Bottom Bass Rigs

[galyonj]

On 1/10/2021 at 11:15 PM, Luke Barnes said:

One not mentioned is a swing head. From what i understand its a hook with a weight not hard fixed, that lets the weight and hook move separately.

 

Not necessarily separately, but you've got the gist of it. The weight and hook are connected, as you've seen, but the connection type allows the hook (and the plastic on it) to pitch and yaw a bit.

 

I think the only real difference between a swinghead jig and a pegged bullet weight for Texas-rigging is the shape of the weight.

 

Also, just throwing this in because I'm procrastinating:

 

If I'm in a mood to fish soft plastics exclusively, and I can't get bit on a Texas-rig, a wacky, rig, or a ned rig, I'm probably just gonna go home.

[J Francho]

Just an observation: In almost all of those, save for the drop shot, you often get bit before the rig settles on the bottom.  I'm not saying bass don't pick up baits off the bottom, or that a resting bait isn't noticed, but that most strikes come on the fall.  Every once in a while, a drop shot rig gets bit on the fall, but usually it happens after the weight is settled, and line somewhat taught.  Another exception would be when a drop shot weight gets stuck on a weed, and springs free when you pull on the rig.  That gets bit a lot.

[Catt]

36 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Another exception would be when a drop shot weight gets stuck on a weed, and springs free when you pull on the rig.  That gets bit a lot.

 

This is why I don't peg my sinker in grass...I want it cause a little commotion!

 

[J Francho]

Same, I probably don't peg around 85% of the time.  It's usually around wood, when I have a problem with the weight on a particular cast I'm trying to make.  Otherwise, pegging is a pain I'd rather avoid.  That slingshot effect on a Texas rig can be pretty dramatic, and definitely gets bit too.  There's a bit of finesse to it, but it's easy to learn to do without dragging a bunch of slop.

[Mobasser]

We have a lot of bottom rigs for bass these days, but once I learned to fish a light T rig many years ago, it became hard to fish other baits. A t rig plastic worm is still my all around favourite.

[Jonas Staggs]

On 1/11/2021 at 3:38 AM, Catt said:

#1 most productive lure

 

Doug Hannon's Answer

Plastic Worm (Texas rigged) It's a long, thin shape resembles the profile of a wide variety of forage in the world of the bass, including earthworms, snakes, eels, and baitfish. Its action is almost entirely dependent on the contours of the bottom; and the rod movements of the fisherman, making it very random. It moves with little noise; the noise that it does make comes mostly from the random clicking of the sinker as it hits bottom. Bright colors and larger size can be used to increase its attracting qualities. Because of its basic resemblance to a wide array of living forage, this lure presents very few negative cues, and is hard for big bass to learn not to hit.

 

Here is the official answer:

Studies have proven that the plastic worm is the only lure made that a BASS CANNOT REMEMBER!

That is, a bass will continue to strike a worm even after repeated catches, whereas a bass will "turn off" to other lures, spinner baits and crank baits etc. after wearing them out on them. That's why you cannot continue to catch them on your honey hole with the same lure over and over. Bass will stop eating that which will eradicate them. Not true with the plastic worm, however. Although we all know bass will prefer a different bait at different times (i.e. "the pattern") you can always go back to the worm to catch them

 

What type of worm are we talking about here? Senkos, finesse worm, trick worm, ribbon tail?

On 1/10/2021 at 5:08 PM, WRB said:

Carolina rig isn’t a pinned weight. The classic C-rig uses a egg sinker sliding on the main line with a bead between the swivel that is the weight stopper. The leader is tied to the swivel followed by the hook.

The finesse C-rig or Slip Shot uses a Carolina plastics keeper to stop a variety of sliding sinkers on the main line, no leader. The plastic keeper is adjustable to change the length between the weight and hook.

Mojo rig is a pinned tubular weight similar to a split shot rig.

Neko rig is a new name for the nail weight rig.

