New Guy Question On Texas Rigs?

[Mike L]

Feeling a worm/jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but to the experenced worm/jig angler it makes total sense!

To all you folks just starting out, or to those who just don't think of it every time you toss a plastic or jig...Read this again!

This more times than not, will determine how successful you are.

Mike

[Catt]

I think there is far too much emphasis placed on tackle!

My Texas Rig/Jig-n-Craw Setup

Reel: Calcutta 100A, gear ratio: 5.8:1

Rod: Crucial CRX-X610MH, 6' 10" MH Xtra Fast

Line: Berkley Big Game 15#

Bullet weights: lead

Hooks: Academy H2O Straight Shank Round Bend

Why?

I have total confidence in my equiptment so when I miss fish its 100% Catt failure.

[flyfisher]

 I like to feel for "Signs of Live" - but you usually can't "feel" for too long . . . . . . 

 

Remember - Hook Sets Are Free - so don't be shy - if you think you're getting bit - Whack'em.

 

I will also say that after enough of your baits go whizzing by your head - this may also help you to learn the difference between a weed and a bite.

 

 In the mean time, don't forget to duck . . .

 

 

A-Jay

Good advice and i will add one more thing, wear sunglasses for said baits whizzing past your head

 

I saw an article on here somewhere that basically said to go out to a pond that you know has a good population of sunnies and set up a split shot rig with a small 3-4" worm.  It won't take long before you begin to understand what a take feels like.  I used to fish texas rigs a lot and then got away from it but this year I have started again and it has paid off nicely.  It is worth learning how to fish them well and learning the takes.  Watching the line and feeling the bait is key.  I have caught many fish where i never felt the take but something felt off, maybe the line wasn't moving like it had been or it stopped when i thought it shouldn't.

[HoosierHawgs]

I think there is far too much emphasis placed on tackle!

My Texas Rig/Jig-n-Craw Setup

Reel: Calcutta 100A, gear ratio: 5.8:1

Rod: Crucial CRX-X610MH, 6' 10" MH Xtra Fast

Line: Berkley Big Game 15#

Bullet weights: lead

Hooks: Academy H2O Straight Shank Round Bend

Why?

I have total confidence in my equiptment so when I miss fish its 100% Catt failure.

How does that 100 size Calcutta palm?

[Catt]

How does that 100 size Calcutta palm?

I started my tournament career with Abu Garcia 5000 so a Calcutta was an easy transition, I have rather large hands so the 100 fits nicely.

The main reason I like round reels is I was already comfortable with & find no reason to change.

[HoosierHawgs]

I started my tournament career with Abu Garcia 5000 so a Calcutta was an easy transition, I have rather large hands so the 100 fits nicely.

The main reason I like round reels is I was already comfortable with & find no reason to change.

Yeah, my dad likes a lot of his round reels too. Don't they make some 100 size round reels in different ratios? I'm just not as familiar with them as some are.

[Bassmaster3363]

I Texas rig quite a bit.  Tungsten weights are the way to go but 1/8 oz is definitely too small to be able to punch through grass and weeds.  I would use a 3/16 or 1/4 oz., maybe even a 1/2 oz. if u want good bottom contact and the current is pretty fast and there is high winds.  With a sensitive rod you should be able to tell the difference between grass etc., and fish.  If not the fish will normally slam the bait, HARD.  With grass you are just pulling dead weight.  Your line may also move through the water if you have a fish.  If you keep getting hung up rip the bait out of the weeds and grass and sometimes that will cause a reaction bite.  Hope this helps!

 

Tight Lines

[flyfisher]

Good advice on the tungsten.  I bought a bunch of it when bass pro had their house brand on sale and i can say that i have noticed a difference.  It may also help to peg the weight when working through grass.  I usually do and it helps me stay in contact with the bait more easily

[Catt]

Good advice on the tungsten but the OP's friend is killing em with 1/8 oz!

[Wolfie]

Good advice on the tungsten but the OP's friend is killing em with 1/8 oz!

