Rage Tail Craw Rigging For River Current

[tip2oo3]

I have been using full size rage craws/ rage bugs in heavy current rage rigged 1/4oz. 5/0 moaner hooks. I'm thinking of trying baby craws to see I I can get anymore smallmouth bites than I already have. Would it be more effective to continue rage-rigging on a 3/0 1/4 oz weight or should I consider a pegged t-rig? My current gameplan has been chucking my baits into the current and just bouncing them off the rocky bottom. I've had plenty of snags with the rage rig but most of the time I'm able to work them loose.

So what would you choose for rocky heavy current, rage or t-rig?

[roadwarrior]

Try both! Sometimes the fish like a swimming bait so the preference is the Rage Rig 

At other times they focus on the bottom = T-rig.

[Pete-K]

How heavy is the current? I know here on the Tn river with a 1/4 oz I'm not feeling much. Going below Pickwick Dam in the am. Plan on using the same baits but rigged Carolina rigged and 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz weights.

Pete

[roadwarrior]

I had some good luck with 3/8 oz Siebert Outdoors Big O jigs (PB&J) with a Rage Tail Craw Trailer (PB&J).

[tip2oo3]

Current was decent today, I fished the same location two weeks ago and felt safe wading, today there was no chance of getting in the water. I'm fishing the scioto river below griggs dam in columbus ohio. Tried a t-rig with a couple different weights- lost two rigs to the rocks with no fish to show for it. It's been a little difficult to find the right rig that doesn't hang up every cast.

I have five brand new siebert jigs that I want to throw, hesitant to throw away some nice jigs until I have the skill to keep them from snagging.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

For fast current my favorite rig is a slip float with a light jig head. Adjust the float until the bait just ticks the bottom. Until you get to know the river well enough this may take a few passes through a drift but once you get it right, you get bit and spend lots less time tying knots. Not that you never hang up, but... You can try slinkies and Lindy No-Snag weights as well

[tip2oo3]

Well just in the last two outings it seems like my 1/4 oz. rage rig is spending less time snagged up in the rocks, I'm dedicating a couple more hours today with a rage rigged craw to see how it will hold up, details to follow!

[Shane J]

Just like Roadwarrior said, but my preference most of the time in those conditions, is the Tx rig.  Oh, and a Rage-rigged Craw will "hold up" just fine. I use one all the time. On that same Moaner Hook, too.

[bowhunter63]

I fish low head dams alot for smallies.I use the rage rig 99 percent of the time with very little snags.If i ran a jig threw the same area it would hang alot.Rage rig has worked very well for me on the rivers.

[tip2oo3]

The 1/4 oz. rage rig has definitely been the easiest to throw without snagging, just not having consistent results fishing rage craws/bugs. Caught a decent smallie on a wacky senko however they get snagged very easily, every cast I was having to pull the rig outta the rocks. Tried a slip float/wacky combo with no success so far, gonna try adjusting the depth of my float next time out. Top water has also yielded zero fish.

[tip2oo3]

Also the smallie I caught on the wacky senko fought me like a beast, I haven't caught a smallmouth since I was a kid and man are they fun to fish for!