I like 1/16oz jigs (& RR's) ... and the cast & retrieve method. With the jigs, I cast & lift rod tip to the 10 o:clock position and retrieve with a slow & steady cranking of the handle. I'm just watching the line for any telltale "tic" .... then set the hook. With RR's ... I cast & hold the rod parallel to the water or slightly pointed down towards the water, and retrieve with a steady moderate speed cranking of the handle. I'm waiting to feel a "thump" or just sudden resistance (weight) that doesn't stop my line from coming in ... then I keep reeling and sweep the rod away from the direction of the bait. I don't "set the hook" because I'm usually using braid on a stiffer rod than my jig rod and the "sweep" is usually plenty enough to bury the hook.
Now, when I'm trolling a single pole w/RR on, it's usually a UL outfit that I've been casting with, and I'm just trolling from one casting spot to another (on the same stretch of bank). In those cases, I do set the hook with a jerk of the rod ... because of the UL rod & the stretch of the light test mono I'm using.

I'm generally always using weedless jigheads for casting, so the counting down method is not something I use all that often. My slow retrieve speed will usually allow the jig to reach 8-10ft deep on a steady slow retrieve, and if I want the jig to go deeper, I just slow my retrieve even more or wait a few seconds after splashdown to start cranking. I want the jig to go over the tops of whatever cover I'm fishing ... first ... then let it work its way down to & in the cover after having covered the top & sides of it. Fish above or "around" the cover are generally in a more positive (feeding/watching) mood ... while those "in" the cover are hiding or in a negative or neutral mood, and may only eat a bait that comes real close.

I don't much care for using a float with my jig ... as I don't have the same placement control as I do with just the jig by itself. And it also makes a bigger splashdown, which can sometimes spookify the fishes ... so, if I want to fish real skinny water, I'll just downsize to a 1/32oz jighead (keeping the same size plastics on it).

... cp