Bait fishing tactics

[andyk]

It's getting to that time of year when I start doing more static tactics. 
I've never really thought much about rigs, I just tend to use a paternoster, mainly because I'm on rivers and need to hold bottom. When using the paternoster with a deadbait is it best to have it on the bottom or mid water somewhere and that goes for on lakes too. What rigs does everyone else use?
 

[alberto]

Slow moving rivers and lakes - simple trad deadbait under float. Cast in slacker water, not main flow.
Stop knot (set 1ft, 18" over depth), small stubby sliding bung type float, sliding drilled weight, buffer bead, trace, size 6 or 4 trebles (barbless), sodding great herring or mackerel ;-)
It's simple. It's virtually tangle free. It's tried and trusted. It's going to be used all over winter and one less thing to worry about.
Leaving me to concentrate on location and time.

[andyk]

I'll give it a go. The only thing that worries me is it dragging through debris and getting snagged.
The other thing is rod choice. My bank fishing pike rods are too long so I tend to just use my heavy lure rods but these still aren't ideal, are there any pike specific boat bait rods out there?

[alberto]

Me and a mate I go with use carp stalker rods at 8'6"/9'. I've cut down the handles a bit (cos these carp rods have an exaggerated handle for casting which we won't need in a kayak). JRC do some decent 2-2.5lb test curve ones for about £35-£40.

[andyk]

I did have a little google and fix and some other companies do pike boat rods. One idea I did have was using sea rods. I've been looking at getting the Shakespeare Ugly Stik kayak rod for the rare occasion I go out at sea. Can't see a problem using these, nice short handle and various options available. Made to cast big sea weights so should be able to handle a deadbait and float.