A Better Carolina Rig?

[garroyo130]

Been throwing a Carolina rig lately with good success but I can't keep myself from getting the weight hung up on the chunk rock. I have been using 40lb Sufix 832 and a 1/2 oz egg sinker, plastic bead, then swivel to 15 lb copoly leader. 

 

The hang ups have not been occurring on the initial drop but on the retrieve. I am using a slow drag retrieve.

 

The past 2 days ive left lead and some braid down in the water so any assistance in helping me fix this is appreciated.

[georgeyew]

I might be reading it wrong, but I don't understand why you would be breaking the braid. If the lead is stuck, the 15lb copoly should break off and you should get your braid back.

 

But you can try using a 3 way swivel and a cylinder weight to keep from hanging up.

[garroyo130]

10 minutes ago, georgeyew said:

I might be reading it wrong, but I don't understand why you would be breaking the braid. If the lead is stuck, the 15lb copoly should break off and you should get your braid back.

 

But you can try using a 3 way swivel and a cylinder weight to keep from hanging up.

Meant to say copoly leader. My mistake.

[Mike L]

The problem is the egg sinker. 
Being shaped the way it is, it has a tendency to did into the bottom as you pull. Think about it. 
When fishing in the type of structure you are sometimes it’s unavoidable. 

In those areas I use a round sinker which will roll or deflect off what it hit‘s instead of digging in. 
Only other option is to change to a more vertical presentation. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[J Francho]

A Carolina rig may not be suited to the terrain. There’s some mods that Lake Erie fisherman use to combat the abrasion, but if it’s snaggy, that isn’t gong to help. You can look up those mods - it was detailed in In-Fisherman amongst other places. for this deal, a pegged Texas rig may hang up less. Diving cranks, ledge style spinnerbaits, maybe even a vertical drop shot presentation would hang up less 

[garroyo130]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

A Carolina rig may not be suited to the terrain. There’s some mods that Lake Erie fisherman use to combat the abrasion, but if it’s snaggy, that isn’t gong to help. You can look up those mods - it was detailed in In-Fisherman amongst other places. for this deal, a pegged Texas rig may hang up less. Diving cranks, ledge style spinnerbaits, maybe even a vertical drop shot presentation would hang up less 

I had some success earlier on with deep diving crankbaits but they only seem to take these when the water is moving. When its still, ive had no success. 

 

I also tried throwing a drop shot and that was worse with hang ups. 

 

I may try a pegged texas rig to see if i have any luck with that. 

[Todd2]

A cylindrical mojo style weight might help.

[garroyo130]

25 minutes ago, Todd2 said:

A cylindrical mojo style weight might help.

 

Thanks. In my search of a mojo weight, i came across these. I will be downsizing my weight tomorrow to see if it makes a difference then switching to 20lb copoly instead of braid Monday. If neither of those two things yield results, ill be throwing this monstrosity

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CW27FQ2/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A36SD7911PNM9J&psc=1

[J Francho]

You want something like this:

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Ark_No_Chip_Tungsten_No_Insert_Carolina_Weights_1pk/descpage-ATUNC.html

 

Cylinder not egg shaped is the key. 

[jbrew73]

I think tungsten weights are less prone to snag due to the smaller size.  They also seem to be easier to shake loose than lead because they are harder and don’t wedge into the rock as easily.  All that said it cost 5 times more every time you loose one.  

[paulmandude]

What about a football head jig?  They say the football shape hangs up less in rock. Or maybe a football shaped weight?

[WRB]

Egg sinkers and rocks don't mix.

cylinder shaped weights are better but the real problem is too heavy of a weight and the swivel hardware. 

Suggest trying a 3/8 oz cylinder weight like referenced or Top Brass Pro Jo weights.

Also using a Carlonia Keeper, glass bead (or 2 keepers for heavier weights) and use 15 lb Copoly line without the braid and you have 1 knot at the hook.

Tom

 

[garroyo130]

1 minute ago, WRB said:

Egg sinkers and rocks don't mix.

cylinder shaped weights are better but the real problem is too heavy of a weight and the swivel hardware. 

Suggest trying a 3/8 oz cylinder weight like referenced or Top Brass Pro Jo weights.

Also using a Carlonia Keeper, glass bead (or 2 keepers for heavier weights) and use 15 lb Copoly line without the braid and you have 1 knot at the hook.

Tom

 

Thanks. Ill be trying the copoly if the lighter weight doesnt work. As for the Carolina Keepers I've had enough bad experiences with them to keep me from trying them again, but I may try what you described with a couple of sinker pegs.

[WRB]

Peg-It pegs work good with glass beads.

The problem with Carolina Keepers may be hanging up the weights.

Tom

[CountryboyinDC]

I think this is pretty similar to a Mojo weight, but I used these in a couple of places with chunk rock bottoms, and now I pretty much use them everywhere.  

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Vike_Tungsten_Carolina_Weight/descpage-VIKECAR.html

These are just the ones on TW, they have them on auction sites too.  I never seem them come in more than 3/8 oz size, so you'll need a couple, or maybe 3 where you're fishing.

[webertime]

Your braid and sinker shape are hurting you.  Go 20lb Flouro, go Phenix Rock crawler lead weights and you're going to see a massive improvement. 

