try this out, i think it works great when i bottom fish in creeks and deeper holes in the lake. Start tying on a carolina rig and after you tie on the leader, dont tie on the hook, instead slip on the smallest cork you can get from your local bait store. i use the little small ones that have a tooth pick through the center of them. then tie on your hook. the cork holds the bait up from the bottom while you fish. just make sure your weight is heavier than your cork or your hole rig will float up. i learned this setup from a catfisherman and tried it out and it worked well. I usually fish with a 12-15" leader and have the cork about 5 inches from hook. that puts the bait and hook about 3" of the bottom instead of in all the leaves and trash at the bottom of the lake.