[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"learn-card-the-drift-rig":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"applyCta":6,"authorId":9,"body":10,"cardType":46,"description":16,"difficulty":47,"discipline":48,"editorId":9,"extension":50,"glossaryRefs":51,"hook":58,"meta":59,"navigation":60,"path":61,"publishedAt":62,"readingSeconds":63,"regionTags":64,"relatedCards":65,"safetyDisclaimerRequired":68,"seo":69,"status":70,"stem":71,"track":72,"updatedAt":62,"version":47,"__hash__":73},"learn_cards\u002Flearn\u002Fcards\u002Fthe-drift-rig.md","The Bottom Drift Rig",{"label":7,"action":8},"Find a stream near you","open_planner",null,{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":42},"minimark",[13,17,20,36,39],[14,15,16],"p",{},"The bottom drift rig is the bait-fishing equivalent of a dead-drifted fly: bait travels naturally with the current, deep enough to find feeding fish. It's the setup that catches trout in heavy water where bobbers don't reach.",[14,18,19],{},"Setting it up:",[21,22,23,27,30,33],"ol",{},[24,25,26],"li",{},"Tie a small (#10–14) bait hook directly to your line.",[24,28,29],{},"Pinch one to three split shot 12–18 inches above the hook. Heavier water needs more weight.",[24,31,32],{},"Bait the hook with a worm, salmon egg, single kernel of corn, or a piece of nightcrawler.",[24,34,35],{},"Cast upstream of the holding water you want to fish.",[14,37,38],{},"The drift: the rig sinks as it travels. Hold the rod tip up and feel the split shot ticking along the bottom. Fish typically take with a sharp pull rather than a subtle tap — bait flopping along the floor is too easy a meal to ignore.",[14,40,41],{},"When the rig hangs, lift the rod tip and shake; a stuck split shot usually pops free without you breaking off. Replace bait every two or three drifts — lost bait makes you a confidence-tester, not a catcher.",{"title":43,"searchDepth":44,"depth":44,"links":45},"",2,[],"technique","1",[49],"bait","md",[52,53,54,55,56,57],"split-shot","leader","run","pool","current","drag","Bait fished on the bottom, drifting with the current. The simplest effective setup for trout in pools and runs.",{},true,"\u002Flearn\u002Fcards\u002Fthe-drift-rig","2026-05-08","110",[],[66,67],"the-slip-bobber-rig","the-palomar-knot",false,{"title":5,"description":16},"published","learn\u002Fcards\u002Fthe-drift-rig","first-cast","lOX10wDqSEyHfDZEwpt7DFLDDEIs5F95tKZfesmHC3M"]