drift fishing question

[Justluck]

So I'm still trying to learn this drift fishing and have a question about weight set up. I have seen all sorts of setups for the weight and am still trying to find one that works best. I have tried parachute lead setup and pencil lead. I thought slinky would work the best for less snags, but dont seem to hit bottom enough with it and worse yet my leader has been wrapping around it during drift-very annoying ( I did find changing my leader from trilene to stren helped a lot). I read in these forum that AA just uses split shots, but am curious how many it takes to actually hit bottom, or is it necessary? I've been told that if you're not hitting bottom you're not going to catch, and if you're not losing gear your not fishing low enough. So this is left pretty open , just looking for your thoughts and setups that you use.

 

[koboabe]

Hello there.
I am super novice and cannot give too much advice (have yet to catch a steelhead/salmon, but have only been fishing a couple months)
I mostly float jigs and soft plastic, but found this useful when I drift yarn/eggs.

I know it is aimed at floating, but I think the idea is the same...
here is another drift link
Drift fishing

 

[grampa ron]

drift fishing

drift fishing

I make my own slinkies and have been using them for years. I use 1 size 7 snap swivel tied to the main line. I tie the leader to that and then hook the the slinky on. I don't remember the last time my leader got hooked up on it.
I have switched to using flourocarbon leader only. It's invisble under water.

 

[Derek]

you don't want too much weight to where you are just draggin the bottom I usually hit bottom i would guess every 5 feet. I havn't ever had my leader wrap around the slinky but guess it could happen. I guess the best way to go about it is ask someone fishin in the area how much weight they are using. I usually use from 8 to 13 shots in my slinkys (.250 size) everyone kinda fishes differently though. Good Luck

 

[hookmiester]

I've been told that if you're not hitting bottom you're not going to catch, and if you're not losing gear your not fishing low enough. So this is left pretty open , just looking for your thoughts and setups that you use.

Welcome to drift fishing, find what works for you and stick with it. If its real snaggy I use slinkys, if its a short spot and you need to get down fast, you can't beat pencil lead. You have to change up and adapt to what the river is presenting you.

 

[steelhead1]

I like to use a crossline swivel( the kind with three eyes) tie my main and leader inline with each other,and about an inch of tagline to the drop eye.then I take a bit of pencil lead(current and depth are the determining factors on how much to use) and crimp it on lightly to the tagline.The lead will slide off if it hangs up,and adjusting weight is as easy as cutting a little off or pulling it off and adding more.I pre tie all of my tag lines on and have an assortment of pre tied leaders ready to rock,this saves me lots of time on the water! good luck!