Bite detection with texas rigs

[Shadowx]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

The reason imo is lighter weight bass rods feel more sensitive to the anglers. You need enough rod power to get hook sets using larger size hooks typical with T-rigs for bait casting bass anglers.

Faster upper 1/3rd of the rod transfers rod power to the hook with less effort. Combination is usually called 4 power or MH with F for fast action.

Todays 7’ bass rods can weigh under 4 oz, the lighter the weight higher the price can become.

Tom 

Ok, well based on what you’re saying I should be able to line watch with my current rod as well as I would with any other rod. I guess the main disadvantage right now to my set up would be the bow in the line with the braid. I’ll keep practicing with the two set ups I have for now and see if I need another rod dedicated to worms.

 

I did take the Sierra out today and tried a couple new frogs and tried a 9” Jelly worm with a 3/8 oz weight. I still couldn’t feel what was going on as well as I can with my medium action with a lighter weight. No bites on the frog or the worm, but did get one with a weightless senko.

 

[PhishLI]

14 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

I guess the main disadvantage right now to my set up would be the bow in the line with the braid. I’ll keep practicing with the two set ups I have for now and see if I need another rod dedicated to worms.

The main disadvantage is your rod is way overpowered for the worms you're throwing. Besides that, a 3/8oz weight is like a brick on the worms you're using in the water depth you're fishing. Buy a lighter powered rod.

18 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

Ok, well based on what you’re saying I should be able to line watch with my current rod as well as I would with any other rod.

What if the fish doesn't bite and run?

19 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

I still couldn’t feel what was going on as well as I can with my medium action with a lighter weight.

You will if you drop down to a lighter powered rod instead.

 

[Shadowx]

1 hour ago, PhishLI said:

The main disadvantage is your rod is way overpowered for the worms you're throwing. Besides that, a 3/8oz weight is like a brick on the worms you're using in the water depth you're fishing. Buy a lighter powered rod.

What if the fish doesn't bite and run?

You will if you drop down to a lighter powered rod instead.

 

Have you read the whole thread? I started out thinking I need a lighter rod because it would be more sensitive. Then I had several people tell me the rod I’m using is fine and sensitive enough but I need to throw heavier weights, and that 3/8 oz is fine for 4ft of water. Then I was told rod sensitivity actually doesn’t even matter and to just watch the line. Now you are saying that’s all incorrect and I should be using a lighter more sensitive rod. 
 

I don’t know who’s advice to follow, I really thought there would be more consensus on this topic.

[scaleface]

Bill Dance said to "Always" use the lightest weigh you can get away with . Larry Nixon says often times a heavy weight and faster drop gets more bites ,Whom to listen to ?   I'm in the Larry Nixon camp . I have caught   300 or more bass this year using a texas rig and a 5/16th ounce weight . 

[Shadowx]

29 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Bill Dance said to "Always" use the lightest weigh you can get away with . Larry Nixon says often times a heavy weight and faster drop gets more bites ,Whom to listen to ?   I'm in the Larry Nixon camp . I have caught   300 or more bass this year using a texas rig and a 5/16th ounce weight . 

 How shallow will you go with that weight? 

[scaleface]

45 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

 How shallow will you go with that weight? 

A few inches . 

[Shadowx]

6 minutes ago, scaleface said:

A few inches . 

Are you always using fluoro or will braid work?

[islandbass]

On 8/8/2022 at 9:44 AM, Shadowx said:

Thanks for your response. Another member chimed in saying he didn't feel they were sensitive rods, so I'm just trying to get a few different opinions. Many people say to use the lightest weight you can for t-rigs, which is why I'm hesitant to use such heavy weight unless trying to get through a mat. I will try it anyway and see if anything bites. 

Perhaps you are misunderstanding lightest weight, or as the real line says, “the lightest weight possible (ie, that you can get away with or use to maximize potential with said weight and bait).” Not the lightest weight. 
 

if I had to, based on conditions, use a 20 oz weight to make things work in the application, then by George 20 ounces is in this scenario, the lightest weight. Granted, this is an exaggerated example to illustrate the point. 
 

