08-24-2003, 10:37 AM
RIGGING FOR DRIFT FISHING IN RIVERS
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It is very simple to rig a bobber for drift fishing; Based on the river you are fishing, the type of fish you are after and how much water flow the river has, you will want to use a quality mono-filament main line of 8 to 15 or even 20 pound test. The main line should be tied to a barrel swivel and at the other end of the swivel add a leader of 12 to 48 inches. The leader should also be of a quality mono-filament and can be a lighter pound test than the main line. The drift bobber is strung on the leader ahead of the hook before the leader is tied to the barrel swivel. [center]It is important that the rig float naturally as it drifts downstream. The right sized drift bobber will help do this. A bobber that is too big will float the hook and bait too high over the fish. A bobber that is too small will not float the hook and bait high enough resulting in snags and hang-ups. The object is to rig the correct size drift bobber to create a "neutral bouyancy" situation, where it floats naturally, just up off the bottom of the river as it drifts. Leader length and size of drift bobber is normally determined by water condition, size of the hook and size of the bait. In water that is high and milky or off- colored, a shorter leader of 12 to 24 inches is all that is required. In low, clear water a longer leader of 24 to 48 inches is recommended and a smaller drift bobber is normally all that is needed.
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WHERE TO CAST
Good holding water for steelhead or salmon, known as a drift, is water that is usually above or below some rapids or swift water. The fish like to hold in this water and rest before continuing their journey upstream. This holding water is generally 4 to 10 or 12 feet deep. [center]When you first cast into a drift work the closest water first and then cast progressively farther out. This may require you to go from a lighter weight to a heavier weight as you go from shallower, slower water to deeper, swifter water.
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CHOOSING THE RIGHT WEIGHT
When drift fishing with a Lil' Corky, Spin-N-Glo, Wobble Glo or Winners in rivers for salmon or steelhead it is extremely important that you use the right amount of weight. The proper weight makes it possible to cast where you need to and it is vital in keeping your rig down near the bottom where the fish are holding.
There are a variety of different kinds of weights that are available to use but the most popular has to be pencil lead. Pencil lead comes in both solid and hollow core. Both are fairly inexpensive and they are easy to use.
Solid pencil lead is best rigged with a piece of latex surgical tubing (see drift fishing rigs on the back) which can be attached to the line in several different ways.
Hollow core lead can be crimped directly to a dropper line, also shown on the back.
Both methods allow the lead weights to pull off easily if they get hung up on the bottom while drifting, allowing you to save your leader, hook, bobber and bait. And, both the lead weights can be cut to various lengths giving you just the right amount of weight for different water conditions.
Another popular drifting weight is a piece of parachute cord with BB-shot inside. These "Slinky" drift weights, as they are known, can be purchased, ready-to-fish from the tackle shops or they can be made at home. They can be made or purchased in various lengths and weights to match the fishing conditions.
Many fishermen have found that these parachute cord weights get hung up less and they give a better feel of the bottom making it easier to detect a bite.
No matter what type of weight you prefer it is important to use the right amount. It is extremely important to keep a straight line from the rod tip to the water and weight so that even the lightest bites can be detected. The proper weight will help do this. [center]Too much weight and you constantly will be hanging up on the bottom of the river. Too little weight and your outfit will be floating over the fish. The right amount of weight will give you a good drift with a continual tap, tap, tap of the bottom as the weight, drift bobber and bait moves along.
[/center] [center]KEEP THOSE HOOKS SHARP
One thing that every guide and experienced fisherman will tell you is the secret to success is to have a sharp hook. Especially when drift fishing, a hook rubs against rocks, snags and other bottom debris and can become dull in just a matter of minutes. To get a good, deep hook set, a hook should be checked for sharpness and touched up with a hook file or sharpening stone every few minutes.[/url][/center]steelies prefer traveling in the shallower, faster water. They also have a habit of swimming very close to shore, often in just a few feet of water. Anglers should remember that this makes the slots and seams between the faster and slower water a perfect spot to fish. Sockeye also favor gravel bars with swift flows and long, gradual slopes to the channel. the only thing required on your part is the exploring. A key point to remember about steelies is that they are "not" bottom huggers. In fact, experiments have shown that steelies tend to lift off the bottom when swimming over gravel bars and will generally hold slightly below the midpoint depth range. Time and again I've heard it said that drift fishermen are simply snaging. While no doubt some are snaged, our fishing has shown us that "if the color of the fly is right" and the length of the leader presents the offering in the fish's traveling zone, they will most definitely bite.
The yarn-fly is lure of choice for drift fishing . When the water is murky from rains or late freshet conditions, anglers will, as a rule, want to stick with dark green (Lime) colored wool. Under normal water conditions, a blend or combination of chartreuse, dark green, light green and bubble-gum pink should be used. For a little added attraction, some drift fishers will add a small chartreuse or green bead directly in front of the fly. Most drift fishers prefer using the bait-loop knot when tying their yarn-flys to six-foot leaders. Yarn-flys should also be kept trimmed. The easiest method is to make a cast and get the fly wet, pull it in and neatly trim it using your thumb nail as a size guide.
Good quality, chemically sharpened 2-0 or 3-0 hooks with names like Gamakatsu, VMC and Eagle Claw are the ones to use and should be found in all tackle boxes. Skittlebug flys with small rubber legs in the above-mentioned colors also work well for fish
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.
