How do you use your texas rig?

[detroithiker]

How should I be working the weighted worm in the thick weeds?

I use a SP worms most of the time as so many others, I see most videos always show a texas rigged worm with weight, my cousin fishes his worm with and without but catches mostly without a weight, and always catches at least twice as many fish as me, is this something most you do as well?

We fish the weeds 90% of the time this year, its been in the 90s for weeks here in michigan and that seems to be where the bass are.

So if he out fishes me without weight should I be doing the same?

I figure its more about the fact that this is what he does most and has become good at it, I am only in my 2nd year and want to improve, I just don't know if I should stick with a bullet weight and learn to get good at it or fish without weight.

By the way we are in lower michigan just outside of detroit.

[Cgrinder]

This time of year, I'm throwing unweighted Senkos and Fat Ikas into pockets and around thick grass. If I'm throwing a weighted plastic, the weight is light (1/16 oz or so) so the rig sits on the grass and doesn't get stuck down in it.

The exception is a speed worm, which involves a texas rigged worm with a tail that creates a lot of movement or disturbance. Peg the weight (1/8 - 1/4 oz or so, depending how deep you want the worm swimming) and swim your bait slowly over and through the grass.

Also, this weather sucks.

[Outdoor Zack]

Depends on the bait for me, I usually go as light as I can though.  That said, I try to make sure I can cast easily.  For instance, I throw finesse worms with a 1/8 oz weight usually (sometimes 1/16 oz.) so I can put it where I want to.  

But senkos don't get any weight as they are heavy enough to cast well and they have good action when rigged weightless

if you can cast a lure well (as far as distance and accuracy go) when u rig it weightless, then go for it.  If not, then throw it with as little weight as you can, while still being able to fish it the way u want to

[scaleface]

When someone out fishes me two to one I start paying attention  .

[Catt]

My #1 GOTO is a Texas Rig!

Ya gotta learn both!

Ya gotta learn to give em what they want!

In my tackle box you'll find weights from 1/64-1 1/2 oz's. 

[detroithiker]

So do any of you think I need to punch through the weeds to reach the bottom?

It's sounding like the weight is mostly just for casting power?

[Fun4Me]

I would at least try to punch through the weeds and see what's willing to bite under the grass. Could be an old pig gal under there. 

[scaleface]

35 minutes ago, detroithiker said:

So do any of you think I need to punch through the weeds to reach the bottom?

It's sounding like the weight is mostly just for casting power?

Yes , do it .Try everything . Weightless , light weights , heavier weights . 

 

Weight is not just for casting.  Bass hit  a bait that  is falling a lot more than on the way up . You just have to try it all .They all work .

[MassYak85]

It depends, try both. He might be catching more if the bite is tough because of the slow fall rate of the weightless rig. You could either try weightless as well in that situation, downsize the size of your weight to slow the fall as well, or just try working the bait slower. But sometimes they want that fast fall a weighted T-rig has, in which case you might out fish your buddy. Try everything until something works. If the weightless is the hot ticket that day, no shame in switching to what works. 

[Catt]

10 hours ago, detroithiker said:

So if he out fishes me without weight should I be doing the same?

Ya gotta learn to give em what they want!

[Master Bait'r]

I fish a lot of weedy ponds because I LOVE fishing cover.  I usually avoid a weight on my t-rigged plastics in shallower weedy areas so that it is able to be more gently worked through the pads, grass etc. and also spends a little more time fluttering down through the open water pockets.  When it hits bottom weeds that lower weight also helps it not get too hung up when you raise it out again.  Nothing is 100% weedless but it certainly helps. 

[primetime]

Pegged and un pegged. or double stoppers, to save money and for ease, just use silicone from an old skirt as a peg(stole that from a BR video) and I usually peg both sides of the weight and this way I can turn a Texas rig that is pegged into a C-rig or just give it a few inches etc.

The speed at which a bait falls is a factor, I like tungsten for sure for any weight over a 1/4 ounce simply due to size. Just like the smaller profile but I will use 1 oz plus in shallow water if my 3/8 creature/craw will not bust through and I don't like to lob baits due to the loud noise.

I prefer a sliding weight, usually I always go with lightest possible to feel bottom, and usually I use 3/16 for most applications not in Nasty Cover.

Weightless is also a great option, also a good thing to remember is if fishing a toad like say a Rage Toad or Horny Toad, and you want longer casts and more noise, create more action, adding weight will do that, but then you have to fish it faster, but don't be afraid to let Frogs fall, sometimes fish smash a toad like any other bait as it falls, I usually start with 1/8 but 1/16, 3/16, 1/4 is what you will use most for standard fishing, and then 5/16 is the magic weight, not sure why but I use it more than any other weight, it seems to work better than 3/8 or 1/2 but then again, maybe I am imagining things, but if you think it helps, then it does. I know that when I watch Grigsby pitch shallow cover, he is always using 5/16 as well. I have my own "scientific reasoning" but I would not want to expose my logic for all to see.

[UPSmallie]

Usually just fish a T-rigged Senko with a 1/4 oz bullet weight above the worm.  If rigged decently the setup should glide between the weeds without many hook-up issues.  When it gets caught up occasionally, it should pull loose.  I usually cast out to a lesser weedy area.  Let it sink a little bit and then pop, pop, glide retrieve back to the boat or bank.  If reeled fast enough it can go just above the weeds for the most part too.