TIP 144- FLOAT-RIG FROM SHORE Here's a basic technique for tying a rig that is a standard for fishing from shore. STEP 1 Tie a # 8 bait hook on the end of your line. STEP 2 Slip a bell sinker onto the line and run it up 12 to 20 inches from the hook. STEP 3 Using a split-shot weight on the line, lock the bell sinker in place from sliding any closer to your hook. When you cast the rig, the bell sinker goes to the bottom and your hook can float up the length of line between your hook and the split shot. This technique uses the hook to present your bait up and off of the bottom. This presentation is important because a trout's eyes are positioned pointing upwards, making it easy for them to target a meal floating in the water column above them or sitting on the surface. Feeding mainly on invertebrates, trout cruise close to the bottom and keep a careful eye out above them for an easy meal.

In order to get your bait off the bottom you can use floating bait or incorporate a hook to lift your bait off the bottom. Try fishing dew worms, and inflate them with a syringe. The air pumped into the worms make them look like a big meal and provide just enough buoyancy to lift them the length of line between your hook and sinker off the bottom. Since worms are not always available or can be difficult to keep over several days in the field, you should experiment with the floating varieties of Berkley PowerBait and Gulp. They have several trout formulas available in a floating paste that are deadly. Knowing trout are visual feeders, actively looking for a meal, I like to use bright colours to draw their attention. The Berkley baits are ideal, as they come in chartreuse, orange, pink, yellow and combinations that are highly visible. Putting a small ball of the paste on a bait hook is just enough to float it cleanly off the bottom, providing the perfect presentation with colour, smell, and placement in the water column.