Bullet style weights tend to be the favorite, as they can more easily pass through weeds and grass without getting snagged. The Carolina rig has the weight above the bait, whereas a Texas rig will have the weight right up against the weight. It can also be used to fish hard to reach spots that other lures otherwise can’t. This line is also very strong and won’t break easily. Sort: 2:22. Keep 5 types of soft plastics handy. When it comes to bass fishing, there is perhaps no other rig as effective or as popular as the Carolina rig. The Carolina still seems to work best in deep waters. Almost everyone reading this article—including the guy writing … The Texas setup can also make its way down into smaller holes, globs of seaweed, underwater brush, and more. Make sure to follow all the tips listed so you can gain the most enjoyment out of your rig setup. If you miss your fish, you can always recast and try again. Everything from college tournaments to amateur series events upheld the ban against the rig. Sometimes known as a “C-rig”, this rig is made with a plastic lure with a weight affixed above the hook. The Carolina rig is designed to be used with soft plastic lures. Drop shotting is yet another popular method used to catch bass. It is best to use Carolina rig during or after the spawning period. Instead of using the reel, you will use the rod to move the bait. You will need to: If you do not know how to rig a Carolina rig, fear not. Lunkers TV’s Mojo Rig Video How To Rig The Mojo Rig . In truth, the rig is a wonderful setup for fishing, but like everything else it has it’s drawbacks. For either rig, anglers use a soft plastic lure. That come-hither dance appeals to bass and calls them over to test your rig. Using a simple Carolina rig for surf fishing is very simple and basic to use. Simply swap out your lure for something attractive to catfish, such as liver, worms, or another specified catfish bait. Do this several times, then … Both the Texas and Carolina rigs are good in springtime. I make my leader — usually between 2 1/2 and 3 feet long — and then add a hook on one end and a swivel on the other. If you are interested in the drop shot, you might be wondering, “How do you rig a drop shot?” Just like the Carolina, rigging up the drop shot is also easy. Types of Fishing Reels – Which one is right for you? In order to properly fish with a Carolina rig, you will first start by casting it out into promising water. These cliques took great pride in their methods and often viewed each other as inferior fishermen. The motion of the lure appears attractive to fish in both aggressive feeding and opportunistic feeding modes. This causes the bass to think that it is injured prey that is unable to fully control their movement, making them an easy target. One of the reasons that the Carolina rig is so popular is because fishermen of any skill level can effectively use it and catch plenty of fish. Rather than tying and untying knots, you simply squeeze the keeper and adjust your lead length. The rig proves effective in the spring, but many anglers also love to use it in the winter months. Carolina Rig 101 with Timmy Horton. The Carolina rig has been around since the early days of tournament bass fishing, but it didn't always hold the high-priority status it enjoys today. Bass are also attracted to the rig because it allows the bait to move in a circle the distance of the lead line. If they are up and feeding, you can get away with a longer leader. Currently loaded videos are 76 through 90 of 447 total videos. For the Carolina Rig it is best to use a pole that is at least 7 feet in length for the technique you will be using for the rig. For that reason, you need a rig that will seek out the bottom of a body of water with ease. Carolina Rig also helps fishers catch more fish because it is very stable. Offset style hooks work extremely well with this rig, and most bass fishermen will use 3/0 to 5/0 sized hooks. Imagine that the rig is sitting in the 12 o’clock position and move your rod from the 12 to the 2 o’clock position and back again. Maximizing the use of your rig is not that difficult, and can improve your fishing game. It can also cause some extra noise that helps attract hungry bass. While any rod can be used in conjunction with a Carolina rig, the most popular and best-suited rods tend to be medium to medium-heavy, fast action rods. So what’s the difference? Otherwise, you will find that the video adequately highlights how to put together a solid rig for your next bass fishing adventure. Types of Tents: 17 Popular Tent Styles for Camping & Backpacking, Best Camping in Arizona – Top 50 Spots (Free & Paid), Ice Fishing in Indiana (IN) – Top Spots with Map, Ice Fishing Near Me – Top Ice Fishing Spots in the USA, Ice Fishing in Vermont (VT) – Top Spots with Map, Ice Fishing in Pennsylvania (PA) – Top Spots with Map, Ice Fishing in North Dakota (ND) – Top Spots with Map, National Parks