The Free Rig - Everything You Need To Know

[Glenn]

Relatively new to bass fishing, here's how to fish the Free Rig in detail to catch more bass.

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

First thing I thought was how similar to a Lindy rig (except for the shape). 

[Catt]

And all these years y'all told me to peg my bullet weight & now y'all telling me not!

 

Sorry y'all but a Texas Rig does the same thing. I know y'all gonna say the weight slides more freely. Tungsten bullet weights have larger diameter holes than the old lead bullet weights allowing it to slide freely.

 

What I would love to see is a video of both rigs cast into 15-25' of water to see the amount of separation between the weight & lure.

[BrianMDTX]

I would think that a weight dangling below the line, vs a bullet weight that the line runs through, likely slides freer and increases separation from the bait. 

[NoShoes]

Played with It this past weekend and it definitely moves differently. I also noticed without a bead between the bait and the weight, the weight would hand up with the hook eye and not move as well. 

[Mike L]

31 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

I would think that a weight dangling below the line, vs a bullet weight that the line runs through, likely slides freer and increases separation from the bait. 

Maybe it’s me but I don’t understand how any unpegged weight sliding freely wouldn’t give the same effect. 
 

I agree with @Catt 

I don’t see the difference for rigging a t rig

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Team9nine]

According to Shin Fukae, one of the biggest differences between TR and the FR is that a TR will tend to pendulum a bit on the fall, where the FR will drop nearly straight vertical because the weight separates from the bait so quickly. When he needs to put a bait tight to the bases of dock posts or bridge columns, etc., is when he likes to use the FR, as well as when bed fishing. That greater/faster separation of bait and weight means you get the same separation and vertical fall with every single lift-drop of the combo, too.

 

Here's another BR piece that touches on some of these points, but you need to see it underwater to perhaps get a greater sense of the differences.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/free-rig-fishing.html

[TnRiver46]

Seems like once you hook the fish he’s got a plug knocker to work with

[fishwizzard]

2 hours ago, Catt said:

 

What I would love to see is a video of both rigs cast into 15-25' of water to see the amount of separation between the weight & lure.

I don’t have a way to shoot video but I have done a little testing in shallower water.  With a 3/16 tungsten bullet vs a 3/16 free/jika weight and a 4” Hula Grub, the difference is very pronounced, the free/jika weight pulls ahead of the plastic very quickly.  With lighter 1/8oz weights and/or less “draggy” plastics the difference seems a lot less.  The free rig is noticeably more snaggy on soft cover then a bullet weight as well.  

[WRB]

The slip shot rig using Top Brass Pro Jo weight allows the line to slide through the large diameter hole “freely” on extra slack line. 

The weight falls straight down if you put slack in the as it hits the water surface. Plus I know the soft plastic has distance between the weigh stopper to swim down slowly after the weight hits bottom.

The Free Rig advantage is pitching to cover with the weight next to the hook to pull straight into cover with less line, no leader to drop over the cover.

As Catt noted Tungsten has a large diameter hole same brass bullet weights except smaller size. If you cast and put extra slack in the line the weight falls faster straighter down, very similar results regarding a freer falling soft plastic.

I can see the Free Rig allows using larger diameter line per weight grams do to less line drag sliding through a wire swivel then the length of a cylinder or bullet weight to fall straight down.

Where I fish in sparse cover rocky structure it would make little difference from brass n glass T-rig or slip shot rig.

Bed fishing the FR will be ideal.

Tom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Catt]

2 hours ago, WRB said:

As Catt noted Tungsten has a large diameter hole same brass bullet weights except smaller size. If you cast and put extra slack in the line the weight falls faster straighter down, very similar results regarding a freer falling soft plastic.

 

Exactly my point ?

 

The whole idea behind a Texas Rig is first weedless & second a weight to pull the worm down into flooded brush & timber. Thirdly the illusion of something chasing something.

 

Another argument is the "free rig" doesn't pendulum back towards the angler. Any good deepwater worm/jig fisherman knows to strip a couple arms lengths of line to solve that problem.

 

If it gives y'all a half once of confidence, throw it.

[Glenn]

Curious if anyone tried this rig after learning how to do it from this video.  I'd love to know the results!

[roadwarrior]

Fluke or more specifically Houdini Shad.

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Yum_Houdini_Shad/descpage-YHSD.html
This presentation works particularly well in current.  

 

 

[JustJames]

Lol, I’m not sure when I came across this post or maybe one of your video. I’m looking for deep water techniques since I don’t have luck lately with jig and I don’t fish Texas rig a lot. I’ve heard about this rig and also Tokyo rig but didn’t play any attention.

Anyway today I have no idea what I’m gonna be using, a lot of grass die down and bass is not concentrated as before.

So this morning, I grabbed whatever I can to make of this free rig. I don’t even know the weight just old tear drop weight I have and custom creature bait that I got from someone. After trying Fatika with no bite, switched to free rig. How do I know got the first fish after a few cast. I don’t  even remember what retrieve I used. Got a few more bites and end up with another small one.

My observation, yes it is similar to Texas rig but the free fall have greater length (you can speed up or just let it slow fall with rod tip. Once it is in shallow I drag just like Texas rig and the rig seem to drag better, the weight and line not get into rock as easy as Texas rig.  Long cast and deep water, you gotta be good line watcher and super quick. I got a bite while free falling but couldn’t reel fast enough (d a m n Sol)

 

 

On 10/16/2021 at 10:12 AM, Glenn said:

Curious if anyone tried this rig after learning how to do it from this video.  I'd love to know the results!

 

[Glenn]

[Glenn]

Nice!  I'm tellin' ya, it's candy!  It's one of my newest go-to rigs.  Anyone that thinks it's the same as an unpegged T-Rig....hasn't tried it....yet.

[Fishingmickey]

I'm planning on giving this a go at Sam Rayburn next month. 

FM

[N Florida Mike]

Im planning to fish one of my favorite lakes in a couple weeks and I’ll see how it works there.

Theres been reports of big fish being caught there on offshore structure using big worms. We’ll see…

 

[ChrisD46]

Your preferred Free Rig set up (including soft plastics) ?

[JustJames]

how is your guys hook up ratio with free rig? 
I use free rig mostly horizontal/down hill around rocky bottom (rip-rap) My hook up ratio is not very good at all. Last night lost the big one after the jump. I’m not sure because weights (3/16oz) swing free give bass more leverage to throw the hook out or just simply my hook set.

[Glenn]

I suggest watching the part in the video where it discusses hooksets with the Free rig.