Carolia Rig Tips

[Robert Riley]

Some guys came into wodk today sayinh theyve been catching them all day with a carolina rig. Ive tried it before and never really had luck, so i guess ill try it again.

 

So ill start by asking what tips youve got for me about fishing this thing?

Second, what gear do you throw it on? I figure I'll just use my frog set up: 7'11" Aetos H/XF with a Super Duty 8:1 and 50lb braid. 

Im gonna make a second post about the actual weight and bead and swivels so this doesnt get too bogged down.

 

[webertime]

Please dont go braid, especially with an XF rod.  You run Dobyns?  A 735 with 16-20 lb fluoro and whatever reel should suit you.  Mono leaders (15lb big game).  I rig a lot...  lot lot lot lot, I run a Lamiglas 735 with 20lb Abrazx and 15lb mono leader.  

☆Use a REGULAR offset hook on a zoom Speedcraw in green pumpkin magic. That hook prevents the hook from rolling over when a bass tries to pin it on the bottom. 

☆Braid bows in the water and you spend a lot of the hookset pulling slack, or not feeling the smushy bite. 

☆Look into mojo or phenix finesse weights.

[bigturtle]

1 hour ago, webertime said:

☆Braid bows in the water and you spend a lot of the hookset pulling slack, or not feeling the smushy bite. 

if this is happening to you, you are doing it wrong. you keep constant contact with the bottom on a tight line. there is no bow or slack. its a tight line between you and the weight at all times.

[flyingmonkie]

2 hours ago, bigturtle said:

if this is happening to you, you are doing it wrong. you keep constant contact with the bottom on a tight line. there is no bow or slack. its a tight line between you and the weight at all times.

 

Maybe so, but if you're fishing a hard bottom, you'll fray that braid pretty quick.  If you're going to fish braid, use a mono or floro leader and check your braid often for signs of weakness.  That being said, my vote is for 20lb floro for mainline all day, every day.

 

Something not mentioned yet is leader length.  This is pretty important and varies based on several conditions.  Generally, the clearer the water, the longer the leader.  I watched a video yesterday in which Mark Davis talked about using 7' leaders in clear water.  Most guys throw in the 3' range, less during the spawn or in murky water.

[webertime]

8 hours ago, bigturtle said:

if this is happening to you, you are doing it wrong. you keep constant contact with the bottom on a tight line. there is no bow or slack. its a tight line between you and the weight at all times.

No, there's current involved the second you stop moving the bait, the bow gets created.  

5 hours ago, flyingmonkie said:

 

Maybe so, but if you're fishing a hard bottom, you'll fray that braid pretty quick.  If you're going to fish braid, use a mono or floro leader and check your braid often for signs of weakness.  That being said, my vote is for 20lb floro for mainline all day, every day.

 

Something not mentioned yet is leader length.  This is pretty important and varies based on several conditions.  Generally, the clearer the water, the longer the leader.  I watched a video yesterday in which Mark Davis talked about using 7' leaders in clear water.  Most guys throw in the 3' range, less during the spawn or in murky water.

I throw 4-6ft leaders.

[Robert Riley]

Ended up using one today, just tied everything on my flipping stick (DX745c). I used FC this time, I'm definitely going to try it with braid though. I did shorten my leader from 5 to 3 feet and caught a few more fish. It's definitely a technique I'm happy to have in my arsenal.

Do you guys use bullet weight or egg weights? And what size weight do you generally use?

[bigturtle]

I use tungsten flipping weights. I use it in 3/16, 1/2 and 3/4oz depending on water depth and size of bait. 

[jr231]

@J Francho likes to use them for fishing beds 

[Mike L]

I use round lead only. 

The egg shaped weight's tend to dig in and can get snagged as you drag, while the round one's slide across and through whatever is there.  

 

 

Mike

[shovelmouth83]

i use a 3/16 to 1/2 depending on the bottom and the water. for leader length i use 1ft to 3ft in flats. drop offs ill go longer, like 4ft to 6ft. it is tricky to stick the 5 and 6 ft but can be done. i personally like the shallow rigging best. 1 to 3 foot leader.

