T-Rigging In Heavy Weeds

[the reel ess]

Well, it's getting hot. Fish are slowing down in the local reservoir. Its mossy in shallow areas, and weedy in the rest. Not the kind of weeds that grow to the surface like a mat. More like bottom grass. Yesterday, I broke out the T-Rigged Speed Craw and caught three on it, all decent fish. But of course it was fouled almost every cast. I'm sure I could catch more if I could keep it clear of weeds longer on a long cast. Any suggestions? Any sleeker rigs than the conventional bullet weight-straight offset 3/0-4/0 hook?

 

Thanks,

Rob

[Uncle Leo]

Try pegging the weight, yo u made not mention of this so I assume it was not pegged. Keeping the weight tight to the bait will help some and allow you to swim a bit through the weeds.

[HoosierHawgs]

Are you using tungsten?

[A-Jay]

A Drop shot rig may be one method for you to consider.

 

Use the same line / test you're using now, the plastic & hook of your choice but Texas rig the plastic instead of an open nose hook.

 

Then position the weight on the tag line an appropriate distance below the hook/bait to allow your plastic be above the weeds / bottom for a cleaner presentation. 

 

The Long Thin Tungsten Finesse Drop Shot weights have a small size & good shape for coming through the bottom slop you're described better than the round or tear drop shaped weights usually used on a rock or harder bottom.

 

I've been using this style rig for the past two seasons with a SK Rage Craw - with very good results.

 

A-Jay

[the reel ess]

Try pegging the weight, yo u made not mention of this so I assume it was not pegged. Keeping the weight tight to the bait will help some and allow you to swim a bit through the weeds.

No, I was not pegging the weight. I never have. What's your favorite method? Thanks.

[the reel ess]

Are you using tungsten?

No, I'm not. Smaller profile, right? Thus far, I've resisted it due to cost but as I dig deeper in the bag of tricks I find I can afford whatever is necessary to catch a fish. Thanks.

[the reel ess]

Do you guys ever use the T-Rig hooks with weights already attached?

[flyfisher]

I have found that the jika rig comes through grass pretty well and in many cases better than a florida or texas rigged bait but the key I have found to any of the techniques is to slow down and not muscle through the stuff.  let the bait work through the grass.

[flyfisher]

No, I'm not. Smaller profile, right? Thus far, I've resisted it due to cost but as I dig deeper in the bag of tricks I find I can afford whatever is necessary to catch a fish. Thanks.

I recently started using tungsten and i must say it makes a difference.  I feel more of hte botom and it must be because of the higher density.  I also happened to be in Bass Pro this past weekend and they had their house brand tungsten all on sale for 20% off so i picked up a few packs.

Do you guys ever use the T-Rig hooks with weights already attached?

nope, never have and don't think i will when they are more costly and i can get weights and hooks and then mix and match to what i want to do and not be forced into what he manufacturer feels is the best hook & weight combination.

[A-Jay]

Well, it's getting hot. Fish are slowing down in the local reservoir. Its mossy in shallow areas, and weedy in the rest. Not the kind of weeds that grow to the surface like a mat. More like bottom grass. Yesterday, I broke out the T-Rigged Speed Craw and caught three on it, all decent fish. But of course it was fouled almost every cast. I'm sure I could catch more if I could keep it clear of weeds longer on a long cast. Any suggestions? Any sleeker rigs than the conventional bullet weight-straight offset 3/0-4/0 hook?

 

Thanks,

Rob

 

 

Do you guys ever use the T-Rig hooks with weights already attached?

 

 Considering the conditions you've described and since you're looking to keep your bait "clear of weeds", any type of rig used where the weight in pegged or attached directly to your presentation will be counter productive.

 

Another possible solution is a Carolina rig where the weight & the bait are separated a good distance. 

 

  I have however had better success with a drop shot type deal.

 

A-Jay

[HoosierHawgs]

No, I'm not. Smaller profile, right? Thus far, I've resisted it due to cost but as I dig deeper in the bag of tricks I find I can afford whatever is necessary to catch a fish. Thanks.

I had the same thoughts here. But then I found them for an ok price at a local place so I picked them up and I'm not looking back.

