Not sure what the rig looks like Brian? Can you post a diagram.

 

its basically a float attached to your leader Scott. keeps the bait off the bottom a bit.

 

I use these kind and they work great the 2 and 3 inch floats will hold up a good size piece of bait with no problems .

I run my floats around 5 to 8 inches above my hook with around a 3 to 5 foot leader to hold the baits around 2 foot or so off the bottom .

http://www.castawaytackleshop.com/Betts-Billy-Boy-BO250-R-Peg-Float-p/h-1117-1360.htm

http://www.castawaytackleshop.com/Betts-Billy-Boy-B4B-Y-Peg-Float-p/h-1117-1352.htm

 

I usually start out with 1 set up on the bottom & 1 slip bobber set up. The slip bobber rig has about a 2 ft. mono leader from the hook. Next a barrel swivel, a bead to protect the knot. Then 1/4 to 1/2 oz. slip sinker. A 6" to 8" cat bobber, a couple of beads & a slip knot. I adjust the slip knot to keep the bait a couple feet above the bottom to start. Then raise or lower to try different levels as the night goes on. I have done good on this set up. It seems that it gets more action than the bottom rig. I guess its because you can cover more water with it.

 

The Santee Cooper with a slip sinker setup is the next rig I am going to try. I've used a 3-way rig with a float attached with limited success. I've caught some fish, but too many fouled lines for me.

To me it just makes sense to fish at least one rod with a float attached just in case the fish are off the bottom, especially now that we can fish three rods legally.

I use the same floats as catfishscotty.

I attached a small picture. Not too easy to read, but you get the idea.

 

I've used it. It was primarily designed to be used for drift fishing. The float works to keep the hook and bait off of the bottom to help prevent snags. I found I have little use for it personally. I even fished with it stationary, I catch more fish without it. I like the slip bobber better.

 

I have used that rig for a few years now,seem to have better action on a slip bobber about 3-8 ft from the surface. This year I want to try plastic bobbers with bb's inside and epoxied over as a rattle on the santee rig, to make some noise. I started using small rattles the end of last year and seen an improvement over fishing without em. I use mostly a slip rig with a breakaway line, the more snaggy the area is the shorter I make my breakaway line. Works good to keep the bait off the bottom a little to

 

The Santee rig is good if you are DRIFTING from a boat.  On the bank, it's just a $4.00 rig.

 

I have tried it side by side literally same bait same location and it didnt make a difference. Its like blacky said. Just added expense if fishing stationary.

 

I used something similar at grrenlick lake a few years ago but it was my version. Pretty similar but then I used 2 treble hooks. Too many fish hooked deep. Since then all circles for me. It worked to keep the bait above the weeds. Caught a good bit on it. My rig let the float slide up where the line was doubled to each hook and then a hook on each side of the bait.

 

Gonna try this rig out..... only question I have is will it matter if you use a small round bober or a cigar float instead of a peg float? I have no peg floats right now.

 

I've heard the primary purpose is to keep cut bait from getting buried in the mud when your boat is riding the waves. The constant up and down motion of the boat digs your bait deeper and deeper into the mud. I guess if fishing with live bait it might keep the bait moving a little more as well, letting it try to fight its way to the bottom.

 

it works but like the others said-I wouldnt pick it over the carolina-rig. I try to do the santee to be different if normal methods arent working. As far as the fella that said he was gonna add a bobber with BB for noise-someone once told me tieing a rattle trap or like bait with rattles to your leader would bring noise and vibration-I have tried it 5 times with no takers lol-you can see it on the rod thats standing up against the sink