Can you help me w Carolina rig?

[Darth-Baiter]

It’s been decades since I tried it.  Last time was at Lake Huites in Mexico and we smoked them. 
 

I want to try again. 
 

any bait?   Worm craw?

 

heavier weight?   I have some 1/2 oz worm sinkers.  I have all the components. 
how about the tiny zman finesse craw?  
 

thanks in advance.  Figure a med heavy rod huh? 

[Captain Phil]

A Carolina rig works best on hard bottom.  Hard bottom lakes are somewhat rare in Florida.  I want the weight to tell me what the bottom is composed of.   For that reason, I tend to use heavier 1 oz. weights.   You can cover a lot of ground with these baits.   What you are looking for are rock piles, bottom debris and shell beds.  If the bottom has short grass, I use a Mojo rig.   I like egg sinkers because they bump along and roll over rocks.  I use a bead and a rattle to keep the weight from damaging the knot.  My mono leaders are normally 18" to 24" in length. One of the best Carolina Rig baits is a Zoom Finesse worm.  I have used lizards, craws and full size worms.  It is common for a bass to have the bait and you don't know it.  If you feel anything strange, set the hook.  Hope that helps.

[Kdizzle]

.If it helps, I have never gone lighter than a 3/4 ounce sinker.  The Carolina is for hard bottom with structure,  and deep water.  Also I ditch the swivel and use a peg it strip or carolina keeper to keep the weight in place, put a bead or brass clacker in front of the weight if I"m feeling freaky. The hell with the swivel, its just another break off risk, and it impedes(in my opinion) the ability to feel the bite.

 

Also, you can put anything you want on a Carolina rig.  That's the beauty of it.  Spans the spectrum from anything with a lot of action(Rage Bug or Craw) to a do nothing bait(french fry, finesse worm). 

[GetFishorDieTryin]

C rigs dont work well around here, very little hard bottom and shallow.  I do use mojo rigs and have had lots of success.  

[Captain Phil]

9 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

I do use mojo rigs and have had lots of success.  

 

The Mojo rig is deadly.  I won a bunch of tournaments with that rig.    For those who don't know, it's a finesse Carolina rig. I use a spinning rod and 8 pound mono.  Works great in tough clear water situations.  Try a 4" lizard on a Mojo and see what happens. ?

[Catt]

Ok so what do I do with all the bass I caught shallow on a Carolina Rig?

[MN Fisher]

20 minutes ago, Catt said:

Ok so what do I do with all the bass I caught shallow on a Carolina Rig?

Obviously it was all your imagination...had to have been something other than bass that took those shallow C-Rigs.

[webertime]

I finished 11th in a Costa,  Carolina Rigging bed fish, so shallow rigs work well.  Use Phenix cylinder and rockcrawler weights, plastic beads and the 50lb Spro swivel.  You'll rarely snag with these.  Line... you'll get a billion responses claiming to be the best but you'll figure out what works best for you.  But, heavy fluorocarbon to mono is a good starting point.  Leaders 2-6 feet.

Hooks...  I like regular offset worm hooks, when a bass pins the bait on the bottom the hook will rollover less.

Baits...

OSP Beaver

Zoom Speedcraw 

Old Rage Tail Shrimp

Hags Tornado 

 

 

[scaleface]

I use the C-rig as a search bait utilizing a 3/4 to 1 ounce weight . I can cover deep water fast that way . I never use a leader over two foot and often just a foot . The worms I use  dont float so I never saw an advantage , only disadvantages to a long leader .  I tried longer leaders but felt I missed to many fish . Usually after I hook a fish , a buoy is tossed and a change is made to the Texas rig .