Gotta question about float fishin bait. When i fish jigs, obviously the weight is right on the lure. So it stays at the desired depth. When I fish bait, the bait will sorta float or ride high in the water, how do you keep the bait deep, or what is a good setup for float fishing bait?

I'll usually run shot down the leader to within 2 feet of the bait. And then ... in the bait loop of my hook, I attatch a split shot there as well. Keeps the bait down nicely

I fish floats a lot and find that if you rig up with your dink float and then rig up just like you would drift fishing straight bait,sliding snap with a desired chunk of pencil lead, to a barrel swivel and then to a hook or pair of hooks. Then set your bobber depth, this usually keeps it down for me quite well, good luck!

I like Bob's idea of adding a little weight directly to the bait.... you know exactly where your bait is relative to the bottom.

I have usually rigged like GFB, but really the bait can be anywhere from the level of the weight down to a full leader length below the weight, depending on the current. You may set your bobber stop perfectly to get the weight to just graze bottom but sometimes run into "surprise snags" when the bait gets below the weight.

Like mentioned above, if you set your float just like regular drift gear, your bait could hit a number of different current drafts that will either take the bait to or away from the fish. To get a consistent depth you can count on, do like Bob said and run shot at different intervals OR get some small barrel sinkers and paint them your favorite colors thus creating a "lead corkie."

The only thing i hate about pinching shot on your leader is that it can create friction if you get a hot fish on, or the shot can rub or fray weak spots on your line.

Another option is curing your eggs with a "hard cure" making them tough enough to put strait on your jig hooks like you do shrimp.

I won't claim expertise, because I don't fish eggs under a bobber that often, but I do it often enough, and catch a few fish with it.

My experience is that eggs sink. If you are in smoothly flowing water, those eggs will be rolling pretty close to the bottom. I use a 2 ft leader to the eggs, and no weight below the swivel. This catches fish where I use it, which is smoothly flowing, cobble bottomed runs. I use a bobber in these runs because I'm trying to work a bait down into a spot that I can't otherwise get to.

Now, Bob gets paid for this, and I don't, so you might want to listen to what he says, but I hear he was really an English major in college, and makes all this stuff up anyway.