I've used jigs for about 8 years now, and I love them. I've actually really never had a problem with the drift causing the float to sit at a 45 degree angle. Usually when it would do that it was that the jig was sitting too close to the bottom and hanging up, causing the slant. Usually if I cinched down the bobber stop I was using it would correct the problem.

I've never had a problem using only 3/8 ounce jigs. Usually I'll tie up the marabou on my jigs smaller due to water conditions. I've noticed that usually it's the feather size, not head size, that influences the fish. I usually dip the heads in black and tie up smaller black marabou feathers on my standard 1/0 3/8 ounce hooks for clear conditions then multi colored jigs for whichever river I'm fishing (I've found different fish hit different colors depending on river). I use balsa floats, they're more durable and float better then styrafoam. I've only lost maybe 3 floats in the last 8 years due to snags, usually the jigs are up off the bottom enough to not snag.

Keep at it and you're sure to hook into some nice fish. I've caught about every species of salmonoid on jigs. I've found that chum love them.

tight lines.............

------------------