Ok guys so I went fishing last night and tried the 1/8oz in depths 10'-18' and i cant feel and dang thing its like i have a ghost on the other end of the line any tips for this depth also might try a jig to re fish the spots with. This depth area is new to me. Please help

[A-Jay]

Good advice on the tungsten but the OP's friend is killing em with 1/8 oz!

 

I'm a fan of tungsten and use it almost exclusively.

 

However when faced with the OP's situation, and if were still talking about keeping the presentation on top of the sub-surface weed canopy and not plunging through it,  I find that going back to a light lead bullet sinker works better.  

 

A-Jay

[Wolfie]

Also the jigs will be on 20lb flouro and the t rigs on 15lb flouro

[A-Jay]

Ok guys so I went fishing last night and tried the 1/8oz in depths 10'-18' and i cant feel and dang thing its like i have a ghost on the other end of the line any tips for this depth also might try a jig to re fish the spots with. This depth area is new to me. Please help

 

You can always fish that light rig on a spinning outfit.

 

I'd recommend an out fit that suits the situation and a good braided line as well.

 

A-Jay 

[Wolfie]

You can always fish that light rig on a spinning outfit.

 

I'd recommend an out fit that suits the situation and a good braided line as well.

 

A-Jay

Everyone keeps saying braid why? Braid isnt flouro more sensitive on slack? Not trying to seem smart honestly asking also what pound test for a baitcaster

[Catt]

Ok guys so I went fishing last night and tried the 1/8oz in depths 10'-18' and i cant feel and dang thing its like i have a ghost on the other end of the line any tips for this depth also might try a jig to re fish the spots with. This depth area is new to me. Please help

Hate to come across as rude but the problem aint line or weight it's operator error that only you can fix by fishing light t-rigs more!

10-18' aint that deep

[A-Jay]

Everyone keeps saying braid why? Braid isnt flouro more sensitive on slack? Not trying to seem smart honestly asking also what pound test for a baitcaster

 

There are a TON of different opinions on that very subject but I'll give you as quick & easy a response as I can here now.

 

 When fishing a Texas rigged bait, regardless if it's and 1/8 oz or 1.5 ounces, there needs to be some contact between you & the bait in order to detect strikes.  You will have a lot less success fishing your bait on a totally slack line.  Now there are always brief points in the  presentation where you may loose contact with the bait but they should be brief.   You can believe what you want about the properties of Fluorocarbon, but from my experience - it's not worth the money or the weak knot strength.

 

 Now If you've never used braided line - then you haven't felt what a solid strike feels like with this line.  The first time you experience it - especially with a Texas rigged bait, you'll understand what I'm talking about - it's TOTALLY different from any nylon line. Since braid has very little stretch the bites seem really amplified through the rod and in my opinion are actually easier to detect than when fishing nylon.  If you have used it - then you know exactly what I'm referring to.  

 

 So if you're having trouble staying in contact with your bait and detecting strikes and you've never tried braided line, then my advice is to get some and fish with it.  What have you got to lose ?

 

A-Jay

[Wolfie]

Hate to come across as rude but the problem aint line or weight it's operator error that only you can fix by fishing light t-rigs more!

10-18' aint that deep

Your not being offensive I want help but you made it sound like 1/8oz might be too light

[Wolfie]

There are a TON of different opinions on that very subject but I'll give you as quick & easy a response as I can here now.

 

 When fishing a Texas rigged bait, regardless if it's and 1/8 oz or 1.5 ounces, there needs to be some contact between you & the bait in order to detect strikes.  You will have a lot less success fishing your bait on a totally slack line.  Now there are always brief points in the  presentation where you may loose contact with the bait but they should be brief.   You can believe what you want about the properties of Fluorocarbon, but from my experience - it's not worth the money or the weak knot strength.

 

 Now If you've never used braided line - then you haven't felt what a solid strike feels like with this line.  The first time you experience it - especially with a Texas rigged bait, you'll understand what I'm talking about - it's TOTALLY different from any nylon line. Since braid has very little stretch the bites seem really amplified through the rod and in my opinion are actually easier to detect than when fishing nylon.  If you have used it - then you know exactly what I'm referring to.  

