How do you determine leader length on Carolina-Rig?

[Darth-Baiter]

I’m not great at c-rig.  But it looks so fun. 
 

help?

[roadwarrior]

For best casting, 3' or less.

[Deleted account]

I start short, 12"-18" and increase if needed. I usually want to use the length and diameter of the line, in combination with the hook and bait to work together to control the ROF after I lift or drag the sinker. I seldom go over 2', but there are instances when something longer may get bit better, but then it gets cumbersome.

[FryDog62]

I tie leaders usually 20-30 inches.  When using shorter leaders I think it’s very important to use a floating plastic so it will move off the bottom at rest and be seen - especially if in stained water or where the sinker stirs up silt or debris. I like Netbait T-Mac worms and Kreit Flying Squirrels myself. 

[bowhunter63]

Time of year and the structure im fishing. Usually 24 to 30 inches 

[RDB]

My typical length is around 18”-20” (I don’t measure precisely).  I will go longer if there is submerged vegetation, deep water, or the fishing is tough.  Make sure you use a lighter test leader, so if you break off, you have the potential to get part of your rig back.

[scaleface]

I have better luck feeling and hooking bass with a short leader . 2 foot max and as short as six inches .

[TonynswAR]

Longest I ever use is 36”, most of the time 20-24”

[jbrew73]

I’m usually around 30-32”.

[volzfan59]

I keep mine around 24".

[KP Duty]

Colder water with less active fish- long leader 3' minimum.

 

Warmer water with more active fish- 12"-3' .

 

Back when a carolina rigged lizard was a pre-spawn staple, I saw pros using 4'-5' leaders.

[Darth-Baiter]

Storing (in kayak rod holder)such a rig has to be a PIA.  Hook at the end and a sinker almost two feet up. 

[Allaroundfishing]

On 1/28/2022 at 12:34 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

I’m not great at c-rig.  But it looks so fun. 
 

help?

I throw a carolina rig a lot, year round and I am very comfortable with using it in many scenarios. The only thing you can do wrong is not throw it, for shorter leaders - 18-24 inches youre fine with a 7ft medium heavy rod with 14-17lbs mainline and a 12-14lb mono leader. I have found that a longer leader leads to more bites on my lake, I usually start at 36 inches and go up, in the summer a 5 foot leader is not uncommon for me, I use a 7'3 heavy with 16lb mainline and 14lb mono leader, 1oz weight is my go to but sometimes ill use a 3/4th if im not getting as many bites with the larger weight. I suggest starting out with a 24 inch leader when youre learning as you get lots of bites with it as well as its easier to cast and doesnt snag as much in shallower water, also until you get comfortable throwing one i would use a 1/2 or 3/4th weight

[TnRiver46]

2feet or so 

[Big Hands]

I'm not gonna lie, I have had some 'Three Stooges Go Bass Fishing' moments using long Carolina rig leaders. More than I care to talk about on an individual basis. I will say that if you care to fish long leaders on your Carolina rigs (and I do), be extra super careful casting. 

 

You will probably learn the hard way, just like casting a big fluffy spinnerbait into the wind with a baitcaster. Like telling a two year old not to eat sand at the beach. As soon as you stop paying attention. . . . yep. . . . you'll wrap that sucker onto something and try like heck to cast it into the lake before you can stop yourself. I will not reveal here & now how I know these things, but I do.

 

I mostly carolina rig with 36" to over 48", usually around 40" to 50", and I mostly carolina rig in the colder months. It seems to work better here than in the summer months. In the warmer part of the year, I will use a slipshot rig with a 24" to 36" leader and a much lighter mojo slip sinker.

[Bankbeater]

I keep my leaders around the 18" to 24" length.

[WRB]

The local lakes in SoCal are deep steep rocky structure with sparse cover, not a lot of flat areas that hold bass.

It’s been so long time ago I can’t remember using the traditional “ball & chain” Carolina rig!

I use the slip shot rig (finesse C-rig). No leader use the main line with adjustable cylinder weight stopper anywhere between 18” to 40”, whatever is working.

Tom

[rtwvumtneer6]

On 1/28/2022 at 12:34 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

it looks so fun

Do you also enjoy dead sticking senkos for hours on end?! 

 

I'm only joking.  It's a productive technique, but it can be painfully slow for my liking.  Too long of a leader and you'll have a hard time casting effectively.  Usually start around 2'.

[PressuredFishing]

On 1/28/2022 at 9:34 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

I’m not great at c-rig.  But it looks so fun. 
 

help?

Anything from a foot to 3 feet being the most, I don't think it matters to terribly much because the lure sits on the bottom most of the time, it only changes for me when fishing the salt or floating baits for trout, then it starts to get important on leader length.

[Bass Rutten]

 The length of leader determines 2 things: how far of a fall the lure has once the sinker touches down, and how far a fish can move before feeling the weight. Once on bottom the lure will stay there unless the weight itself is lifted up unless it’s a true floating plastic. Lure action will be the same regardless of leader length no matter how many times you hear “use long leaders to let your lure hover above the weight/weeds” regurgitated, dragging pulls a lure down. For length 12-24” suits me fine for easy casting and less chance of gut hooking fish.

[AManWearingAHat]

My typical length is "That looks about good". In reality I usually sit around 18"-30"

Much longer and my 7 footer starts getting a little spicy to cast. I generally only bring out the ole C-Rig if the fishing is really slow going. Netted me a couple early winter bass this year before everything froze out. I generally don't fish short leader C-Rigs because I tend to follow the rule of thumb that you use longer leaders for sluggish fish, and sluggish fish is the only time I fish it.

 

[RDB]

On 1/30/2022 at 3:11 PM, Bassjam2000 said:

Lure action will be the same regardless of leader length no matter how many times you hear “use long leaders to let your lure hover above the weight/weeds” regurgitated, dragging pulls a lure down.

With respect, this just isn’t true regarding vegetation or movement.  Typically you just have plastic & hook which is light and creates little resistance.  With a longer leader and lower resistance between the weight and bait, the vegetation helps keep it higher in the column.  I’m not saying it doesn’t pull it down some but it does keep it higher over a longer distance.  Put on a white fluke in clear water with vegetation and test yourself.

 

As far as movement, over rocks or chunky surfaces, shorter leaders do produce a more jerky motion as the weight bounces through the rocks.  As an extreme example, if you had a 3” leader, the lure would basically match the movements of the weight.  As the leader lengthens, you get a smoothing out of the action.  If you had a long enough leader, you would get a pretty smooth glide.