First time Texas Rigging, need advice

[pauldconyers]

Growing up I fished a good amount. My dad only used and taught me how to fish hard plastic lures like crank baits, rat-l-traps and the occasional spinner bait. Once we'd find a spot we cast out in a fan pattern, paid a little attention to throwing by cover and then moving on to the next stop.

 

Now that my oldest is 6 he is getting into fishing and I'm really looking at changing how I fish and getting into using soft plastics.

 

Certain bodies of water and areas were just completely out of the question for me as with 2 turns of the reel I'd be completely covered in moss. The idea of having a weedless lure is appealing.

I am really looking into Texas Rigging soft plastics and need advice as to what hardware it buy and use. I'll be fishing ponds and small lakes, sometimes from a boat and others from the bank.

 

I use a 7' medium baitcaster with 40lb Suffix 832 braid. I'm told I should go with a Tungsten bullet weight. Should I do a 1/4 or 1/2 oz weight? Should I do the lightest I can get away with?

 

As for the hook I assume I need an offset hook, correct? As for the size I've been told a 3 or a 5, I think?

 

As for the plastic I want to set up 2 of these to play around with. Something that will do fine in all water conditions and temperatures for large mouth bass. Maybe one worm and one creature of some sort?

 

Any and all recommendations as to what hardware to buy to make thus happen would be GREAT!

[Catt]

Bullet weights for shallow water; 1/64, 1/16 & 1/8; lead will work just fine where legal. I don't use tungsten until 3/16 oz & larger.

 

Hooks for soft plastics; 2/0 & 3/0 straight shank round bend for finesse & trick worm diameters, 3/0 & 4/0 for diameters up to a Senko, & then EWG

 

Rod: totally & completely personal preference!!!!!

 

Reel: totally & completely personal preference!

 

Line: I personally throw Big Game unless it's matted grass

[OnthePotomac]

My Texas rig style is 15lb InvizX flourocarbon, a really fast reel (7.6:1 or 8.1:1), a 7'MH fast tip rod (I am a BPS Carbonlite fan), a Gamakatsu (sp)3/0 or 4/0 extra wide gap hook and a plastic which weighs at least 3/8oz because I fish weightless.  Senkos, hand poured 5.5" Case Magic Sticks and KVD Caffeine Shads fill the bill on weight of my baits.  If I use a lizard I will use a small slip sinker.  I weigh plastic baits on an oz/gram digital scale on my fishing bench.