Near Los Angeles (Map, Distances, Driving Time), Trout Fishing Tips: Beginners Guide to Trout Fishing, Best National Parks Near San Francisco (Map, Distances, Driving Time). The key to fishing the Carolina Rig is to move the bait so slow that the only way to achieve how slow you need to move it is to move it slowly by moving your pole. So how exactly do you set up a Carolina rig? Because of the way the rig works, large bass often find themselves naturally drawn to the lure. For lure selection, you will have hundreds, if not thousands, to choose from. Many competitions ban the use of the Alabama Rig, such as F.L.W Outdoors and BASS. It’s designed to not catch on weeds or rocks which allows the fisherman to display the lure to fish that may be hiding in underwater structure. Once this is complete, you are officially done and have assembled a basic Carolina rig! Often, an angler has the chance of increasing her or his luck of catching large bass. Bass love this rig because it targets and triggers their natural instincts. Keep in mind that if the offering is not appealing, they will spit it out, and quick! How Do You Stay Warm in a Tent When Camping? Load Previous Page Load Next Page. After a short briefing, we put you in a SCUBA rig and, under the watchful eye of a SCUBA instructor or Divemaster, you get to swim underwater in our 5-foot pool. You can choose whatever leader length best suits you. Sometimes known as a “C-rig”, this rig is made with a plastic lure with a weight affixed above the hook. It can be used at all times of the year, whether the bass are pre-spawn, spawn, or even post-spawn. Of course, you will need to continue setting up your lead, hooks, and lures. On the other hand, if you have never used it, you likely have no familiarity with how it works, why it works, and the best ways to use it. They will not aggressively search for something to eat. The great thing about the Carolina rig is that it is super easy to use. Keep your rod tip pointed toward the Carolina Rig, and reel in any slack in the line. By visiting our site, you agree to our privacy policy regarding cookies, tracking statistics, etc. One of the biggest tips is to use this rig in order to search for fish and find them. The setup purposely keeps your bait at the bottom, thus attracting whatever might see it there. It is better to play it safe rather than sorry. As mentioned earlier, bass test food by pushing it, running past it, or head butting it. Some anglers also use a clacker for added noise While you can purchase these components separately, we recommend going with a Carolina Rig Kit to save time and ensure you have all the right components. Because of the way the setup works, it also serves as a temptation for fish, no matter if they are feeling aggressive or lazy. You will want one at least 7 feet in length in order to get the best use out of this rig. We've … The compact, weedless setup allows anglers to slowly work their baits through the cover or even deadstick it to coax lethargic bass into biting. There are a lot of preconceived notions in bass fishing. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of this rig, how to assemble it, and how to properly use it. Many anglers love fishing with the Carolina rig setup because it is easy enough to figure out for beginners while offering enough bass catching action for the pros. Understanding how to set it up is quick and easy. Often, an angler has the chance of increasing her or his luck of catching large bass. One of the best ways to do that in these situations is with a Carolina rig. For instance, when it comes to the Carolina rig vs Texas rig, the Texas rig features a weight that sits snug against the lure. Line movement may indicate that a bass has picked up your lure. Canoe vs Kayak: How to Choose Between Kayak & Canoe. The Berkley Trilene vanish is a great line to use. Lastly, you will need some hooks and a plastic lure. It also works well in grassy areas or areas with a large brush build-up. The finesse Carolina rig is better known as the Mojo Rig, which is thrown on lighter line with spinning tackle. Next, you will drag the rig across the bottom of this target area. So what exactly is a Carolina rig? Back then, most anglers targeted visible cover, while a small group preferred underwater structure and doted on the Carolina rig. Sometimes a bass will pick up your lure and move somewhere with it. You will also notice variations in the type of lures anglers use and the leader length they prefer. The slower you move your bait across the bottom of the water, the more appealing it looks to bass fish. Pick whatever lure you feel will work best in your area, and you are now ready to assemble all of your pieces into a Carolina rig! Some anglers use an 18-inch leader length while others use less or more. The fast reaction of the bass might leave you stunned, which can slow your reaction time. You should not buy any cheap rod and reel combo, for