In the world of fishing, drifting is seen as an art. Many friends who have just started to get in touch with this hobby often misunderstand, thinking that as long as they master the four fishing two, they will understand all the skills of adjusting the drift. In reality, however, this is just the tip of the iceberg in the art of blending. The real core of drifting is not simply adjusting the float count, but by finely manipulating the state of the lead skin and strand in the water, so that the fish can swallow the bait smoothly.

Drifting is much more than just adding or removing lead, it involves a deep understanding of the fish's feeding behaviour and precise control of the sensitivity of the entire rig.

Especially when we are fishing for demersal species, how to configure the fishing rig and the drift strategy to adopt is particularly important. Ideally, the hook should lie on the bottom, but at the same time avoid the strand stiffly pulling the hook tip, which can lead to blocking when the fish are feeding.

To do this, we need to add a small piece of lead skin above the hook tip, or make the strand form a large curvature to ensure that the strand does not interfere with the fish's upper lip and reduce its alertness.

In addition, the degree of curvature of the strand and the condition of the sinker are also extremely important when fishing for bottom fish. Through the careful drifting process, we are able to achieve the ideal effect of hitting the bottom with the upper hook and lying on the bottom with the lower hook, which not only ensures the stability of the bait, but also significantly improves the chance of the fish biting.

When it comes to selecting line sets, the single-hook thru-line is highly regarded for its unique sensitivity. The sensitivity of this line set lies in the distance between the sinker and the hook – the shorter the distance, the more responsive it is. Even the slightest action when the fish bites the hook can be quickly transmitted to the float through the main line, enabling immediate signal feedback.

In contrast, due to the existence of multiple anchor points in the double hook line group, such as the upper hook touching the bottom and the lower hook lying on the bottom, it may lead to the formation of blind spots, so that the action of the fish biting the hook cannot be detected in time. Therefore, in the case of high sensitivity requirements, the application of single hook through wire has irreplaceable advantages.

At the end of the day, the essence of drifting is to adjust the condition of the strand in the water. By adding or removing the lead skin, we can manipulate the relative position of the lead sinker to the strand, which in turn affects how bent the strand is and the position of the hook.

A precise drift setting allows the strand to show its optimal shape at the bottom of the water, naturally welcoming the bite of the fish. Whether it's a five-three-fish or other meshes, the core is to understand and master this principle, so that the drift can truly serve the goal of increasing the success rate.

When adjusting the drift, the main line state between the float and the plumb sinker cannot be ignored. If the main line is bent, especially in an environment with flowing water or strong winds, it may cause distortion or even loss of signal transmission.

Keeping this section of the main line straight is essential to improve the sensitivity and accuracy of fishing. Adjusting the position of the rod at the right time ensures that the main line remains tight and straight, which improves the reaction speed of the entire rig and ensures that every bite of the fish translates into a clear float action.

"Bad mouths" is a common problem faced by many anglers. This phenomenon is usually closely related to the state of the bait and the feeding habits of the fish. For example, if the bait is drawn too long or irregularly shaped, the fish may not actually swallow the bait during the feeding attempt, but only bite the outer drawn part, resulting in a floating reaction but not catching the fish.

In addition, improper drift settings can cause the rig to be too sensitive or sluggish, which can also affect the normal bite of the fish. Therefore, proper drifting, correct bait selection, and understanding the feeding habits of the target species are essential to solve the problem of "mouthy fish".