My personal experience concurs with yours that it can be difficult to detect with very light weights. It suggests to me that the total weight of my lure is insufficient for my rod to transmit the feedback to my hands. Solution was already mentioned — add a little more weight. 

[scaleface]

3 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

Are you always using fluoro or will braid work?

17 lb test Trilene XL , clear blue fluorescent .

[Shadowx]

10 minutes ago, islandbass said:

Perhaps you are misunderstanding lightest weight, or as the real line says, “the lightest weight possible (ie, that you can get away with or use to maximize potential with said weight and bait).” Not the lightest weight. 
 

if I had to, based on conditions, use a 20 oz weight to make things work in the application, then by George 20 ounces is in this scenario, the lightest weight. Granted, this is an exaggerated example to illustrate the point. 
 

My personal experience concurs with yours that it can be difficult to detect with very light weights. It suggests to me that the total weight of my lure is insufficient for my rod to transmit the feedback to my hands. Solution was already mentioned — add a little more weight. 

I understand the concept. Seems like some people say to add weight and others say it will be way too heavy and to get a lighter power rod. I did add a 3/8 oz sinker and for whatever reason didn’t feel the feedback was much better. I did get caught on things a lot more. I didn’t get any bites but obviously that may not have been the fault of the weight though.

[dodgeguy]

9 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

I understand the concept. Seems like some people say to add weight and others say it will be way too heavy and to get a lighter power rod. I did add a 3/8 oz sinker and for whatever reason didn’t feel the feedback was much better. I did get caught on things a lot more. I didn’t get any bites but obviously that may not have been the fault of the weight though.

A 3/8 tungsten sinker on the Sierra with braid and you should be feeling almost everything. Sometimes you don't feel it because they took it very lightly. Any change in weight either lighter or heavier is a fish. Take the slack out !!! You should never have a ton of slack. If you drag it on the bottom your line should not be slack and you should feel it. Like iu said both my hands have numb pinkies and ring fingers and I can feel everything with this same set up.

[BrianMDTX]

1 hour ago, Shadowx said:

I understand the concept. Seems like some people say to add weight and others say it will be way too heavy and to get a lighter power rod. I did add a 3/8 oz sinker and for whatever reason didn’t feel the feedback was much better. I did get caught on things a lot more. I didn’t get any bites but obviously that may not have been the fault of the weight though.

I went back and reread this thread. If I were you, and I had to pick between that Sierra and the Star Stellar for fishing soft plastics in shallow water, I’d pick the M spinning rig every day and twice on Sundays. A medium should cast weightless plastics (especially Senkos, Fat IKA’s, Neko Machos) reasonably well, or with a 3/16”-1/4” bullet weight. I’ve caught many bass up to 5 lbs on both M and ML spinning rigs. The ML makes for a good fight but not to horse in fish but the M is normally sufficient. I have a HF for frogs and I would not want to fish a Senko or Jelly Worm TR with it. 
 

Unless you spring for a new rig, I’d use your spinning rig for Texas rigs. 

[Shadowx]

52 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

A 3/8 tungsten sinker on the Sierra with braid and you should be feeling almost everything. Sometimes you don't feel it because they took it very lightly. Any change in weight either lighter or heavier is a fish. Take the slack out !!! You should never have a ton of slack. If you drag it on the bottom your line should not be slack and you should feel it. Like iu said both my hands have numb pinkies and ring fingers and I can feel everything with this same set up.

I’m sure I could improve my technique. I usually have some slack in the line while the work is falling. I’ve been popping it and letting it fall more so than just dragging it.

 

do you have a Sierra 735c? What do you use it for? What models do you like to use for Texas rigged worms? Thank you.

