Rig questions

[Jonas Staggs]

So in regards to soft plastics, I typically throw weightless, T-rig, drop shot, ned rig, jigs.

 

I have not used the Carolina rig much, as it seems to get snagged alot, at the weight, not the soft plastic (rigged weedless).  I have been using egg weights. Perhaps a bullet weight would help reduce snags?  From what I have seen it seems the Carolina rig is used more with bait then soft plastics? I have mostly used it with wacky rig a senko which was effective but snag too much

 

Why would I want to use a Carolina rig rather than the other rigs already mentioned?

 

[Trox]

I use a carolina rig when the bite is slow and I need a more natural presentation on the bottom as it allows the soft plastic to move more freely/unrestricted. I can see how an egg weight would snag a lot, but I've never had any more issue with a bullet weight than I have with a normal texas-rig or a jig...

[papajoe222]

A C-rig is a good choice for covering/eliminating water quickly. A ribbon tail worm, tube, or a lizzard are my favorite soft plastics and points are my favorite structure to use it on.  Sitting shallow and casting deep, I can determine what depth the fish are holding without running over them with the boat.  It will also let me know if there are changes in the bottom composition, or if there is cover present.

I have used small crankbaits with this rig to show the fish something they don't normally see in the deeper water. I will caution you on this, if you aren't familiar with the water you're fishing, as you can loose baits to snags very easily.

[WRB]

Slip shot rig eliminates the swivel you use the main line direct to the hook with 1 knot.

The main should by mono and can be FC, the difference is mono doesn’t sink and drag on the bottom creating snags.

The Slip Shot rig consist of a weight stopper, a cylinder weight and hook. The weight stopper is adjustable allowing changing the distance between the hook and knotless.

I prefer using a Carolina keeper for a weight stopper. A rubber pegged glass bead is another good option.

Cylinder weight for finesse is usually 1/8 oz. The line for spinning finesse I use 5# Maxima UG, you can use up to 8# test mono. My choice of hook is Owner #5133 size 1/0 or 2/0 depending on the soft plastic used. 

Bait casting I use 3/16 to 1/4 oz cylinder weight and 3/0 #5100 Owner or similar hook, 11# Armillo or 8# UG  with larger size soft plastics. 

Tom

[Dogface]

1 hour ago, TroxBox said:

 I've never had any more issue with a bullet weight than I have with a normal texas-rig or a jig...

 

Agreed. Go light on the weight and experiment with leader length. 

[geo g]

I only use a Carolina rig on deeper points, and shell beds.  I usually use a tube with some Styrofoam inside the tube.  The heavy weight will stir the bottom while the tube will rise up when at rest.  When you pull the weight the tube will dip down and then slowly rise again when you stop it.  This has been good for me in deeper water.  The Texas rigged weightless tube will dance in place with just a shake of the rod tip.  Save some of your used packing Styrofoam.

[KP Duty]

On 3/31/2022 at 10:00 PM, WRB said:

Slip shot rig eliminates the swivel you use the main line direct to the hook with 1 knot.

The main should by mono and can be FC, the difference is mono doesn’t sink and drag on the bottom creating snags.

The Slip Shot rig consist of a weight stopper, a cylinder weight and hook. The weight stopper is adjustable allowing changing the distance between the hook and knotless.

I prefer using a Carolina keeper for a weight stopper. A rubber pegged glass bead is another good option.

Cylinder weight for finesse is usually 1/8 oz. The line for spinning finesse I use 5# Maxima UG, you can use up to 8# test mono. My choice of hook is Owner #5133 size 1/0 or 2/0 depending on the soft plastic used. 

Bait casting I use 3/16 to 1/4 oz cylinder weight and 3/0 #5100 Owner or similar hook, 11# Armillo or 8# UG  with larger size soft plastics. 

Tom

I use carolina keepers....gives you the same effect.  Only downside is having to run the same lb test for main line/leader.

 

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/carolina-keeper?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions&ds_e=GOOGLE&ds_c=Shop|BPS|TopPerformers|Fishing&gclid=CjwKCAjwi6WSBhA-EiwA6Niokw6qflEPkv4mg58cIc-_uslWivhwyF4xOLu57A9frRAHzoc2xRr8GxoCQuoQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

[roadwarrior]

39 minutes ago, KP Duty said:

Only downside is having to run the same lb test for main line/leader.

Tie on a leader with the keeper in front of the knot.

[Catt]

On 3/31/2022 at 10:00 PM, WRB said:

I prefer using a Carolina keeper for a weight stopper

 

I quit using Carolina Keepers opting for 6th Sense Peg X. 

 

 

[Bass Junke]

15 hours ago, Catt said:

 

I quit using Carolina Keepers opting for 6th Sense Peg X. 

 

 

Carolina keepers have a strong grip on the line. They work pretty good. The problem is they can get hung up and when you are trying to free them the keeper could slide down the line. I feel that when the keeper slips it could damage the line. You my not be able to tell it it slipped either. 

This is why I go with the traditional rigging. 

On 3/31/2022 at 6:21 PM, Jonas Staggs said:

So in regards to soft plastics, I typically throw weightless, T-rig, drop shot, ned rig, jigs.

 

I have not used the Carolina rig much, as it seems to get snagged alot, at the weight, not the soft plastic (rigged weedless).  I have been using egg weights. Perhaps a bullet weight would help reduce snags?  From what I have seen it seems the Carolina rig is used more with bait then soft plastics? I have mostly used it with wacky rig a senko which was effective but snag too much

 

Why would I want to use a Carolina rig rather than the other rigs already mentioned?

 

Jonas, how about this sinker?

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Vike_Tungsten_Carolina_Weight/descpage-VIKECAR.html

 

[FishTank]

I haven't rigged it awhile but I use to set mine up with a rubber core sinker, a round ticker, glass bead, then a swivel, followed by the lead and the bait.

[thediscochef]

I'm kinda sloppy with my C-rigs but my best of the year so far came on one. 3/8oz-1/2oz tungsten on a spro swivel, 2/0 EWG in a baby brush hog. gets great tail action and hooks up just fine. I mainline braid with a copolymer leader, tying the C-rig to the copolymer leader end, not the braid. detecting bites on a slow movement can be tough, but it worked for me at Lake Fork. My hookup rate was as good as it is with a jerkbait.