MetalheadRon has asked the right question, in my estimation. If you are using a light action rod and expecting to feel the bite, you are essentially wasting your time. Slinkys and sliding leads aggrevate the situation as they too are soft bouncers.

For someone having a hard time feeling what's going on with their gear, use a stiffer rod and enough lead to feel it rap on the rocks. Everytime the drift stops rapping, set the hook like you mean it, don't just lift the rod tip. You will definitely hook up, and the more you do, the more you will be able to differentiate between rocks, sticks, line, and fish (all are clearly different most of the time). Then you can mess with the incidentals.

Or....like Dave says, "Use a float". beer
_________________________
Agendas kill truth.
If it's a crop, plant it.