Building Your Carolina Rigs

[bigbill]

Just some chum for thoughts;

 

Again I'm no pro, but I'm very fussy when I get to pick lures or make stuff up.

On my 1/8 oz carolina rig is as follows; 

 

(I'll lay it out vertically)

I take a 24" piece of copolymer line or red Cajun I prefer 14 lb.  to 17lb. test.

 

1. Swivel with eyes on both ends.

2.  Carolina keeper adjustable stopper

3.  Red plastic bead

4. 1/8oz. bullet weight

5. Either a brass bead or a brass ticker for noise.

6. Red plastic bead

7. Carolina keeper adjustable stopper 

8. I put a small snap swivel on the end of the line. This way I can change the pre hooked baits out quickly. I have my senko type baits, my brushogs,  my blizzard or worm prehooked on eagle claw weedless hooks.

 

I   like using a Carolina keeper above the weight and ticker and below it so it captures the weight and

ticker in a known distance so I get the correct movement for the ticker sound. I usually leave

about 3/4" to 1" of free space for the movement of the ticker. Plus I can adjust the whole carolina weight setup to anywhere on the  leader.

 

My point is sometimes I let the senko or brushog free fall with no noise or I twitch the rod tip to make the ticker rattle. We have that option without changing anything. This is what I use.

[Sam]

If you are comfortable with this rig please use it and let us know how you do.

 

The brass bead and ticker can be used along with a Texas rigged brass bullet weight and ticker.

 

Interesting set up with an 1/8 ounce weight.

 

I use a 1 ounce MOJO weight for my Carolina rig and throw it on a heavy rod.

 

When using the Carolina Keeper I try to go with the clear as I don't want any fish hitting a red Keeper.

 

Your set up seems to me to be a high class split shot presentation. If it works go for it!!!!
 

[roadwarrior]

Give the Rage Tail Eeliminator a shot:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/121863-who-likes-summertime-slobbin/

[Bluebasser86]

If you are comfortable with this rig please use it and let us know how you do.

 

The brass bead and ticker can be used along with a Texas rigged brass bullet weight and ticker.

 

Interesting set up with an 1/8 ounce weight.

 

I use a 1 ounce MOJO weight for my Carolina rig and throw it on a heavy rod.

 

When using the Carolina Keeper I try to go with the clear as I don't want any fish hitting a red Keeper.

 

Your set up seems to me to be a high class split shot presentation. If it works go for it!!!!

 

Or a mojo rig with some extra steps added in.

 

Do you cast this rig on a baitcaster? When I C-rig it's usually in deeper water with at least a 1/2oz weight so I can make long casts and cover water while keeping in constant contact with my baits. Braid mainline to an 18-36 inch (even longer in really clear water) fluoro leader. Brass,glass,ticker, then swivel. I use brush hogs a lot but also like finesse worms and have really started used Z-man baits on my C-rigs a lot because they float up off the bottom.

[RoachDad]

Just some chum for thoughts;

 

Again I'm no pro, but I'm very fussy when I get to pick lures or make stuff up.

On my 1/8 oz carolina rig is as follows; 

 

(I'll lay it out vertically)

I take a 24" piece of copolymer line or red Cajun I prefer 14 lb.  to 17lb. test.

 

1. Swivel with eyes on both ends.

2.  Carolina keeper adjustable stopper

3.  Red plastic bead

4. 1/8oz. bullet weight

5. Either a brass bead or a brass ticker for noise.

6. Red plastic bead

7. Carolina keeper adjustable stopper 

8. I put a small snap swivel on the end of the line. This way I can change the pre hooked baits out quickly. I have my senko type baits, my brushogs,  my blizzard or worm prehooked on eagle claw weedless hooks.

 

I   like using a Carolina keeper above the weight and ticker and below it so it captures the weight and

ticker in a known distance so I get the correct movement for the ticker sound. I usually leave

about 3/4" to 1" of free space for the movement of the ticker. Plus I can adjust the whole carolina weight setup to anywhere on the  leader.

 

My point is sometimes I let the senko or brushog free fall with no noise or I twitch the rod tip to make the ticker rattle. We have that option without changing anything. This is what I use.

doesn't the carolina keeper eliminate the swivel?  I thought the weights and beads were all above the C-Keeper and you moved the keeper to adjust the length of the hook from the keeper.

[bigbill]

I fish in about 10 feet of water.  I've had constant success with this now for over a decade. I figure the ticker set up rocks. I find in using an upper and lower carolina keepers I can adjust the weight setup anywhere on the leader. I'm in control of the ticker when I twitch it.

[Jrob78]

I'm exhausted just reading that.

[bigbill]

I'm exhausted just reading that.

Sorry I won't do any long posts ok?

 

But if this little rig works from shore for me, it should work in other places too.

[rippin-lips]

1/4 - 1/2 tungsten bullet weight or sometimes a lead mojo weight in 1/4 or 3/8 if it's weedy.

Black plastic bead

Black metal clicker

Clear Carolina keeper

Length of line

Hook and bait

As basic as it gets really

[bigbill]

Maybe I over designed it?  I'll try one with less stuff on it. Thanks guys.

 

I been more interested in keeping a known distance for the ticker or clicker to function in any position. I figured it would click the exact same way using the rod tip in the same action/way. I like it simple to use.

[Jrob78]

Sorry I won't do any long posts ok?

 

But if this little rig works from shore for me, it should work in other places too.

I didn't mean you wrote too much, I just meant that it seems like a lot of work for a c-rig.  When I throw a c-rig it's with a minimum of 1/2oz weight, a bead, a brass clacker/knot protector, a barrel swivel, a leader and then a hook.  I encourage anyone to use whatever works for them, it just seems overly complicated.