Ned rig is a mushroom jig with a 1/2 a stick/Senko as a trailer or jig & worm

Dart head is dart shaped jig with a finesse worm.

All the above can be used with spinning tackle.

Casting tackle, your list; C-rig, punch rig and bubba shot based on weight.

Tom

 

 

Never thought of a worm on a dart head jig. Gonna have to pool test that one!

[Jonas Staggs]

On 1/10/2021 at 4:48 PM, Jeffrey Walker said:

So I am new to bass fishing, started last year.  I have fished my whole life mostly spinning and trout, never seriously focused on bass until last year.  So I have some questions, if you don't mind, I would like to hear from you on all these questions and issues.  Thanks in advance.

 

Bottom Bass Rigs.  So I've done some research and there are quite a few different bass rigs out there. Here is the list I came up with form reading. 

 

Ned Rigs - Weighted Hook, Bait stands up - appears lighter in nature maybe geared to spinning or lighter applications.   

Shaky Head - Weighted hook, Bait stands up, appears for longer worms and plastics than ned rigs. 

Rage Rig or Weighted hook - basically a belly weighted hooks with a plastic bait. 

Drop Shot - seems a lot of poeple prefer to use on spinning gear

Power shot or Bubba shot - super sized drop shot (but to me it seems the only thing that changes is the size of bait)

Wakcy Rig - weightless worm hooked in the middle or with o-ring

Neko Rig - wacky rig with a weight pinned to one side. 

Texas Rig - We all know that

Free Rig - Similar to Texas Rig with a O-ring weight instead of a slip weight.  Supposedly allows weight to move free-er.  

Carolina Rig,  Basically a Texas rig with the weight pinned ahead of the bait at a fixed distance

Punch Rig.  Basically a beefier Texas rig with the weight staying put at the tip of the bait, with a bobber stop, and used to punch through heavy weeds. 

Jika Rig - Basically a drop shot with the weight attached to the hook directly instead of below it

Tokyo Rig - Simialr to Jika Rig, with the weight dangled below by a short wire.  

 

1) Are there any others I am missing?

2) How do you determine when to use what?

3) For each one - do you prefer to us on spinning or casting gear AND what rod power?

4)  Which of these work the best for you?

5) Which of these do not work in your experience?

6) Anything else I should know about these or others?
 

 

 

I'm similar to you, but I got back into bass fishing about a year or so ago. But I had fished when I was a kid, and I could only remember throwing crankbaits. Since getting back into I have learned and tried nearly all the rigs you mentioned. 

 

Most productive for me in order has been

 

T-rig

Carolina Wacky rig, which apparently is something not many people do

Jigs 

Drop shot. Regarding drop shot, something you won't hear in all the stuff online about it is that you don't have to keep it in one spot. You can keep it in one spot for a bit, and then pop it or drag it.

 

I'd say the T-rig has been the most versatile and I really don't think there's a wrong time to use it.

 

 

 

[Catt]

9 hours ago, Jonas Staggs said:

What type of worm are we talking about here? Senkos, finesse worm, trick worm, ribbon tail?

 

Doug Hannon liked big ribbontail worms of 12" or more. In this article he was referring to 6-8" curltail or ribbontail worms. 

[Jonas Staggs]

5 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Doug Hannon liked big ribbontail worms of 12" or more. In this article he was referring to 6-8" curltail or ribbontail worms. 

 

So does not remembering only apply to the ribbon tail then?

[Catt]

2 hours ago, Jonas Staggs said:

 

So does not remembering only apply to the ribbon tail then?

 

Given the description by Doug I would guess one could replace worm with just about any plastic but yea he was talking worm.

[Jonas Staggs]

7 hours ago, Catt said:

 

Given the description by Doug I would guess one could replace worm with just about any plastic but yea he was talking worm.

 

I caught a lot on ribbon tails when I first started but slowly stopped using them...might be time to break them out