Carolina Rig

[Carrington]

I was doing some research on the carolina rig since ive never used it before and every website i goto is saying to use different materials from the other sites.  so my question is what is a common weight for the rig for bass fishing, is a glass bead better, should i use tungsten or lead, and what is a good average length of leader line between the swivel and the hook?

[RyneB]

I believe when it comes to a Carolina Rig it is whatever you prefer. I prefer a 1/4 ounce Tru Tungsten weight and a glass bead. I like to use a Fluorocarbon leader no more then 3 feet long, any longer and casting it out becomes a chore. When i first started Carolina rigging i didnt peg the weight. Once i started pegging the weight it seemed like my catch rate went up. I know some people would consider pegging the weight an ultimate no no but it works for me and thats what i stick with. The main thing with Carolina rigging is not to jig it like you would a texas rig, but more or less drag it along always staying in contact with the bottom. It took me a few outings of playing with it to have confidence in it.

[Carrington]

so do you just like do a tap tap but instead of lifting it with the tap tap retrieve, you keep it on the bottem.  or do you just swing the rod to the side and drag it in one big swing?  also is a 1 foot leader to short?

[Red Bear]

when you move it use a side sweep motion and just drag it. dont get discouraged if you dont have immediate success. i hear glass beads are better because they make more sound than plastic beads

[Carrington]

ok, where do you fish these and what type of line and test do you use for the leader.  also what line do you use for the main line and could i use this rig on my finese setup?

[Nine Miler]

Carolina Rig is more of a heavy tackle method.  Generally, a pretty large weight is used, (up to 1 oz.) with heavy line and a stout rod. 

[Carrington]

ok, should i use 12# fluro for main line? and then 12# fluro for the leader also?

[Nine Miler]

Read this thread, just found it.  It should help you out.

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1120348381

[Carrington]

ok thanks for the help, but could i use a cheap baitcasting setup for this or do i need something that is pretty sensitive? because this setup i dont believe is that sensitive but its my only setup that is over medium.

[Nine Miler]

Nobody "needs" extra sensitive gear.  Run the line over your finger when you're dragging your rig, you'll be fine.

[Carrington]

ok thanks for all the help, ill be heading out tommarow to buy the weights, beads, and leader material tommarow then.

[BobP]

A C-rig can be any line, any weight, any leader.  But the classic rig is 20 lb main line, a 3/4 oz lead weight, a bead, a swivel, and 18-24" of 12-14 lb mono or fluoro leader.  The point is to get it on the bottom and keep it there as you retrieve it so you can feel the bottom composition.  If you can fish it efficiently with lighter weight or line, fine.  But waiting 15 secs for a 1/4 oz weight to hit bottom in 20 ft of water is inefficient.  Tungsten is nice but if you fish snaggy areas, it gets expensive.  I can feel the bottom well with 3/4 oz of lead so that's what I use most.  IMO, the amount of time the weight spends clicking against the bead as it's dragged on the bottom is about zero, so glass or plastic is fine.  Guys vary the components endlessly to adapt to different situations, or the equipment they own, or just to taste.  I use 20 lb Fireline main line and a sensitive 7' MH rod and catch a lot of fish on C-rigs with the standard setup, in a mostly clear water lake. 

[Carrington]

ok, thanks for the help.

[RyneB]

Some people throw it on a heavier rod. I throw it on a Pro Lite Finesse 7 foot rod with 20 pound power pro (braid) as my main line and 12 lb Vanish Fluorocarbon for the leader. Another little bit of advice is when using fluoro i like to put a little dab of super glue on the knots, just a little insurance policy as fluoro knots are known to slip.

[whoopbazz]

For me 10 to 12 lbs line is fine...on whatever heavier outfit you have. You really have to like C rigging to go out and buy an outfit for it. I just use one of my med 6-6 baitcasting.

24 inch leader. 3/4 oz brass weight with a bead and extra brass clacker.

As far as the bait. Any plastic that does not sink rapidlly. I don't like Senko etc for C rigging. The bait falls to the bottom...you want it suspended off the bottom. Lizards, grubs, tubes, or worms seem to work.

[bass or bass ?]

I tie mine like this; hook, 1 to 3 foot leader, swivel, red plastic bead, green glass bead, red glass bead, 1/2 ounce brass bullet weight. The soft plastic bead protects the knot better then a hard glass bead. The two glass beads and the brass weight really make a great clacking sound.