[the reel ess]

I have found that the jika rig comes through grass pretty well and in many cases better than a florida or texas rigged bait but the key I have found to any of the techniques is to slow down and not muscle through the stuff.  let the bait work through the grass.

I found that too. it was easier from a boat on short casts because I had the leverage to pull the baits up. My buddy is a power fisherman and he's on the trolling motor. His idea of finesse is slow rolling spinnerbait or slow cranking a Trap. So in order for me to get the bait in the zone with a breeze, I had to use 3/16 oz. When I use the kayak, I'll have better control with a lighter weight.

[Catt]

I completely disagree that an un-pegged weight will cause your t-rig to hang up!

If y'all can not fish a t-rig or jig cleanly through grass its operator error!

Most anglers try forcing a t-rig through grass which is all wrong, you finesse it through grass. When you feel the t-rig starting to load up in the grass...STOP! Release the pressure, pull up until you feel the heaviness again but apply slightly more pressure, the release, repeat until it breaks free (at this point ya wanna hold on real tight to your rod cause ya might get your arm broke). You want the motion to be similar to & as fast as working a shaky head, you're just appling more pressure.

Worm selection is paramount, ribbon tails will hang on grass more than curl tails & straight tails hang even less.

You want to stay as near vertical as possible & maintain constant bottom contact, density of the grass & depth will determine how far off vertical ya wanna go.

Grass is the reason I keep a Texas Rig & Jig-N-Craw on my boat deck 24/7/365!

[WRB]

Not an expert fishing weeds/grass with a T-rig ( sliding bullet weight). Listen to Catt.

My only advice is use a lighter weight like 3/16 oz in lieu of 1/4 oz for example and slow down, finesse the rig through using soft plastics that slide through the grass without snagging as Catt mentioned.

Tom

[the reel ess]

I keep looking for a way to use my pitching combo and I keep coming back to a MH spinning combo with braid. Light or weightless is the way to handle the weeds.

 

I did catch a couple on a fluke letting it drop into the weeds and yanking it back out.

[flyfisher]

light weight or weightless are for targeting different areas of the grass though.  If i am using a texas rig, that means i am I am trying to target the bass that are lower in the grass bad near the bottom.  If i am using weightless or lightly weighted i am targeting middle or near the top of the grass.  I don't think those two techniques are interchangeable.

[kikstand454]

If you're in a boat, stop making long casts. Get fairly vertical on the spot your fishing. Drop that t-rig down and you will have more control over the amount of weeds you're picking up. The other advice given applies as well.

[primetime]

I find if you are dealing with algae and weeds like duck weed or pond weed, scum etc....The best bet as mentioned before is too find out where the weeds are, if they are on the bottom, then the dropshot or Jig rig helps, but I find the best way to  keep my worm clean is to use Tungsten for feel, so I can feel when it is hitting weeds, branches etc...smaller and denser so a 3/16 oz bullet weight is tiny and not really expensive compared to the benefits.

 

I also believe adding some Megastrike or any scent that is oily, I will mix some vegi oil with Megastrike in a bottle before hitting ponds that have lots of floating weeds and weeds and scum off the bottom...I also don't think bass mind if your bait as a few strands of weeds on it if you are popping it free or hopping it etc...If you feel weeds, rip it and hold on....use the weeds as a way to get a reaction strike.

 

The Dropshot set up and rig AJ suggests is a great option, but I am personally to impatient and like to keep my rod moving which causes too much line twist so I don't alway's peg the weight either.....I never leave a swivel even if using a c-rig set up since the swivel will collect weeds, the slip shot rig or MOjo rig works great, leave a 3' leader and figure out how long it takes for your bait to sink a foot with just the hook, and then every 6-10 seconds lift the rig to keep it from settling on bottom unless you see a fish following, then kill it if it starts to turn away.

[Bankbeater]

I like using the smallest size weight I can get away with.  I also like the Creme 6" worm as a bait.  The worm is short enough so that it doesn't wrap around the weeds, and skinny enough to pull through the thick stuff.  I also keep the profile down by using a smaller size hook.  Something like a 2/0 EWG hook.