[Loop_Dad]

You got a pic by chance?

[bigbill]

I need to learn how to do pics, soon.

[5dollarsplash]

It does seem like a lot, but if it works who cares?  I tie up most of my "rigs" the night before I go fishing so its not time wasted on the water.  I use the following:

 

Stoppered weight,bead, bead, loose weight, swivel.  Its more subtle, but it works for me.   

[martintheduck]

I didn't mean you wrote too much, I just meant that it seems like a lot of work for a c-rig.  When I throw a c-rig it's with a minimum of 1/2oz weight, a bead, a brass clacker/knot protector, a barrel swivel, a leader and then a hook.  I encourage anyone to use whatever works for them, it just seems overly complicated.

 

 

Same setup I use, man. Tying up a c-rig is with the minimum requirements is already a chore... last thing I want to do is add more steps. I am intrigued though - what does a c-keeper do?

[bigbill]

A carolina keeper is a round piece of soft plastic with a slot in it. You  can slide it up and down the line to adjust the length of the leader. It very quick to adjust.

 

I just showed my son how to make a carolina rig and he is trying fishing with senkos 

for the first time. He is good with crankbaits and the topwater lures now it's time to get him into plastics. We tend to get stuck in a rut when we use what works over and over. I do the same thing at times. I hurry to fish because my time is limited(disabled)

and I can't stand for too long. So I throw what I know will catch fish. But for years I been breaking this bad habit and trying to add more patterns and presentations to my arsenal of baits. I still like testing new lures too. My oldest son is really good at focusing on the presentations. The student always turns out better than the teacher.I do expect that.

[martintheduck]

Now that you have explained the c-keeper, I will buy into your setup. The past few weeks I've been messing around with my leader length and it's a pain to keep changing them out. I've seen the keepers at dicks before but never thought twice about them (because they are with all the catfishing stuff). I'll have to spend a couple dollars and mess with them. Sounds like it'll make changing leader length a lot less of a pain.

[Jrob78]

Now that you have explained the c-keeper, I will buy into your setup. The past few weeks I've been messing around with my leader length and it's a pain to keep changing them out. I've seen the keepers at dicks before but never thought twice about them (because they are with all the catfishing stuff). I'll have to spend a couple dollars and mess with them. Sounds like it'll make changing leader length a lot less of a pain.

The keeper eliminates the swivel.  It only works if you want your leader to be the same line as your main line.

[Surveyor]

The keeper eliminates the swivel.  It only works if you want your leader to be the same line as your main line.

Not at all. I normally start with a 5'-6' leader.

Just put the keeper on the leader for a long-6' or short -6" "c-rig".

[Jrob78]

Not at all. I normally start with a 5'-6' leader.

Just put the keeper on the leader for a long-6' or short -6" "c-rig".

That makes sense, I didn't think about tying a leader directly to your main line.  

[bigbill]

I use the eye to eye swivel up front. It gets connected to my line on my rod by a snap swivel. This gives me

 the advantage of changing out my carolina rigs to different weight setups I have pre made up ready to go.

 

I just ventured out of my norm and tried multiple small brass beads after the weight for a different sounding ticker. It actually sounds like a ""BB" low pitch sound I get from the bomber cranks. I'm on the right track now.

 

Can my fish catching carolina rig be made better? I think so.....by changing the sound of the ticker by adding more smaller brass beads. I learned something new tonight.

 

Now I'm thinking what if I use the larger diameter brass beads and how much will the ticker sound change. Since I seen the spook lures with a high pitch sound and a low

pitch sound being offered in the same colored lures I think there on to something. I believe the smaller beads have a low pitch while the larger beads have a high pitch.

[Crappiebasser]

1/4 - 1/2 tungsten bullet weight or sometimes a lead mojo weight in 1/4 or 3/8 if it's weedy.

Black plastic bead

Black metal clicker

Clear Carolina keeper

Length of line

Hook and bait

As basic as it gets really

X2 I'm glad it works for you. I'm too lazy for all that. One knot is enough.

[rippin-lips]

X2 I'm glad it works for you. I'm too lazy for all that. One knot is enough.

Yup line to hook is the only knot I have to tie. Plus it's a Palomar so it's an easy one at that.

[bigbill]

But I have different plastics pre hooked ready to go in storage bags. I just change them out with a snap swivel on the bottom of the Carolina rig.  I also have different weighted carolina rigs in storage bags too. If we're in a boat and go to deeper water or thicker weeds I can go from a light Weight rig to the heavier rig in seconds by having a double eye swivel on the upper part of the rig and a snap swivel on the rod. It's time

up front to make it but it's time saved during fishing. I hate wasting time when I'm fishing.

[bigbill]

Just some more question. If I go to a heavier brass weight like a 1/2oz, or 3/4oz, or 1oz weight.

What line test do you use if your carolina rig Is not part of your rod setup? Remember my CR is separate from my rod line.

Right now I have 17lb test red Cajun line on my rod setup for the CR. I use 12lb. Test on my 1/8oz weight on my CR.

DO I need a heavier test line for the heavier weights? Using 12lb test doesn't look right.

Does using a heavier pound test effect the rate of fall on the plastics?

Meaning the heavier weight will drop faster then the plastics. Is this a good thing or not?

Do you adjust the rate of fall of your plastics by changing the line size?

Does it matter or am I making it worse than it is?

Forgive me I have only used my 1/8oz CR for all these many years from shore. We can rent a boat now so the game has changed.

I'm thinking of a bass boat possibly next year but that's another post.