I have only fished for channels and have had my best luck with a minnow (live, dead or inbetween doesn't seem to matter) fished on the bottom with a slip sinker. Tom

Simple slip sinker rig for me.  Well it's actually a carolina rig since I like to use a brass bullet weight, but cut bait or sucker minnows are my bait of choice.

SB: How do you like the brass weights? I have been useing a lot of tungsten lately, but it is too costly to use in some 'high loss' applications and I have been considering brass or steel as an alternative to lead. Tom

Posted By bass or bass? on 06 Jun 2010 10:02 PM
I use basically a heavy Carolina rig , both for channels and flatheads. I use lead weights, up to 2 ounces for flatheads.

I fish for all 3 species and the sliprig on bottom works great most of the time, but I love to use no roll flat sinkers with a hole through the middle so the line slides free and still keeps it on the bottom and I keep a verity of sizes and diffrent types so I'm always prepaired for any thing.

Posted By Pegsguy on 06 Jun 2010 09:52 AM
SB: How do you like the brass weights? I have been useing a lot of tungsten lately, but it is too costly to use in some 'high loss' applications and I have been considering brass or steel as an alternative to lead. Tom

I mostly chase the smaller eater size cats.  I like the brass so much better than lead slip sinker weights.  I don't ever have to worry about line dig'n problem on the lead. So far it's mostly just 1 once weights.  The brass are more sensitive in the rocks and log areas, since I often target structure type fishing.  I think they work better for not snagging as well.  It's a harder material so less hangging up on bottom structure.

If I have a need for 2-4 oz weights, that gets the sliding rig and the pyramid weights.

Thanks for the input. I am a light tackle fisherman most of the time, other than a few bottom bouncers the heaviest sinker I own might be 1 oz, used for drifting perch on Lk. Mich. You would be amazed at how fast a 30' cruiser will drift in a 10mph wind, even with drift socks out. The brass sinkers while more than lead are still cheaper than tungsten. Tom BTW, seems the clock is messed up again, I posted this originally at 1:50 PM CDT

Is anyone familiar with the Sacramento river?  Or can anyone tell me how to judge what size weight i should use according to the current.  I would appreciate it. Thanks!