**INTERACTIVE POST**
I thought that collectively we might be able to help some new anglers out there who have yet to delve into some of the nuances of rigging for the drift. I am not speaking about fishing from a driftboat. “Drift fishing” is the art of effectively bouncing your lead and subsequent leader rigging along the bottom of a river.
Mostly everyone has tried to catch fish this way. Before the mania surrounding float fishing starting in the early 2000’s, this was the method you’d see 8 out of 10 bank fishermen running. Ten years before that? 10 out of 10 anglers.
I’m not talking about standing in a snagging or flossing hole, either. I’m talking about truly drifting your rig specifically targeting the type of salmon or steelhead you are fishing for. The speed of the bounce, the frequency of the bottom-tick….etc. How do you know when to slide?
This quick post here is designed to be interactive so that some of us may help some others as to the reasons and factors for running a sliding lead drift rig versus a fixed. Thanks in advance for pitching in. I know there is a lot of new anglers/readers who will benefit from those more experienced fishermen offering their perspective.
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Comments
H3ll,great idea I know that I can use all the help I can get in the drift fishing world..
A lot of questions hear to be asked not even sure where to start. I hope some hardend vets will speak up, and help a rookie out.
Great picture too, no questions to be asked about where the lead goes:)
Matt
You bet brother I am anxious to see who pitches in on this one.
h3l
Yeah!!!! I suck drift fishing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Someone please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ed “Bulldog” Cowden
Nice post. I think that drift fishing is probably the single most effective way to fish for salmon. Once you get over the pain of snagging up now and then, things can start to happen. I have to say though that float fishing may be a close second and allows drifts that are more varied and a lot longer. Still, drift fishing skills are a must for the serious angler.
Sal
I love drift fishing and have had some success with it but have always used a fixed rig. Would really like to hear about when to use a sliding rig and what advantages it offers.
BB
Great question, Pete. Sliding leads can work well in a few different applications but mostly it’s used when you’d like your presentation to cover a wide range of depths…I am picturing some soupy water that’s a bit slower and I’m not sure where the fish will hold so I’ll slide to cover a few different depths. Another example of a time when a sliding lead is used is under a heavy load. Drift fishing for chinook in high or heavy water is a classic example of when a sliding rig would help you. It would allow you to see and feel your takes while giving you a better chance of setting the hook.
h3l
I to fish both of these methods and had success both ways. The slide does help especially in those high current days or when I need a really long leader in low gin water, and back when I was new to the game I felt the fish a lot better with this. I am fan of the slide also because you don’t fight the weight as much. I like the fixed weight only for the amount of time it saves me in the event of snags. I spend less than a minute most times when I break off in this method. Easy to rig up the pre-tied leaders and pre-punched lead, that and I know what the bite feels like now so its not as important to have that connection.
I am also using the slide method during this Shad season, works very well with the small fish on light gear with heavy current.
Bear
Bear
Great response, Sal. A true drift fisherman is an artist no doubt.
h3l