More help with Texas rig.

[Rollincoal420]

I'm really struggling with a Texas rigged bait.  Take the sinker off, weightless & needless, or even a belly weighted ewg hook and I'm getting pretty consistent.  But that sliding weight, or even a pegged one, and I struggle.  Seems like vegetation gets caught between the weight and hook often and find myself trying to clear it more than fish it.  Also I never get bit.  Even switched to weightless in the same target and landed a fish.  

 

I've tried 1/8 oz, and 1/4 ounce, brass and led, brass cracker and not.  Braid, and flourocarbon, simply  no avail.  Just seems like any weight on the line really hinders me.  

 

Ive tried retrieving just about n e possible way I can think of.  Still, nothing works like a weightless plastic, or belly weighted hook.

[deep]

First, if weightless and weedless is working, keep fishing it that way.

 

I'd also try a lighter weight for a T-rig, and when you feel it starting to pick up weeds, snap/ pop it off.

How deep are you fishing, and could you describe the weeds? Matted grass or something like milfoil?

[Glenn]

Here's a couple of videos that should help:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rollincoal420]

Thanks for the videos, Glenn, I'll check them out when we break is over.  Lol

 

Deep, 9 out of 10 times its 10ft or less.  Being stuck on the bank doesn't offer much depth for the areas I have access too.

 

 

I think most of the vegi is hydrilla. Really thick in spots.  Spots that don't have that seem to have just regular ol crab grass like u would find in your yard.

 

 

 

 

[Rollincoal420]

2 hours ago, Glenn said:

Here's a couple of videos that should help:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks  I've seen a 2 of those 3.   Probably 2 or 3 times. Great videos.   Seems like I just need practice. 

 

When would one want to peg a weight vs not? Besides heavy punching

[wet_dream]

6 hours ago, Rollincoal420 said:

I've tried 1/8 oz, and 1/4 ounce, brass and led, brass cracker and not.  Braid, and flourocarbon, simply  no avail.  Just seems like any weight on the line really hinders me.

 

I'm the complete opposite! lol

 

I also mostly fish from the bank and seem to do much better when I have some sort of weight. I currently use lead but am looking to try tungsten. Maybe the more compact tungsten weights will help you from getting caught in he weeds. I've personally shied away from them so far because of price. I don't peg my weight and I try to choose the lightest sinker I can to keep contact depending on the conditions. I tend to run into trouble with weeds getting caught up on the hook/weight when I go heavier, but I personally haven't used anything over 3/8 oz. The sinker also helps me cast further and cover more water.

 

6 hours ago, deep said:

First, if weightless and weedless is working, keep fishing it that way.

 

I'd also try a lighter weight for a T-rig, and when you feel it starting to pick up weeds, snap/ pop it off.

 

^Also, this.

 

If you're doing well with a weightless presentation, then stick with it. Some of the areas that I cast to from the bank will drop off into 20-25 feet, so weightless would take forever to get to the bottom.

 

I've recently picked up on this trick of quickly popping the rod when I feel like there are weeds hung up on my hook and it's helped tremendously.

[Koz]

8 hours ago, Rollincoal420 said:

Seems like vegetation gets caught between the weight and hook often and find myself trying to clear it more than fish it.

 

I'm sure some of the pros on this site might consider is sacrilegious, but the other week when I was at Bass Pro I picked these Bass Pro Perfect Worm Jigheads: http://www.basspro.com/shop/en/bass-pro-shops-perfect-worm-jighead

 

The bullet head is molded with the hook.

[scaleface]

9 hours ago, Rollincoal420 said:

Seems like vegetation gets caught between the weight and hook often and find myself trying to clear it more than fish it.

 

Sounds like the Texas rig just isnt going to work at that location   for you  . Dont force it and use what works .

[papajoe222]

The beauty of a true Texas Rig (sliding bullet weight) is that it allows the fish to pick up the bait without feeling the weight. The downside to using it in weed or brush type cover is that the weight and bait often separate catching the cover in between.  The normal way of eliminating this is to peg the weight. What you are finding is that, rigged that way, the bait is falling nose first whereas with a belly weighted hook, or weedless on a slack line, the attitude of the bait is different. It's horizontal.  That is more than likely why you are not getting bit. The fish prefer that look.  There will be times when they prefer the vertical fall of the pegged weight and I would suggest the next time the belly weight isn't working to give it another shot.

[LxVE Bassin]

Getting caught in stuff is just part of the game. Barely any presentations are 100% weedless. But if it is getting caught every time switch to something else.

[deep]

22 hours ago, Rollincoal420 said:

 

Deep, 9 out of 10 times its 10ft or less.  Being stuck on the bank doesn't offer much depth for the areas I have access too.

 

I think most of the vegi is hydrilla. Really thick in spots.  Spots that don't have that seem to have just regular ol crab grass like u would find in your yard.

 

 

 

I'm not an expert in fishing thick vegetation, sorry!

 

I'll tell you what I do though, and it's basically just common sense. Over and around the vegetation I will fish almost anything as long as I can snap off the occasional weeds. Chatterbaits and liplesses are good, as are a few other baits.

 

When I want to go into the vegetation, I will use a punching rig or a variation. Strike King makes what they call a structure head, essentially a swing jighead with an arkie style head (rather than the usual football head). Works good for light duty punching. Jika rigs are good too. In general, the presentation will be vertical though (depends on how thick the weeds are obviously).

[Rollincoal420]

The weeds can get might thick in spots.  I picked up a couple punching weights and hooks, so I'm gonna give that a try.  Like I said, it will get very thick, and a vehicle presentation may sometimes b the only way to be able to get the bait get down to them, assuming they r deep in it. But I will tie a lipless on one of my rods keep it with me.

 

 

And yes, the weightless and belly weight presentations are working, I would still like to be able to get the hang of a Texas rig.  Just another tool in the tackle box.

 

[deep]

Try to keep the presentation as vertical as you can. Straight braid can help! (and I hate braid)

[roadwarrior]

On 8/14/2017 at 9:09 AM, Glenn said:

Here's a couple of videos that should help:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And there is more in our library.

 

 

[thinkingredneck]

I personally find trick and finess type worms follow the weight better than ribbon worms when fishing thick stuff.  That  helps me.  I fish in some gnarly stuff.  Also, the larger lead weights may push the plants apart better than tungsten, so the plastic can follow.