The slip sinker rig, also known as sliding sinker rig, works well for bottom fishing for fish that are known to be light biters. It works best when either still fishing or drift fishing along the bottom. The design of this rig helps the bait float up and hover just above the bottom. Slip sinker rigs work especially well for catching light biting fish such as walleyes and catfish. What makes it so effective is that it allows fish to take the bait, yet not feel the usual tug that alerts them to danger causing the to spit out the bait and swim off.

Making the slip sinker rig requires a bait hook, bead, slip sinker, and barrel swivel. The rig can be assembled and modified in various ways, but the basics remain the same. The key to the slip sinker rig is that the weight is never affixed to the line. This allows the line to move freely through the weight, which is essential to keeping the fish from feeling the tug of resistance when it first takes the bait.