Carolina or Texas rig

[Mn_Moose]

Fish Minnesota and Ontario for smallmouth.

 

What is the advantage of a Carolina rig vs. a Texas rig? 

 

When would one be used over the other? 

 

With a Texas rig weight close to the hook what would the advantage be over a simple jig? 

 

Thanks

[Turkey sandwich]

This might not be the right section of the forum.  In short, both will present near the bottom and keep contact.  A Texas rig will keep your bait in more frequent contact and will generally, be on the bottom.  A Carolina rig will generally keep your bait suspended off of the bottom.  If you check out the search feature, there are some really in depth posts about both, how to fish them, and where each shines. 

[All about da bass]

They all need to be fished, just gain some confidence in them and use one for whichever condition you think you need them.

[sully420]

A t-rig is more weedless than a jig and has a smaller profile. IMO a jig has a better hook up ratio when used with the right tackle. A Carolina rig prevents a bass from feeling the weight on the line and just feels better to me when dragging over the bottom.

[TnRiver46]

Carolina rig is for longer casts when you want your bait to get to the bottom and stay there. You can cover a lot of water with it, the heavy weight keeps the bait down even if you retrieve it somewhat quickly. The big sinker also allows the angler to learn bottom composition by feel.  I started having more success Carolina rigging when I went with someone throwing a 1 oz Carolina rig in a shallow lake in Florida, fishing 4-5 ft of water. I thought it was crazy but we slayed the bass and since that day I have confidence with it anywhere. Always use more weight than you think you should

[MikeInWyandotte]

I agree with sully420 that the Carolina rig prevents the bass from feeling the weight so they aren't so quick to spit it when they become aware that it's artificial.  But there is a flip side disadvantage to this.  When fish are hitting lightly on the bait it can be difficult for the angler to feel the hit because the lead weight is between your rod and the hook, and the hook might be on a slack leader line if it's not being pulled by water current.  Not a problem for Texas rig since the weight is flush to the bait. Texs rigs definitely pin the bait to the bottom, which can helo if fish are relating to the bottom.  Disadvantage is Texas rigs snag easier, especially on river bottoms.  I used to use Carolina rig in the river but for the reasons I state above I switched to a drop shot rig for fishing rivers because it keeps the bait suspended off the bottom and the weight is on the other side of the hook,  therefore I can feel subtle hits alot quicker to properly set the hook.

[J Francho]

I'd rather watch water boil and paint dry than fish a Carolina Rig.  It's advantage however, is in covering deeper water relatively efficiently.  A Texas Rig (a true one, with a sliding bullet weight) on the other hand works best a little shallower, though I've caught fish as deep as 20' with it.  When picking shallow, precise targets, the Texas Rig will be easier to make accurate casts.  You really just sort lob a Carolina Rig out into the abyss, and wait until hits. bottom, and slowly drag it.  A Texas rig can be pitched into a coffee cup 20 yards away.  Extremely important if bass are in your coffee cups.  I'm not saying I never throw a Carolina Rig, but when I do, it's been a rough day.

[Catt]

I fish Texas Rigs ole school, casting in 15-25' foot of water. I use a series of short hops or drag along the bottom.

 

With a unpegged bullet weight the bass doesn't feel the weight like the Carolina Rig.

 

I'll admit I stopped throwing a Carolina Rig but that changing now!

[scaleface]

About the only time I throw a Carolina rig is when I want to cover water fast like on a deep flat . I use a 3/4 to 1 ounce egg sinker and a two to three foot leader . Texas rigs , I throw everywhere .