 

 

 

[CrankFate]

On 7/23/2020 at 11:17 AM, Mike L said:

The problem is the egg sinker. 
Being shaped the way it is, it has a tendency to did into the bottom as you pull. Think about it. 
When fishing in the type of structure you are sometimes it’s unavoidable. 

In those areas I use a round sinker which will roll or deflect off what it hit‘s instead of digging in. 
Only other option is to change to a more vertical presentation. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

The problem is always the egg sinker. They are useless.  
 

The way I’d recommend doing a C-Rig on rocks is use a bullet sinker, much lighter than a half ounce. Then, use some sort of soft plastic that flutters or that is buoyant (preferably with added weight to make up for the egg sinker you were using). Then keep it moving fast enough to skim over the tops of the rocks. Or if that fails, use split shots in place of the bullet weight. Otherwise, use a T-Rig with something buoyant or fluttery to skim over the tops of the rocks.

 

It also might sound silly, but a lower density weight helps a lot in this situation. Dense small weights sink faster. Bigger weights with less density are naturally buoyant when dragged through the water.

[papajoe222]

Here you go;

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/northland-fishing-tackle-rock-runner-slip-bouncer

We used these for fishing rip rap for walleye and they work just as well for C-rigs. I actually use them for running small/shallow cranks deep, which is something the fish don't see much.

Another option is a Lindy sinker. They'll occasionally get hung up too, but no where near as often as other types.  You can find them by looking up sinkers for walleye fishing.

[WRB]

If you ever try to cast a Lindy or Northland walleye sinker in lieu of trolling them it will become clear why they don't work cast a Carolina rig.

Tom

[garroyo130]

Gave the lighter weight (3/8) a shot and caught a couple of fish but eventually lost the rig at the weight again. Changed out braid to 20lb copoly today to see if we get any better results.

 

 

[A-Jay]

On 7/23/2020 at 6:25 AM, garroyo130 said:

Been throwing a Carolina rig lately with good success but I can't keep myself from getting the weight hung up on the chunk rock. I have been using 40lb Sufix 832 and a 1/2 oz egg sinker, plastic bead, then swivel to 15 lb copoly leader. 

 

The hang ups have not been occurring on the initial drop but on the retrieve. I am using a slow drag retrieve.

 

The past 2 days ive left lead and some braid down in the water so any assistance in helping me fix this is appreciated.

 

On 7/27/2020 at 7:09 AM, garroyo130 said:

Gave the lighter weight (3/8) a shot and caught a couple of fish but eventually lost the rig at the weight again. Changed out braid to 20lb copoly today to see if we get any better results.

 

 

You may be fighting a losing battle throwing that Carolina Rig into Chunk Rock.

Regardless of the line or weight type /shaped used, when that rig is presented in that type of cover, IME hang-up rates will inevitably be high. Additionally, almost any type of nose weighted offering is prone to slipping between or getting wedged into a crack somewhere along the way. 

 

Plenty of solid options have been offered already and although I don't have a ton of experience with it,

a Tail Weighted soft plastic offering may be the way to go right here.

There's a few different 'names' for it, and quite frankly I can't keep up with them all;

the Neko Rig, the Chicken Rig and the Tiny Child Rig are some.

I call it The Junk Rig because I can fish it through some. 

Either way, it can be effective rigged with an open hook or a in Tex-posed fashion.

 

A-Jay

[garroyo130]

On 7/24/2020 at 7:10 AM, webertime said:

In short your braid and sinker shape are hurting you.  Go 20lb Flouro, go Phenix Rock crawler lead weights and you're going to see a massive improvement. 

Fished with 20lb copoly today and it managed to not lose any weights. The combination of lighter weight and less sensitive line make for a very different feeling rig and I likely fished it too fast. 

 

In either case, thanks to everyone for the suggestions. It seems I have at least a temporary solution.

[garroyo130]

Update ... still no breaks. I definitely slowed down and managed to pick a couple of bites but was unable to land any fish. I am not sure if this was due to the stretch factor of 20lb copoly at such a long distance or the fact that I was fishing a fat body grub which I typically struggle with unless fishing with an exposed hook. 

 

In either case, my respects to people fishing carolina rigs on mono mainline ... that must be one hell of a hookset youre doing!

[WRB]

You are not stretching 20 lb mono. What you most do differently is reel set by pointing the rod tip at the point the line enters the water, reel quickly and load up the before make a hard sweep set. Sharp hooks, skin hooked soft plastics are essential elements.

The line strecth myth drives me nuts. I easily get good solid hook sets at 40-50 yards using 10 and 12 lb mono for decades catching DD size bass.

Tom

[garroyo130]

11 minutes ago, WRB said:

You are not stretching 20 lb mono. What you most do differently is reel set by pointing the rod tip at the point the line enters the water, reel quickly and load up the before make a hard sweep set. Sharp hooks, skin hooked soft plastics are essential elements.

The line strecth myth drives me nuts. I easily get good solid hook sets at 40-50 yards using 10 and 12 lb mono for decades catching DD size bass.

Tom

Yeah its likely just a difference in feel.

 

Ill try that approach to setting the hook as with braid i was basically sweeping from whatever position I was in since my rod movements are only about 12 - 2 when working the rig.