Carolina Rig Questions

[TheDoor]

Hello everyone, as you can probably tell I'm new here, although I have been snooping around for quite some time.  I am fairly new to fishing and am always looking to try new techniques.  I was wondering if any of you guys could give me some pointers on how to fish the Carolina Rig, what plastics work on it, and where I should fish it.  Thank you in advance.

[ICFishing]

Welcome!

 

I will use a Carolina when I find fish around deeper structure such as points, creek channels, humps, etc. that have grass. Grass has always been the key for me to throw a Carolina. I will make as long of casts as possible and work it slow, just like a regular Texas rig or a jig. Make sure the weight is heavy enough to stay on bottom. My go to on a Carolina is a Zoom Mag 2, Zoom Ol' Monster, or Zoom Big Dead Ringer. Any of those in Black, Tequila Green, or Green Pumpkin.

[Choporoz]

@TheDoor, it may help if you give some basics about where you might fish with it.  I have used c-rig mostly at two extremes:

1.  Heavy, one ounce weight fished 18+ feet deep; mostly in mid summer...and 

2.  Really light, under 1/4 oz, shallow-ish...usually in spring

 

Equipment,  terminal line length, speed, baits....will be very different. 

[TheDoor]

  On 1/8/2021 at 5:43 PM, Choporoz said:

@TheDoor, it may help if you give some basics about where you might fish with it.  I have used c-rig mostly at two extremes:

1.  Heavy, one ounce weight fished 18+ feet deep; mostly in mid summer...and 

2.  Really light, under 1/4 oz, shallow-ish...usually in spring

 

Equipment,  terminal line length, speed, baits....will be very different. 

Expand  

I'm mainly going to be fishing in either deep lakes or smaller shallow ponds and lakes.

[Choporoz]

There were a good couple recent discussions 

 

 

[JK Jake]

I like to use Zoom Lizards.

colors-

Junebug for dirty water

Green Pumpkin is a good all around

Watermelon Red for clear water

 

I just simply drag the rig with my rod tip and reel in the slack line then repeat. Vary your speed until you get a bite.

 

You can fish these pretty much anywhere as long as you aren’t getting stuck a lot.

[WRB]

Welcome to BR from fellow SoCal bass angler.

What tackle to you use?

Spinning or casting, rod length, line type.

Shore or boat?

Tom

[scaleface]

Being Carolina rigs can be rigged  with a heavy sinker , they can be used to fish deep water much quicker than other soft plastic lure set-ups . That is the way I use them .Rig it with  a 3/4  or 1 ounce sinker and use it as a search bait . Front facing sonar might make that technique obsolete . I also use a leader from 1 to 2 foot long . I  dont see  any need for a longer leader but have never used it in grass either .

[TheDoor]

  On 1/9/2021 at 12:02 AM, WRB said:

Welcome to BR from fellow SoCal bass angler.

What tackle to you use?

Spinning or casting, rod length, line type.

Shore or boat?

Tom

Expand  

 

I have about one pack each of all of the basic plastics from roboworms to lizards to rage craws as I am trying to figure out what works near me.

I have a 7' 3" MH Fast that I currently have spooled with 12 lb flouro for more finesse tactics right now I also have a 6' 10" Medium Light spinning for dropshotting and ned rigs but I don't think that will work for Carolina rig ?

I have a kayak that I will take out onto the local lakes once they open back up, but no sonar on it.

Thank you! 

[WRB]

The traditional Carolina rig made up:with a egg sinker swivel bead and leader isn’t that popular out west. The reason being our FLMB can be line shy in clearer water condition plus the high pressure they get every day.

This brings me to finesse C-rig I call slip shot rig using your spinning tackle or can be bait casting tackle.

Spinning; I prefer 5 lb Maxima Ultra Green mono because it tends to stay off the bottom. 7 lb Sniper FC also works and doubles for drop shot rig.

Owner #5133 size 1/0 hook for Roboworms. Carolina plastic keeper and optional 8mm glass faceted bead. Weight is 1/8 oz tubular mojo. The weight goes 1st, bead 2nd, Plastic stopper 3rd about 24” above the hook, no leader and 1 knot.

Bait casting use Owner #5100 size 3/0 and 1/4 to 3/8 oz tubular weight.

Tom

 

 

[MassYak85]

I like to fish traditional Carolina rigs around deep weedlines in the summer mostly. In gonna try them more in the spring this year too. But I generally like big worms and creature baits. Zoom lizards or big 10 or 12 inch worms. Im fishing braid mainline to a 12 or 15lb leader generally. Straight shank worm hook.

[Bazoo]

Howdy, hope you're still around!

 

I have been learning the Carolina rig, and I always thought it a deep water lure. But I was wrong, having succession the shallows with other techniques have failed.

 

Thanks all that have contributed.