Setting Up

• 1). Tie a swivel to the end of your line.
  
  
• 2). Tie a 1-foot length of line to the other end of the swivel.
  
  
• 3). Tie a bare bait hook or lure to the other end of the drop line attached to the swivel. Now you have a rig with a hook or lure that can rotate freely and independent of the main line, preventing twists and tangles.
  
  
• 4). Use a depth finder or topographic map of the water to determine the location of underwater structure such as boulders, submerged branches and dropoffs in a lake, which are all areas where fish like to hang out. The goal is to keep the baited hook just off the bottom.
  
  
• 5). Strip off enough line for your bait or lure to reach the desired depth and attach a float at that point on the line. Use a clear float on bright, sunny days when the water is still and clear and fish have better visibility. On other days, some anglers prefer a bluish green float to blend with the color of the water. When the water is murky and the skies are overcast, use a bright flourescent float so you can see it bobbing out on the water.
  
  
• 6). Reel up the slack and keep the line tight while fishing. The float will drop straight down on a strike, so be ready.