Thanks for the replies....

So it appears it is not necassary to get as close to the bottom as I have been.

I was trying to stick it right in the fishes face like when drift fishing.

I do use a 10.5 foot rod when float fishing. I run the dink float through my main line, then hollow core pencil lead, a bead and then a barrel swivel. Two feet of leader and then a jig or whatever bait I decide. This allows me to fish from 2 feet in depth to about 8 feet simply by sliding the float up the main line higher. 8 feet is about all I can cast accurately. I think the problem arises when the float is moved up to fish deeper slots and now the float is about 4-6 feet above my weight. I think that may be causing the float to lean slightly forward because the weight is separated so far from the float. Since the surface current where the float is moves faster then the current under the water where the weight is the weight in essence is dragging behind causing the float to tilt forward. What do you think can the way I have it rigged be part of the problem?

If the float is tilted forward because of the way I have it rigged I may think I am dragging bottom with my bait or jig........