most common colors you see are probably red and white.
While there isn’t a clear reason for the abundance of red and white bobbers, there are a couple of possibilities:
- Red was more readily available before the early 20th century.
- Red and white contrast well.
Let’s take a better look at the above reasons for red and white bobbers.
Red Was More Readily Available for Coloring Bobbers
Before the early 20th century, red was the brightest color of paint that was readily available. While white, green, and blue were also readily available, red showed best on water.
Other colors were available, but they were more expensive to produce and not as accessible to your everyday fisherman. Small companies produced just a few colors of paints because it was the most cost-effective.
Generally, the red color sits on top of the water. It is easy to see, and if you get a nibble, the bobber flips over.
Red and White Contrast Well
Red and white are on each end of the color spectrum. This means the two colors contrast the greatest.
While white is challenging to see on the water, especially in sunlight, the contrast between it and red makes it more noticeable when your bobber flips.
If a fish nibbles your bait, ideally, your bobber flips over and you quickly see the change from red to white and reel it in.
Other Bobber Colors Available Today
After all that explanation, though, there are dozens of different color combinations to choose from today when it comes to selecting bobbers.
The most important factor to consider when choosing a color for your bobber is to have two contrasting colors so it’s easy for you to see when you get a nibble.
In addition to red and white bobbers, you can quickly find the following color combinations on Amazon:
What Does a Bobber Do?
We’ve talked about the material, size, shape, and color of bobbers, but if you’re new to fishing, you might be wondering exactly what a bobber does.
A bobber controls the depth of your bait and also lets you know when you get a bite. If you hook a big one, you’ll know, but if it’s something smaller, just a little nibble on the bobber will flip it over. Even if you don’t feel the bite, you’ll see the bobber flip.
Bobbers also give you control when you’re fishing in places other than wide-open water such as grass or brush. Without a bobber, your hook would snag in this type of cover. A bobber lets you hold your bait right over the top of the cover without catching it.
Types of Bobbers
There are two types of bobbers:
- Fixed bobbers
- Slip bobbers
Here’s a bit about each type of bobber.
Fixed Bobbers
The fixed bobber is usually round with a recessed hook on the top and the bottom. A fisherman runs his line through the hook. A fixed bobber has a button on top, which, when pressed, exposes the hooks on the top and the bottom of the bobber.
Once the line is run through, the fisherman releases the button and the hooks retract back into the bobber and is fixed, hence the term “fixed” bobber.
Slip Bobbers
A slip bobber gets its name because it is able to freely slide up and down the line. Obviously, as discussed above, a fixed bobber remains in the spot where it is fixed. Since a slip bobber can slide up and down, it can present the bait at any depth rather than a fixed depth.
A slip bobber has a central line channel you slip your line through. Once your line is prepared, the hook, bait, sinker, and bobber all slide toward the end. This set up makes it much easier to cast than a fixed bobber.
When a fisherman casts his line, the line is pulled through the center of the bobber until a stop knot reaches the bobber and stops the line.
Which Bobber to Use?
The style of bobber you choose depends solely on your preference. More and more people are using the slip bobber because it’s easier to use and offers more versatility.
Regardless of the style of bobber, they’re all still generally made of one of the materials we discussed above: balsa, plastic, foam, or cork. If you like to keep it old school, you can stick to the basic red and white, but if not, you have plenty of colors to choose from.
