How to Tie a Fishing Hook So It Floats Under Water
Rigging a floating hook setup is one of the most effective ways to fish for salmon or steelhead. This technique goes by a couple of different names depending on how you hook the fish: drift fishing or flossing. Flossing is when your hook floats underwater and stretches across a salmon or steelhead hole. Your line will sometimes get tangled into the fish's teeth, which is why it's named flossing. Hooking a fish by flossing is not legal in all of the U.S., so always consult your local fishing regulations. Drift fishing is when you use the same setup but the fish actually strikes your hook. Drift fishing is legal across the United States.
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Things You'll Need
- 3-way swivel
- Fishing weight
- Size 2 salmon/steelhead hook
- Corky the size of a U.S. quarter
- Toothpick
Instructions
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Tie a 3-way swivel to your main fishing line. Make sure your knot is tight to prevent fish from breaking your setup.
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Tie a 2 foot long dropper line directly below your main line on the 3-way swivel. The main line and the dropper line will be in the north and south position when you pull both tight. Depending on the swiftness of the current, tie a weight weighing anywhere from a half ounce to two ounces on the other end of the dropper line.
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Tie a 4 foot long leader line to the last eyelet of your 3-way swivel. Slip your quarter sized corky on the leader line.
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Tie your fishing hook below the corky on the leader line. Slide the corky down the line so it sits snugly against the top of your hook. Take your toothpick and shove it in the corky hole. Break the tooth pick so it's flush with the corky hole. Cast out your setup and your hook will now float about 3 feet off the bottom of the river. You can use this setup as is with the corky or put bait on the hook. Both methods work equally well.
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References
- Photo Credit salmon image by Warren Rosenberg from Fotolia.com
