Is It Always Better To Use A Rig With Plastics?

[deep]

As long as you're putting that piece of plastic on a hook, you're using a rig of some kind. Depending on whether you're putting the hook through the middle of the bait, or at one end, depending on whether you're using a weight (either a standalone sinker, pegged or unpegged, or a weighted hook) there are different names for different "rigs". Some rigs are more suited to some types of cover/ presentation than other rigs.

 

So what kind of cover are you fishing, and what depth of water are you looking to catch the fish from?

[mathnerdm]

I'm always going to be bank fishing and this trip at a lake. Here's the tackle I picked up to try a texas rig (the spinnerbait is just something I also wanted to try) 

 

http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/micah796123/media/20130806_183842_zps98f17b21.jpg.html?filters[user]=136939379&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=0

 

The bullet weights are 3/16 ounce and I also plan to get some 3/0 gamakatsu ewg hooks before I go in case the 2/0 are too small. How's this look? Anything I'm missing for just a basic Texas rig? I know my noobieness is making yall just cringe as you read, but hey, I need the help.

[deep]

The picture is sort of small; but here's what you might want to do. What worms are those? I'd try with the 2/0s that you have first.

 

Slide the sinker onto the line, tie the hook to the line, and put the hook into the worm at one end*; and you have a texas rig!

 

*like this:http://www.probassfishing.ca/articles/images/Senko-Texas-Style.jpg

 

You can peg the sinker at (very near) the hook (with a bobber stopper/ toothpick/ rubber strip) and you have a pegged texas-rig (which is also called a florida rig by the way).

 

You can peg the sinker a foot or so above the hook, and you have a slip-shot rig (without a bead; but that's not very important, not right now anyway), similar to a carolina rig!

 

So many rigs, right?

[mathnerdm]

What worms are those?

 

 

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Yum-5-Plastic-Senco-Style-Dinger-Watermelon-Pearl-Laminate/17620027

 

So for a 5" worm, you think 2/0 will be fine? The worms are just a little more than half as wide as the point of the hook to the furthest side, so I think that's what it should be (correct me if I'm wrong)

 

And the way you broke the rigs down, deep, sure makes it a little less intimidating lol!

[deep]

No problems. I personally like a 4/0 EWG for 5" senkos (or senko copies). Try with what you have first. If you're getting too few hookups due to the smaller gap, upsize the hook.

 

P.S. Weightless texas rig is a popular way to fish senkos. A texas rig minus the sinker = weightless texas rig.

[mathnerdm]

I personally like a 4/0 EWG for 5" senkos

The worm has like a rectangular cut out on one side, what exactly is that for?

[deep]

I think that's for resting the hook point so that it has a little more room to penetrate the fishes mouth. Not sure.

 

Maybe someone who fishes Yum Dingers will chime in?

 

P.S. Maybe this will answer you question. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/123131-slit-on-the-back-of-plastic/

Yamamoto senkos don't have them.

[mathnerdm]

I think that's for resting the hook point so that it has a little more room to penetrate the fishes mouth.

So you're thinking it could be like an alternative to texposing? I read that thread, but still confused on what actually to do with it (or just work around it)

[deep]

You can keep the hook in the hook slot (without texposing)- seems to me though that the plastic may begin sliding down the hook after a while; or you can texpose it, depending on the size of the hook.

 

Or you can just keep the slot on the bottom or on the sides and just texpose like usual.

 

Found one crusty old dinger with the slot you talk about.

 

 

[mathnerdm]

Yup, that'd be it! With what you said in mind, I'll probably just go with working around that, just go with the tried and true method.