Carolina Rig Confusion

[Suspendingjerk]

So I have a spring fed farm pond about 3 1/2 acres I've been fishing for the past 13 years. And just recently have been trying the Carolina rig out. I usually throw something t rigged, a jerk bait, weightless plastics, spinner etc .

What I've found is that when I'm throwing a c rig my bait is dragging the bottom. I've always thought that the whole point of the c rig was to suspend your plastic above the bottom.

I've tried the drag your bait and pause method with no dice. So I've tried raising it up and letting it fall like a t rig also with no results.

Any tips? As much success that I've had with a t rig I just "knew" the c rig would produce just as good if not better. Am I going to have to find some plastics that float in order to suspend then off the bottom?

[Suspendingjerk]

Perhaps I'm missing the bite as well. If it feels any different from a bite on a t rig I could be missing them completely.

[Catch and Grease]

Try using a bait with no salt and monofilament for your leader.

A bite will feel like a pencil tapping on the end of your line, try to stay alert when using a Carolina rig because its easy to miss a strike.

[Suspendingjerk]

Thanks for the reply.

I would describe a t rig bite to feel as you have said. And if that is the case then I am getting no bites on the c rig period..

[Crappiebasser]

Usually a c rig bite is not as noticeable as a t rig. It takes some practice to know the difference between a bite and your weight hitting something. I use Carolina Keepers and tungsten weights to get a better feel.

[F14A-B]

Maybe a bit lighter weight too? Idk how much you're using... I always used the C-Rig to help me figure out Bottom composition and other possible debris fields... Also elaztech baits will float up well off the bottom... You're rod will typically load up on strikes... If the bottom is soft... Lite weight or move.. Keep looking for hard bottom stumps etc... I rarely use a C-rig for just #'s but that's me! Good luck!

[Suspendingjerk]

I'm using a 1/2 oz lead weight. The whole bottom is pretty well soft in my pond. I know where where all the stumps and submerged trees are so I have a hard time forking over the cash for tungsten.

I have had some pulls where it felt like extra weight on my line. But I attributed that to my weight digging into the muck. I know hooksets are free... But I have mild ocd. And if I jerk and there is no fish there... Well then that just messes everything up in my mind and I have to recast .

So maybe a lighter weight?

[F14A-B]

Maybe... Just curious, but if you select a plastic with capability to float higher off the bottom... Elaztech will do that for sure .. Plus they make all the best styles/shapes.... There is also a hard plastic / foam slip sinker that will also float you're plastic bait up as well.. I get mine at BPS... In muck lighter weight but you can only go so lite... Unless you throw spinning....

[zewski]

Stractching the bottom is actually the point of using a c-rig... the weights gets the fish attentions from a mile around and when he looks behind there is your injured looking bait crawling on the bottom, but as catch and grease metioned, you can try to suspend it using mono and lighter bait sometimes this works better. this technique is often used to cover water deep.  you can throw you c-rig let it fall to the bottom and reel it back in as fast as you can by keeping bottom contact, you'll be surprise how effective this is especially on rocky bottoms!

[gripnrip]

I out fished my partner today using the Jika rig while he used the C-rig.  I'd give that a shot along with the C-rig. 

[ripinit]

If you want it up off bottom, use a drop shot...I find it much better in smaller ponds, anyway.

[Suspendingjerk]

I out fished my partner today using the Jika rig while he used the C-rig.  I'd give that a shot along with the C-rig.

Never heard of the jika rig. Thanks will check it out!

[Suspendingjerk]

Just in to mention I caught my first two bass on the c rig this morning!

I changed my weight, threw on a black lizard with chartreuse tail, and went to the pond with a little more confidence knowing that my lure was supposed to drag the bottom.

Amazing how that confidence can change the way you fish it. I would drag a few feet and pause. Then maybe a foot then pause and twitch a little. Then a couple more feet, and on the pause.... BAM. Destroyed it. Was only about a pound and a half but still felt great. And a cold front just went through last night.

Sorry to ramble just super stoked. I was skunked yesterday morning. Just had a bad overall outting getting snagged with my swimbait more than once. And various other mishaps. So my mental health depended on me catching at least one this morning.

Thanks for all the help guys!

[Fish Murderer 71]

A little trick you may want to learn that helps out immensely, ALWAYS keep your index finger, from the hand that holds the reel, in contact with the line.  It kills your middle after a few hours of holding the reel and rod, but you'll feel even the slightest tap then.  Also, when in doubt-SET THE HOOK!!!  Hook sets are free.

[F14A-B]

Cool!

[gripnrip]

Never heard of the jika rig. Thanks will check it out!

Do some research on making your own.  It is much cheaper.

[Suspendingjerk]

A little trick you may want to learn that helps out immensely, ALWAYS keep your index finger, from the hand that holds the reel, in contact with the line.  It kills your middle after a few hours of holding the reel and rod, but you'll feel even the slightest tap then.  Also, when in doubt-SET THE HOOK!!! 

Oh I keep the line between my thumb and index. Been doing that for over 15 years. Thanks for the reply though. I'm not a noobie just new to a c rig. My dad never fished one so I never learned or took the time to.

[Choporoz]

Just in to mention I caught my first two bass on the c rig this morning!

I changed my weight, threw on a black lizard with chartreuse tail, and went to the pond with a little more confidence knowing that my lure was supposed to drag the bottom.

Amazing how that confidence can change the way you fish it. I would drag a few feet and pause. Then maybe a foot then pause and twitch a little. Then a couple more feet, and on the pause.... BAM. Destroyed it. Was only about a pound and a half but still felt great. And a cold front just went through last night.

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

Well done.  Lizard is probably my most preferred c-rig lure.  Can be a challenge to cast with any sort of accuracy, even with a short leader.....and it is hell to fish through a forest, but c-rigged lizard is a great 'numbers' bait.