I use nylon twine, #4 or #5 circle hooks with what ever kind of weight depending on current...nuts, tire weights, or egg weights. As far as depth, I like to vary with different hook sets. After a couple of checks you will notice all the one's set at one certain depth are getting hit and the others are not. Use that as a guage to how the fish are feeding and what depth. I will go through and raise and lower the hooks accordingly in the water column. Dont be scared to tie that hook as tight into the bank as possible. I have caught really good fish basically tied to roots on the bank. Also vary where you put your hooks. Start out hitting ever type of structure cover or open swift water with varying depths And as I said adjust accordingly as the day or night goes. If you are getting eating in swift water on the bottom, I would re-set all my hooks like that. I move mine and adjust all night. As far as Ivory soap, yes it will work, only if the river is rising hard and it is muddy. That kinda is an old tale that goes back to the days when soap was cheaper than any other bait for the old tymers. As far as bait for me, Shrimp, shrimp and more shrimp. I have caught everthing for 1-12 lb channel cats, 20 lb bluecats, yellow cats, and30 lb flatheads using shrimp on bush hooks and trotlines. Shrimp stays on the hook a long time and it is a deffinate bait. I have seen it work a hundred times when nothing else would. Dont ever work hooks alone, let someone else run the boat. Always work them from the front of the boat and come up stream on all limbs that you are tying to. Lastely, VERY Important. If you are working hooks in moving or swift water, ALWAYS, Always have a sharp knife open and ready with you on the front, just in case you where to puta hook in your hand and you end up in the water dangling on your bush hook, not so important in non moving water, Just in Case.