 

 So if you're having trouble staying in contact with your bait and detecting strikes and you've never tried braided line, then my advice is to get some and fish with it.  What have you got to lose ?

 

A-Jay

Good advice I do fish braid but mostly on more power bait stuff frogs,jerkbaits not more finese like jigs or frogs what poundage would you recomend also what brand a friend of mine is a walleye guy and swears by fireline crystal as its almost invisible

[Wolfie]

That was suposed to say jigs and t rigs sorry typo

[Catt]

My target (starting) depth when fishing Toledo Bend is 15' plus or minus 3' or 12-18', this puts me on the outside weed line. I'll throw a wacky rigged Trick worm at that depth, so I'm keenly aware of your problem feeling a 1/8 oz.

I'm completely comfortable with Berkley Big Game, my strike to hookup ratio is in the high 90 percentile range. A-Jay is completely comfortable with braid, & I'm quite sure his hookup ratio is similar. What A-Jay describes he feels with braid I feel with mono because I've been throwing t-rigs for 50 yrs & the bulk of that at night. If you aint feeling your lure with fluoro, ya might wanna change to braid.

To me "sensitivity" is wholly dependent on who is interrupting what's being felt!

[Wolfie]

My target (starting) depth when fishing Toledo Bend is 15' plus or minus 3' or 12-18', this puts me on the outside weed line. I'll throw a wacky rigged Trick worm at that depth, so I'm keenly aware of your problem feeling a 1/8 oz.

I'm completely comfortable with Berkley Big Game, my strike to hookup ratio is in the high 90 percentile range. A-Jay is completely comfortable with braid, & I'm quite sure his hookup ratio is similar. What A-Jay describes he feels with braid I feel with mono because I've been throwing t-rigs for 50 yrs & the bulk of that at night. If you aint feeling your lure with fluoro, ya might wanna change to braid.

To me "sensitivity" is wholly dependent on who is interrupting what's being felt!

Thank you

[Catt]

When fishing a Texas rigged bait, regardless if it's and 1/8 oz or 1.5 ounces, there needs to be some contact between you & the bait in order to detect strikes. You will have a lot less success fishing your bait on a totally slack line. Now there are always brief points in the presentation where you may loose contact with the bait but they should be brief.

A-Jay

Feeling a worm/jig bite requires keeping a certain amount of tension on your line while at the same time keeping a certain amount of slackness in your line. To the average angler this makes no sense at all but to the experienced worm/jig angler it makes total sense.

[A-Jay]

Good advice I do fish braid but mostly on more power bait stuff frogs,jerkbaits not more finese like jigs or frogs what poundage would you recomend also what brand a friend of mine is a walleye guy and swears by fireline crystal as its almost invisible

 

I use Sufix 832 Braid Lo-Vis Green and Power Pro is OK too.  The 30 lb size would be my choice for the application we are discussing in here.   If I were doing it on spinning gear I'd be going with a 20 lb product.  

 

A Monofilament leader may also come into play at times on this one as well; something in the 12 - 15 lb range for casting gear & 8 - 10 lb on the spinning set up.

 

Good Luck

 

A-Jay

[jdw174]

Just remember.....hooksets are FREE!.....i.e. if something feels different....HIT IT.

[HoosierHawgs]

My target (starting) depth when fishing Toledo Bend is 15' plus or minus 3' or 12-18', this puts me on the outside weed line. I'll throw a wacky rigged Trick worm at that depth, so I'm keenly aware of your problem feeling a 1/8 oz.

I'm completely comfortable with Berkley Big Game, my strike to hookup ratio is in the high 90 percentile range. A-Jay is completely comfortable with braid, & I'm quite sure his hookup ratio is similar. What A-Jay describes he feels with braid I feel with mono because I've been throwing t-rigs for 50 yrs & the bulk of that at night. If you aint feeling your lure with fluoro, ya might wanna change to braid.

To me "sensitivity" is wholly dependent on who is interrupting what's being felt!

Isn't Big Game one of the lower stretch nylon lines on the market? I know Trilene XT is fairly low stretch.