 

tight lines. 

[webertime]

Mojo style or tungsten barrels.  1/2-1oz

[XpressJeff]

Do you guys always use a ball bearing swivel and bead?

[Mike L]

Depends 

Sometimes I'll use what's called a "Carolina Keeper"

Its a round plastic disc that attaches to your mainline that you can slide up or down below the weight and beed

which allows you to adjust the length of line below it that is considered your leader. 

 

Useing that negates the need for the swivel.  

 

 

 

Mike

[bigturtle]

no point of using a ball bearing swivel. The only thing the swivel does is to act as a stopper for your weight, and allows for a different leader material. The swivel doesnt even need to spin, you can substitute it with a solid ring and it wont make any difference.

[papajoe222]

Quick tip for those of you learning this style presentation.  Let the conditions dictate your choice of components and gear.  A tungsten weight has no benefit when fishing a muck bottom and braid will get nicked and fail you at the wrong time if fished through shell beds, or rip rap.  You can get away with a rod with an extra fast tip when using a long mono leader or using a moderate fast tip with a short fluoro leader.  The same goes for the baits you choose. Floating baits excel under certain conditions while heavily salted plastics have their  place.  And don't forget hard baits. Yes you can C-rig them.

[Robert Riley]

I appreciate it guys. I'm gonna give the rod a try this weekend. I've already bought some stuff to just try it all out. I hope I don't have any issues with braid, but I can see why I might. I've got one last question (although feel free to keep talking about the last few): I wouldn't mind making some pre-rigged ones, not necessarily with the leaders, but just the swivel, bead and weight; I've seen them around the store and of course they have none now. Is doing this worthwhile? 

Kind of like this one

[BobP]

I fish "typical" southern lakes.  Rocks, but not too many.  Weeds, the same.  I always use a braided or fused superline mainline and 90% of the time a 3/4 oz bullet or egg weight and a 3-4 ft mono (not fluoro) leader.  The braid allows longer casts, more sensitivity and better hook sets.  The fact that it floats is irrelevant because it goes to a 3/4oz weight and you want tension on the rig at all times.  A Zoom lizard does it for me most of the time.  There are no hard and fast C-rig rules and you can adapt any part of it to the conditions you fish.

[CroakHunter]

Been reading up on this thread. Very very helpful! So helpful that i got this chunky fellow today on a c-rig

[Sam]

Robert, go to your favorite tackle shop and purchase a package of three-way swivels.

 

Attach a three-way swivel to the main line that allows you to create two leaders.

 

At the end of the main leader line, about 18 to 24 inches, add a 3/0 hook for a lizard.

 

At the end of the secondary leader line, about 8 to 12 inches, add a smaller 1/0 hook with another plastic, like a grub, French fry,  fluke, crawfish, swamp crawler, trick worm, finesse worm, etc.

 

Make sure your beads are of cut "glass" and are not plastic. You can find "cut" glass at a bead shop. Use clear beads, not red or black. Glass beads make a different sound than the plastic ones. Use two, of course.

 

Use a one-half to one-ounce MOJO weight. You may have to search for them. You can order them on-line. The weight of your sinker is up to you. I use either a half or one-ounce MOJO sinker.

 

Main fluorocarbon line is to be 20 pound test. Leader line can be lighter, such as 10 to 20 pound test.

 

Use a heavy rod of your selection and a strong reel.

 

A "pro's trick" is to hook the lizard in the side, not up and down.

 

Now set up your Carolina rig and do some fishing!!!!!

 

 

[Robert Riley]

That's some crazy stuff you typed there. I'll keep it simple right now, but this summer when they're deep, I'll definitely be giving that a shot.

 

[WRB]

I prefer to use a slip shot rig using the main line with 1 knot. 

Baitcasting; 1/4oz to 1/2 oz brass black cyclinder weights, Carolina Keeper, 8 mm glass faceted bead and Owner 5100 3/0 for worms or 4/0 for creature.

Spinning; 1/16 to 3/16 oz brass black cyclinder weights, Carolina Keeper, 8 mm glass faceted bead and Owner 5133 size 1/0 for finesse worms.

Tom