I fish the Illinois River and there is plenty of current, and gizzard shad is plentiful. I wanted to know since people use circle hooks all the time how big or a hook should I be using with what size shad? I was also
wondering about weight when drifting? Since I fish a
river system with plenty of current how mush weight
should I use if any? If none then how do I know when
I’m on bottom? Or if I am supposed to be using weight
what type of rig should I be using?
thanx….joe
Welcome to IDA Joe!
Our resident drifting experts should be with you soon. 
Welcome to IDA Joe.
I would have to say that Steve DaMars is the reason for my success for putting Channel Cats in the boat by drifting. After reading a report of his last year I had to give it a try, and I’m glad I did. I’m sure we do things a bit different only because everyone has different preference on gear and presentation.
I am not fishing heavy current by any means (because of low flow) and just a 1/0 to a 3/0 snap swivel to my main line and the same size barrel swivel to my leader is enough weight to put my cut bait in the strike zone.
I’m using lighter equipment for Channels than some because I have a blast catching big Channel Cats walleye gear. My main line is 10lb to 20lb Power Pro and I’m using 12lb mono for my leader. I like a leader length of 20-24 inches. I have been using the 1/0 Daiichi Catfish Wide circle hook with a half filet of sucker, approximately 1.5 to 2 inches wide and 4-5 inches long.
If you were to use this set up and you don’t feel the bait just tick the bottom every now and then, you could experiment by adding split shots above your snap swivel. You do not need your bait to be glued to the bottom to pick up channel Cats.
Hope this made some since and gives you a starting point
Drifting in fast current is a whole different kind of drifting then what we are doing here. I have read a number of good catfishing articles on drifting in fast water. There is an excellent article in the January 2006 In-Fisherman magazine titled “Controlled Drifting for Catfish”. There is another drifting article in the August / September In-Fisherman magazine titled “Bull’s-Eye Blue Cats”.
Most of the articles focused on fishing below dams. The trick is to use your trolling motor or outboard to slow drift or slip down current just slower than the current.
You need enough weight to get your rig to the bottom on a tight line. Once you touch bottom you will lift your bait 3 to 6 inches off the bottom , letting the current slowly carry the sinker a few inches downstream. You use this lift and drop technique to feel the bottom and maintain good bait presentation. It is kind of a “feel” kind of thing – you don’t want your bait rig to drag on the bottom or you will get hung up. You drop the rod tip, feel the weight tick bottom and lift to keep your bait in the zone.
I would recommend you get a copy of those In-Fisherman articles and give that a try. It sounds like these are some techniques that might work in your situation.
Quote:
January 2006 In-Fisherman magazine titled “Controlled Drifting for Catfish”. There is another drifting article in the August / September In-Fisherman magazine titled “Bull’s-Eye Blue Cats”.
Very cool article. There are more knots in his drifting rig than any walleye fishermen has ever seen 
It looks like a great way to fish scour holes here on pool 8 earlier in the year when there is some good current to deal with!
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