[Shadowx]

1 minute ago, BrianMDTX said:

I went back and reread this thread. If I were you, and I had to pick between that Sierra and the Star Stellar for fishing soft plastics in shallow water, I’d pick the M spinning rig every day and twice on Sundays. A medium should cast weightless plastics (especially Senkos, Fat IKA’s, Neko Machos) reasonably well, or with a 3/16”-1/4” bullet weight. I’ve caught many bass up to 5 lbs on both M and ML spinning rigs. The ML makes for a good fight but not to horse in fish but the M is normally sufficient. I have a HF for frogs and I would not want to fish a Senko or Jelly Worm TR with it. 
 

Unless you spring for a new rig, I’d use your spinning rig for Texas rigs. 

Yea so far the Medium spinning has felt better to me. Unfortunately as I said I lost a good fish using it. I’m casting from the bank over pads right now into the open water. The only way to land the fish is to pull them back through or over the pads. I had the same size fish in the exact same spot and got hung up both times reeling them in. They both hit right on the far edge of the pads. I was able to pull them through with the Sierra casting set up and couldn’t do it and lost the fish on the spinning set up. 
 

I’m debating to use my heavy casting set ups for larger worms in heavy weeds and using the medium for worms in more open water, or buying a medium or MH casting set up. I’d rather buy a really sensitive medium casting set up so I can drop shot or finesse with it or something  also, but if I can’t use my heavy set up in the weeds then I’d probably need a MH casting set up or I’ll have the same problem I am now with the spinning rod.

[CrashVector]

Are there better rods than the sierra?  Sure.  Is the sierra good enough for what you're doing?  Sure.

 

You'd probably be better served throwing Texas rigs on a MH/F or M/F rod though.

 

Im a finesse fisherman.  95% of my bass fishing is using finesse techniques, and the Texas rig is my favorite.  Creature baits, stick baits, worms, etc.

 

I've found about the ideal weight for light cover is right about the 1/8-3/8 weight range.  My favorite rod for this is a MH/xtra fast casting rod.  I also use lots of MH or M spinning rods...all with fast actions.

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

8 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

Yea so far the Medium spinning has felt better to me. Unfortunately as I said I lost a good fish using it. I’m casting from the bank over pads right now into the open water. The only way to land the fish is to pull them back through or over the pads. I had the same size fish in the exact same spot and got hung up both times reeling them in. They both hit right on the far edge of the pads. I was able to pull them through with the Sierra casting set up and couldn’t do it and lost the fish on the spinning set up. 
 

I’m debating to use my heavy casting set ups for larger worms in heavy weeds and using the medium for worms in more open water, or buying a medium or MH casting set up. I’d rather buy a really sensitive medium casting set up so I can drop shot or finesse with it or something  also, but if I can’t use my heavy set up in the weeds then I’d probably need a MH casting set up or I’ll have the same problem I am now with the spinning rod.

My primary Texas rig rod is a Falcon Lowrider All ‘Round Fast (medium-heavy/fast). That’s the rig I use when casting soft plastics with 3/16 thru 3/8 oz weights (mostly 3/16 or 1/4 oz depending on the bait). For finesse applications I prefer a MF or MLXF spinning rig. But I don’t fish many places with heavy weeds or pads like you are, so I rarely need to horse them in. 
 

If you can afford a new rig, I think you would enjoy using a nice MH/F baitcaster for the TR’s you are fishing. 

[Shadowx]

46 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said:

My primary Texas rig rod is a Falcon Lowrider All ‘Round Fast (medium-heavy/fast). That’s the rig I use when casting soft plastics with 3/16 thru 3/8 oz weights (mostly 3/16 or 1/4 oz depending on the bait). For finesse applications I prefer a MF or MLXF spinning rig. But I don’t fish many places with heavy weeds or pads like you are, so I rarely need to horse them in. 
 

If you can afford a new rig, I think you would enjoy using a nice MH/F baitcaster for the TR’s you are fishing. 

Thank you. I guess I read all the people saying the 735c is basically like a heavy medium heavy and I thought I could use it like a medium heavy for t rigs and buy a medium for light t rigs and finesse. Looks like I need to buy 2 more rods eventually instead of 1.

