Texas rig, 5/16 a happy medium?

[stkbassn]

Hey guys, I'm just getting back to more conventional fishing tackle rather than fishing swimbaits all of the time. I have another boat and excited to get back to Texas rigs, cranks, and basic conventional tackle. I've had some success on texas rigged creature baits recently and caught some good fish on a 3/16 , 4/0 ewg,  and a creature bait but I'm fishing anywhere from 8 to 20 feet of water at any given time. 3/16 I know is lighter and has its benefits as far as presentation,fall rate is concerned. Can I get away with bumping to 5/16 instead for these depths? Its better feel for the bottom for sure...

 

I know there's no stock answer but would love to hear opinions.

 

Thank you all! 

[fishballer06]

If I'm fishing 10-20 feet, I'm using at least 3/8oz. Maintaining bottom contact is crucial at those depths. If it's windy enough to put slack in my line, I'm using 3/4oz most likely. 

[Fishingmickey]

I like the 5/16th oz for deeper water too. I also use a 1/4 oz quite a bit too. A lot depends on worm size. if I am fishing a smaller worm like 5" finesse. 3/16ths oz is fine for up to 15' - 18' or so.  8"- 9" worms I step it up to at least a 1/4 oz. I try to use the lightest weight I can and still be able to keep good contact and get a good sink rate with my bait.

FM

[Catt]

Personally 3/16-1/4 oz for 12-25', occasionally 5/16-3/8 oz.

[lo n slo]

agreed

 

3/16 for stable conditions and 1/4 when it’s windy

[Todd2]

I use 1/4 about 90% of the time for all depths..partly because it works, partly because I'm too lazy to switch. 

[BlakeMolone]

I used to never use anything heavier than 1/8th but this year I really got back into bass fishing and I’ve found 5/16th tungestem bullet weights to be a wonderful all around weight except for super finesse presentations

[Bluebasser86]

2 hours ago, Todd2 said:

I use 1/4 about 90% of the time for all depths..partly because it works, partly because I'm too lazy to switch. 

Same on all accounts.

[Fishes in trees]

I have to remind myself to vary my presentation from time to time.  5/16 oz is my primary weight choice when I'm throwing a 10" power worm around trees.  I remember a few years ago though, when I was marking some fish in the trees but they didn't want the worm at all.  Then I decided to put a 3/8 oz tungsten weight and make the same controlled drift down a 200 yard stretch of trees that had been productive in the past.   They were all over that faster drop that day.  If I had another rod & reel that I liked for fishing 10" worms I'd most likely keep the 2 different weights ready to go - but I don't.  So most of the time I stay with a 5/16.  One of my fishing buds is a MUCH better worm fisherman than I am and he throws 5/16 nearly all the time.

 

When I'm pitching at objects in 8 feet or water or less I generally throw 3/16 tungsten.  I'm thinking that I could probably get by with a faster rate of fall most of the time, but, like previous posters I can get lazy and just use 3/16 because that is what is tied on.

 

So back to the original posted question, I don't think hat 5/16 oz weights are a happy medium, more to the point I think that they are an acceptable compromise.

[Mbirdsley]

I like a 1/4 for pitching at anything over 5 foot and deeper with no current on a bait caster. Any thing lighter I’m usually throwing a senko style worm or swamp crawler on a spinning rig using 1/8-3/16 in open water.  
 

Fishing the Tittabawassee River the way the river has been up the last couple of years. I use 1/2 oz to get down 4-14 feet.  Been thinking of going 3/4 oz possibly next time though with all the rain we have had for the deeper holes.