It is very simple to rig a bobber for drift fishing; Based on the river you are fishing, the type of fish you are after and how much water flow the river has, you will want to use a quality mono-filament main line of 8 to 15 or even 20 pound test. The main line should be tied to a barrel swivel and at the other end of the swivel add a leader of 12 to 48 inches. The leader should also be of a quality mono-filament and can be a lighter pound test than the main line. The drift bobber is strung on the leader ahead of the hook before the leader is tied to the barrel swivel. [center]It is important that the rig float naturally as it drifts downstream. The right sized drift bobber will help do this. A bobber that is too big will float the hook and bait too high over the fish. A bobber that is too small will not float the hook and bait high enough resulting in snags and hang-ups. The object is to rig the correct size drift bobber to create a "neutral bouyancy" situation, where it floats naturally, just up off the bottom of the river as it drifts. Leader length and size of drift bobber is normally determined by water condition, size of the hook and size of the bait. In water that is high and milky or off- colored, a shorter leader of 12 to 24 inches is all that is required. In low, clear water a longer leader of 24 to 48 inches is recommended and a smaller drift bobber is normally all that is needed.
[/url][/center]
WHERE TO CAST
Good holding water for steelhead or salmon, known as a drift, is water that is usually above or below some rapids or swift water. The fish like to hold in this water and rest before continuing their journey upstream. This holding water is generally 4 to 10 or 12 feet deep. [center]When you first cast into a drift work the closest water first and then cast progressively farther out. This may require you to go from a lighter weight to a heavier weight as you go from shallower, slower water to deeper, swifter water.
[/url][/center]
CHOOSING THE RIGHT WEIGHT
When drift fishing with a Lil' Corky, Spin-N-Glo, Wobble Glo or Winners in rivers for salmon or steelhead it is extremely important that you use the right amount of weight. The proper weight makes it possible to cast where you need to and it is vital in keeping your rig down near the bottom where the fish are holding.
There are a variety of different kinds of weights that are available to use but the most popular has to be pencil lead. Pencil lead comes in both solid and hollow core. Both are fairly inexpensive and they are easy to use.
Solid pencil lead is best rigged with a piece of latex surgical tubing (see drift fishing rigs on the back) which can be attached to the line in several different ways.
Hollow core lead can be crimped directly to a dropper line, also shown on the back.
Both methods allow the lead weights to pull off easily if they get hung up on the bottom while drifting, allowing you to save your leader, hook, bobber and bait. And, both the lead weights can be cut to various lengths giving you just the right amount of weight for different water conditions.
Another popular drifting weight is a piece of parachute cord with BB-shot inside. These "Slinky" drift weights, as they are known, can be purchased, ready-to-fish from the tackle shops or they can be made at home. They can be made or purchased in various lengths and weights to match the fishing conditions.
Many fishermen have found that these parachute cord weights get hung up less and they give a better feel of the bottom making it easier to detect a bite.
No matter what type of weight you prefer it is important to use the right amount. It is extremely important to keep a straight line from the rod tip to the water and weight so that even the lightest bites can be detected. The proper weight will help do this. [center]Too much weight and you constantly will be hanging up on the bottom of the river. Too little weight and your outfit will be floating over the fish. The right amount of weight will give you a good drift with a continual tap, tap, tap of the bottom as the weight, drift bobber and bait moves along.
[/center] [center]KEEP THOSE HOOKS SHARP
One thing that every guide and experienced fisherman will tell you is the secret to success is to have a sharp hook. Especially when drift fishing, a hook rubs against rocks, snags and other bottom debris and can become dull in just a matter of minutes. To get a good, deep hook set, a hook should be checked for sharpness and touched up with a hook file or sharpening stone every few minutes.[/url][/center]steelies prefer traveling in the shallower, faster water. They also have a habit of swimming very close to shore, often in just a few feet of water. Anglers should remember that this makes the slots and seams between the faster and slower water a perfect spot to fish. Sockeye also favor gravel bars with swift flows and long, gradual slopes to the channel. the only thing required on your part is the exploring. A key point to remember about steelies is that they are "not" bottom huggers. In fact, experiments have shown that steelies tend to lift off the bottom when swimming over gravel bars and will generally hold slightly below the midpoint depth range. Time and again I've heard it said that drift fishermen are simply snaging. While no doubt some are snaged, our fishing has shown us that "if the color of the fly is right" and the length of the leader presents the offering in the fish's traveling zone, they will most definitely bite.
The yarn-fly is lure of choice for drift fishing . When the water is murky from rains or late freshet conditions, anglers will, as a rule, want to stick with dark green (Lime) colored wool. Under normal water conditions, a blend or combination of chartreuse, dark green, light green and bubble-gum pink should be used. For a little added attraction, some drift fishers will add a small chartreuse or green bead directly in front of the fly. Most drift fishers prefer using the bait-loop knot when tying their yarn-flys to six-foot leaders. Yarn-flys should also be kept trimmed. The easiest method is to make a cast and get the fly wet, pull it in and neatly trim it using your thumb nail as a size guide.
Good quality, chemically sharpened 2-0 or 3-0 hooks with names like Gamakatsu, VMC and Eagle Claw are the ones to use and should be found in all tackle boxes. Skittlebug flys with small rubber legs in the above-mentioned colors also work well for fish
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