[dodgeguy]

1 hour ago, Shadowx said:

I’m sure I could improve my technique. I usually have some slack in the line while the work is falling. I’ve been popping it and letting it fall more so than just dragging it.

 

do you have a Sierra 735c? What do you use it for? What models do you like to use for Texas rigged worms? Thank you.

Yes I do have one. And a 734 . Mine are microguides. I use them for bottom contact baits . I fish jigs and tubes and worms with them. I generally have way more success dragging than hopping .I try to keep my line slack to a minimum . I drag until slack is out then position rod so I only have a tiny bit.i let it sit for a while then slowly feel it. If it feels heavy then a fished sucked it in lightly enough that you didn't feel it. Most of the time I have no problem feeling a normal bite. It depends how aggressive the fish are. The 734 is stated as a heavy but it's really a mh with a soft fast action tip. I prefer it for trig worms and the 735 for jigs in heavy cover.

[Shadowx]

4 minutes ago, dodgeguy said:

Yes I do have one. And a 705 . Mine are microguides. I use them for bottom contact baits . I fish jigs and tubes and worms with them. I generally have way more success dragging than hopping .I try to keep my line slack to a minimum . I drag until slack is out then position rod so I only have a tiny bit.i let it sit for a while then slowly feel it. If it feels heavy then a fished sucked it in lightly enough that you didn't feel it. Most of the time I have no problem feeling a normal bite. It depends how agressive the fish are.

This is actually really helpful incite for me. How long do you let it sit for, and do you drag it slowly like a few inches? I haven’t found a lot of people describing how they actually retrieve worms.

[Glenn]

 

[dodgeguy]

55 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

This is actually really helpful incite for me. How long do you let it sit for, and do you drag it slowly like a few inches? I haven’t found a lot of people describing how they actually retrieve worms.

Yes I drag it slowly. Sometimes I deadstick it for a few minutes. I hated learning this. I'd rather fish lipless cranks ove it a few inches at a time. I use zman baits on Ewg football heads so they stand straight up. My reservoir is rocky with little weeds. I also use a chasebaits mudbug . The 1.09 oz would fish nice on that rod .here's a video on it. This is how to fish a craw.Nothing looks more real than the chasebaits mudbug.Watch Glenn's video too.

 

[BrianMDTX]

55 minutes ago, Shadowx said:

This is actually really helpful incite for me. How long do you let it sit for, and do you drag it slowly like a few inches? I haven’t found a lot of people describing how they actually retrieve worms.

I use a variety of retrieves. But by far, I have more success slowly dragging a worm or stickbait on the bottom than hopping or swimming it. 

[dodgeguy]

1 minute ago, BrianMDTX said:

I use a variety of retrieves. But by far, I have more success slowly dragging a worm or stickbait on the bottom than hopping or swimming it. 

Agree 100 percent.

[looking45]

I suggest you start watching your line. Watch the last 6 inches before the line disappears into the water. You don’t need to feel the bite. When you get bit, the line will twitch or start to move. Reel to tighten the line, until you feel the weight of the fish, then set the hook. This takes concentration. If you’re turning around to talk to your buddy, you’re going to miss a lot of bites. The bass don’t always take up the slack when they pick up the bait. Hope this helps

[Shadowx]

1 hour ago, looking45 said:

I suggest you start watching your line. Watch the last 6 inches before the line disappears into the water. You don’t need to feel the bite. When you get bit, the line will twitch or start to move. Reel to tighten the line, until you feel the weight of the fish, then set the hook. This takes concentration. If you’re turning around to talk to your buddy, you’re going to miss a lot of bites. The bass don’t always take up the slack when they pick up the bait. Hope this helps

I’ve been watching the line. As you can see I’m not totally unable to catch fish. I just don’t feel much contact with the bottom, have bows in the line and have been giving it slack during the fall. I catch fish when I see the line move or feel the bite but for all I know I get bites all the time and am unaware.