this will result in the rig being unstable and unable to hold the fish effectively. To catch a bass in lazy, opportunistic mode, you must drop your bait right in front of the fish. It can be used to successfully land flounder in saltwater for instance. How to Use a Carolina Rig for Surf Fishing? You need to make sure that the rig you choose is strong enough and the rod is sturdy and heavy enough for the rig to hold. Depending on how well the fish are reacting, you can choose to slow down or speed up your retrieval of this rig. Simply casting your rig into the water and waiting is not always an option. You don’t have to worry about mastering any sort of tricks or techniques before you can use it to successfully catch plenty of fish! Once you find the fish, you can then move into more precise and finesse fishing to catch them. It is a great activity for friends, families or groups. The Carolina rig can be a powerful weapon in your fishing arsenal, so don’t be afraid of using it! It can be used from either the shore or on a boat, as it situates your lure on or near the bottom almost perfectly. Just as there are many ways to skin the proverbial cat, there are many ways to tie a Carolina Rig and many different parts used to do it. Because fish tend to go deeper underwater when it's cold outside, this is also the perfect rig for use in winter months. Also, make sure you opt to use this setup on windy, cloudy days. It is similar to a Texas Rig, in that it requires a sinker, hook, and soft plastic. The special thing about this rig is how it separates between the sinker and the bait giving a natural look to the offering and increasing the bites count. Keep in mind that the Carolina rig seems to move more rapidly compared to the Texas rig. He uses 20- or 25-pound-test Sunline Shooter for the mainline and the leader, a 1-ounce or ¾-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Carolina Rig Weight, a Top Brass Carolina Ticker to protect his knot, a swivel and then an Owner Offset Shank Worm Hook (usually in 3/0) to top it off. During the cold season, fish tend to stick to the bottom of deeper waters. As you can see, a Carolina rig is very easy to assemble. Unfortunately, the Carolina tends to snag through thick cover and from drops. Since bass love hiding in weeds or around rocks, this is essential to getting your lure close to them. A fluoro leader is needed in order to properly use a Carolina Rig. If the fish are being extra finicky, you can even throw in sporadic jerks and pauses in order to entice a stubborn fish to commit to your lure. You will drag by positioning your pole parallel to the surface of the water and use a sweeping motion to move the lure over the structure you are fishing. The Carolina rig was designed for bass, and there is really no wrong way to use it. Instead, you should make sure you have different hooks with you in case you decide to swap out your lures. Although you can easily use either, it is recommended that you spend the extra money purchasing a tungsten weight if you can. There are, however, a few simple things that you can do with your Carolina rig in order to increase your success when using it with bass. Our Wired2Fish staff was pleasantly surprised when Jacob Wheeler grabbed an old school Carolina rig and started catching the heck out of pressured bass from an offshore school on the Tennessee River. Multi… Its main purpose in this rig, however, is to help stop the weight on the line. There are situations where you will find it is better to use a Texas setup compared to the Carolina setup, and vice versa. The Carolina halibut rig is a great choice if you’re bottom fishing from a boat with dead bait and you want to use a simpler rig. You will now attach the end of this line (after sliding the bead and weight on) to the open end of the swivel. All of these plastic lures will work wonders on bass, but the specific color and design will come down to your own preference and what is working best in your area. Because of their tendency to roam, you need a lure that can cover a larger area, which is something the Carolina can do. These can be anywhere from ½ to 1 ounce in weight. Once you feel the Carolina Rig on the end of your line, jerk your rod toward the underwater structure to get the weight to hit it. Building the rig is simple and straightforward. In contrast, Carolina rig is better for reaching those fishes that are hiding in the depths. The first thing you will need to acquire is some egg or bullet style sinker weights. The Carolina rig is a fishing rig that is used to target fish like bass. Castledine’s C-rig setup isn’t too out of the ordinary. They do this so they can hide from other fish while they test the quality of your food offering. If you do not notice a quick hit, you may have to make the bait look a little more enticing. The Carolina rig gives you more sensitivity to feeling a halibut bite and is a better choice when fishing