First off, I have only fished for trout a couple of times. Mainly use corn, powerbait, tiny cranks, and small spinners. Anyway. I was cruising around youtube for different ideas. I ran across a video with a pretty interesting rig, and I wanted to know if it has a name, and if anyone fishes it. The guy on the video just called it a killer trout rig. The set up is an egg sinker and a snap swivel on the main line. A leader is attatched to the snap swivel with a small hook. The guy tips the hook with floating bait and leaves slack in his line. Sounds like a great rig. Does it have a name?

This video has two parts, but this link is for he second part. He has the rig put together and tells about how he fishes it. I think a larger version of this would work great for channel cats also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy--Sudlsg0

If you don't know, it's not a dumb question and you did the smart thing which is to ask people that might know. I have been using this set up for years to catch trout. I don't know of any particular name that it is called but it seems to be the method everybody uses around here for floating trout bait off the bottom for planter trout. I do sometimes use a similar rig for catfish and carp too. I tie my leader directly to the swivel though and I don't use the snap like the "trout ninja" does in the video. I usually let the sinker hit bottom, reel in most of the slack and set my rod in the holder. Then, with my reel's bail arm closed I pull down a length of line between two guides and, after attaching a clip to a small bobber/float, attach this to the main line. This holds the slack line down and tight allowing you to see line movement and it makes a good strike indicator. If the bobber starts moving pick up the rod and when the fish finally pulls the slack line tight, reel and set the hook. The loosely clipped bobber usually falls off(or you can take it off before setting the hook). The reason for this rig is to allow the fish to take the bait without feeling much or any resistance which would make the fish drop the bait. The slack line held by the float can be taken with little resistance and the egg sinker allows the line to flow freely through it. It's fun to watch the float start to move and can get exciting when you know a fish is taking the bait, especially the first fish of the day.

This is actually an extremely common way to fish for trout. The version the "Trout Ninja" was demonstrating is called the Killer Rig. Most people seem to just use a basic clip on sinker though, instead of the hollow one. But the hollow sinker will work better as the trout will not feel the resistance from the sinker as it is swimming off. Although, I rarely use this set up. I tend to fish for trout using more aggressive methods (casting and retrieving using various lures) as opposed to passive ones (sitting and waiting for the bite). But the Killer Rig will definitely catch you some trout by the end of the day.

I have used this kind of rig for years fishing for all kinds of bottom or near bottom feeders. Any style of sliding sinker can be used and the weight adjusted for current etc. It really is an adaptation of a Carolina rig. Or is it the other way around? Tom

I agree with Pegsguy on the "any style of sliding sinker" and would add, I like the bullet style over egg because they don't hang up on weeds as much. Other than that, Yes, it's a good rig for the lower swimming fish.

I don't know of an official name but it is usually called a sliding sinker rig. I fish it just like Sierra does but one thing I add to it  is a small plastic bead between the sinker and the swivel. This keeps the the swivel from possibly getting hung up inside the hollow sinker during the cast when using light tackle. Alot of people do use this same rig for catfish in the SF bay area reservoirs with chicken livers. I've also seen it used on the bay for stripers with cut anchovie.

A plastic bead is a very good idea. If your weight is getting caught on the swivel, it kind of defeats the whole purpose of the rig! As the trout will feel the resistance.

The bead also protects the knot.

Yeah. Good point Pegsguy thanks forgot to mention that.

Thanks for the input everyone! As soon as the rain around here settles I'll be able to try it out. Thanks again.