Float Rigs.

1 - Fishing "On the Drop".

This is where the hook bait is allowed to fall through the water slowly and a fish takes it on the way down.  The bait can be kept moving by re-casting.

2 - On the Bottom, often called "Laying On".

With this method the rig is fished over depth, so that the bait lies on the bottom.  You will often hear anglers saying "I'm laying on 6 inches".  This means the rig is set 6 inches over the depth of the water, so that 6 inches of line lies on the pool bottom.

3 - Fishing Off the Bottom.

Here the bait is presented off the bottom.  The rig can be set so the bait is near the pool bottom, or up near the top, or anywhere in between.

Combination of all 3.

Bear in mind that when fishing on the bottom, you should be aware that fish can take your bait whilst falling through the water.  Also when fishing on the drop I like to leave the bait for a short time when it reaches the bottom (or what ever depth it is set to).  This gives any fish feeding in that area to pick the bait up.

Never be afraid to alter the method being used.  For example you might find while fishing on the bottom as you introduce feed, the fish may move up in the water as they follow the bait trail.  It's all a case of experience and thinking about your fishing.

The above drawing shows the basic waggler or float setup, used for water up to about 4 foot deep.  Notice the following:

1. The bulk of the shot or weights are placed so they lock the float in place on the line.  They are not strung out all over the place, but are bunched together.
    
2. A small number 8 or 10 shot is placed about 6 to 8 inches away from the hook.  This helps to sink the bait.  Depending on the sensitivity of your float it can also act as a "tell tale".  If a fish picks your bait up and rises up in the water, it will lift this weight with it.  This will mean that the float rises slightly in the water, indicating a "lift bite".

The rig is very versatile and can be used to fish a stationary bait, on or off the bottom and for fishing "on the drop"

The above rig is ideal for deeper water, the extra shot getting the bait down quicker.  It can also be used in shallow water, when you don't want to catch fish "on the drop".  For example if small fish are tacking you bait on it's way down through your swim and you think the bigger fish are feeding on the bottom.  Then you can change to this rig to get the bait quickly past the little fish.  The extra shot want to be "bunched" together as shown in the above drawing, this of coarse doesn't matter if your only using a single shot.

It all depends on the depth of the water, but I like to position the extra shot about 6 inches to a foot above the small shot near the hook.  Again it all depends on conditions so be prepared to change things around.  What I think does matter is that you position the extra shot closer to the hook than the float.  The drawing below explains why.

The drawing above shows that during the cast the line can fold back from the extra shot you have added.  If the hook can reach the float if this happens, there is a possibility it could tangle.