near rocks or other underwater covers. The Carolina rig is a popular rig that anglers use to make lures more appealing to bass. We will often use a 1/2-ounce or 3/4-ounce weight on a Carolina rig and drag it quickly in deeper water. Required fields are marked *. Make sure you pay attention to the hit sensation on your line. Another example will be if you are fishing in an area with a lot of underwater vegetation and kelp. When compared to the Carolina rig, the drop shot is rather valuable to bass fishermen, but each offers their own pros and cons. The Texas rig is extremely similar to the Carolina rig and is in fact a variation of it. The Texas rig, on the other hand, works better if you are targeting fish that like to hide in thick cover. It’s the simpler cousin to the Carolina Rig. 76-90 of 447. With a Texas fishing rig, you can offer subtle movements of your bait through the water, thus changing how fish react. Anglers looking to catch fish do not want to waste time with too many knots or a ridiculously lengthy setup. For that reason, many anglers use Carolina rigs for catfishing. Intern Gavin with an Indiana Brute (kind of) Some anglers set up their Mojo rigs with a small barrel sinker followed by a small swivel with a leader line of about 1 to 2 feet attached to the swivel. Learn more about Underwater Bait Forensics here. It is also the optimal choice for fishermen looking to catch bass during the spring season. This should be an appropriate size compared to the line and weight that you are using. The Carolina rig is a fishing rig used since the ’70s to target bass and the other bottom-feeding fish in lakes and rivers. You should also not be afraid of playing around with the length of the leader. To do this, you need to move your fishing pole back and forth, using a simple sweeping motion in order to move the lure around the area. Typically, the Carolina should be your go-to setup if you need to cover a larger area of water to find fish. You can use plastics like flukes, worms, lizards, and crawfish. Luckily it is very easy to assemble and only requires a few basic things in order to set up. Use a Texas rig in the fall as fish remain in shallow waters. We rig every type of bait in every type of condition, show you what it looks like underwater (that’s where the clips at 1:56 in the video came from), and show you the best ways to rig them to catch more fish. The water is far colder at the surface, so bass will seek what warmth they can find in the deeper end of whatever body of water your targeting. If you have not yet fished with the rig setup, you might be missing out on a better bass fishing experience. There are, however, a few tips that the pros will use in order to take full advantage of this rig. Your email address will not be published. Any other size of the hook and you may not be maximizing your chances of catch this fish that is normally around 13-15 inches long. Catfish tend to scavenge for their food at the bottom of rivers, lakes, and strip pits, and since the rig keeps your bait at the bottom, it is a great setup. Although Texas rig fishing is great, you might find that learning how to fish a Carolina rig is just as good, if not better. Your fishing line will go through this bead and protect your knot from wear and tear due to the weight sliding up and down while fishing. Texas rigs are generally used for fishing heavier cover, while the Carolina is better suited for deeper water or less extreme cover. By maximizing the use of your rig, you are increasing your likelihood of catching more bass. Its design allows it to target the bottoms of the water, and it is one of the most popular bass fishing lures of all time. After a time, the fish may pick up your bait, test it to see how desirable it is, and either swallow it or quickly spit it back out. If you are still having trouble with your rig setup, this video tutorial may help you out. You can opt for a soft bodied crawfish or a soft bodied worm. This is because it's heavier and not as likely to get caught on things. A Carolina Rig is one of the most versatile lures/techniques used for bass fishing. Because the Carolina rig has a heavy weight, fishermen can cast further into the water’s depths. If you are wondering how to assemble a Carolina rig or how to properly fish with it, then you have come to the right place! If you have not yet fished with the rig setup, you might be missing out on a better bass fishing experience. Additionally, it is the best rig when it is sunny outside, and the water is calm. To understand what makes the rig so appealing, you need to understand the habits and behaviors of the target species your going after. Butting it Stay Warm in a way that causes them to roam through the water, the appealing. Any species of fish that like to hide in thick cover and drops! Keeper and adjust your lead length rig often comes down to a matter speed. 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