Carolina Rig Search Methodology?

[RRocket]

When using the Carolina Rig to search areas for bass, what is your methodology? 

 

That is to say, if you're fishing a new area, point, grass edge, etc how do you search it? Do you target the area in a fan shape with several casts? How long do you spend searching until you move on to the next area of interest? 

 

Just wondering what your effective, efficient methodology is in this regard.

[Catt]

4 hours ago, RRocket said:

if you're fishing a new area, point, grass edge, etc how do you search it?

 

Chunk-n-reel 

 

4 hours ago, RRocket said:

Do you target the area in a fan shape with several casts?

 

Usually a expanding circle 

 

4 hours ago, RRocket said:

How long do you spend searching until you move on to the next area of interest? 

 

Depends on the size of the area 

[Tennessee Boy]

Back in the day I used a Carolina Rig to “feel” the bottom as much as I did to search for bass.   I used it to find interesting cover and structure on the bottom and them I would focus on those things to try to locate bass.  For example I might find an edge between a hard bottom and a soft bottom.  If I caught a fish on that edge then I would try to follow the contours of that edge more thoroughly.

 

In the modern world I find the interesting stuff with my electronics so I skip the random casting and just focus on what I know is down there.  There is still some feeling of the bottom with the heavy weight.

[Captain Phil]

7 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

Back in the day I used a Carolina Rig to “feel” the bottom as much as I did to search for bass.   I used it to find interesting cover and structure on the bottom and them I would focus on those things to try to locate bass.  For example I might find an edge between a hard bottom and a soft bottom.  If I caught a fish on that edge then I would try to follow the contours of that edge more thoroughly.

 

In the modern world I find the interesting stuff with my electronics so I skip the random casting and just focus on what I know is down there.  There is still some feeling of the bottom with the heavy weight.

 

The Carolina rig is an excellent deep water search rig.  It can tell you things electronics can't.  What I look for is hard bottom composition.  Here in Florida, many of our natural lake bottoms are soft.  What I am looking for is hard clean bottom.  This is also where you will find shell beds.   The best place to start is on points that taper from the shoreline to deep water.  I use a 1 oz. weight to start my search.  If the bottom is soft, you will know right away as the heavy weight will attract bottom debris.  If it's hard, it won't.  What I want to feel is the weight bumping along the bottom like it's on a washboard.  If you feel that, you are 90% there.  Start by casting up the point and retrieving deep.  Then try the other way around.   Don't pass up docks with long walkways out into the lake. They are generally built on hard ground.  Bottom composition is more significant than depth.  I have found some wonderful spots using a Carolina rig.  If you do, you may have it all to yourself.

[scaleface]

I use a 3/4 oz weight to work quickly and target a depth. I'll look for  baitfish in open water  to see what depth they are mostly in   , then thats the depth I concentrate on . I fish large flats quickly that way .  It was often not productive. I dont do it much anymore . The forward facing sonar guys are much more efficient.

[RRocket]

I'm committed to a "minimalist" fishing style...so no electronics for me.

 

Thanks for all the comments, gents.

[FranklinSantee]

I was about to pose a similar question in a new thread but found this.  So let me add some additional questions.

 

When using Carolina rigs on points do you run the rig down the point, up the point, across the point?  Assuming no current.  Then the same questions if there is current.

[Captain Phil]

I start by casting shallow and working deep down the point.  If the bottom is good, I go deep to shallow.  If I find a depth or spot that is holding fish, I target that spot.  Bottom composition is more significant than direction. I look for hard bottom or structure on the point.   If there is current, I work the bait with the current.  Current fishing caused by summer rains can be some of the best fishing you will find.  Surprisingly, it is ignored by many fishermen. 

[roadwarrior]

8 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

  Current fishing caused by summer rains can be some of the best fishing you will find.  Surprisingly, it is ignored by many fishermen. 

[bowhunter63]

I like it around the front of low head dams. They stack up there sometimes for oxygen and the bait hangs there too 

[FryDog62]

I fished the C-rig before FFS. I still use it for what Captain Phil said above - to figure out bottom composition especially in deeper water. Then scrape that gravel or chunk rocks until you get the attention of the bigger fish. 

[WRB]

“No electronics for me” you are a minimalist. Do you use use a boat and trolling motor, paddle or drift?

I am not a traditional “ball and chain” style C-rig angler. Heavy egg shape sinkers with bead and swivel snags too often. My C-rig uses tubular mojo shape weigh, glass faceted bead, Carolina Keeper or pegged bead for a weight stopper (totally adjustable) main line and hook. Finesse C-rig I call the Slip Shot rig, lighter weight and line.

I don’t like to fish blind and prefer locating bait and bass using sonar. No sonar fishing from shore I use the fan cast pattern to cover all depths to determine where to focus my casting.

I suggest using mono line to help keep the soft plastic and main line from snagging as often when using FC line.

Dragging a C-rig slowly behind the boat is a very good technique for back seaters.

My starting length from weight to hook is about 36” adjusting  from there.

Floating hand poured soft plastics will increase your success.

Tom 

 

[papajoe222]

If I'm fishing a point, I work a C-rig a little different. Because I rarely use a weight over 1/2oz. I'll work from deep to shallow, that way I maintain contact with the bottom. I'll begin my search that way and work my way around the point until I contact fish. Then, I'll move out to that depth and parallel cast my way around the point.

For weed edges, I stick with a traditional Texax rig (free sliding sinker)

[Captain Phil]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

I am not a traditional “ball and chain” style C-rig angler. Heavy egg shape sinkers with bead and swivel snags too often. My C-rig uses tubular mojo shape weigh, glass faceted bead, Carolina Keeper or pegged bead for a weight stopper (totally adjustable) main line and hook. Finesse C-rig I call the Slip Shot rig, lighter weight and line.

 

For those who don't know, a Mojo Rig is a downsized finesse Carolina Rig.  It was a well guarded secret tournament tactic for many years.   It's deadly on bass.  I use it when the bottom is covered with short grass or when a large weight will hang up.  I won many tournaments using a Mojo Rig under the toughest conditions.   

[Choporoz]

@RRocket,there is a great deal of fantastic information in this thread specific to fishing points

 

[papajoe222]

I just wanted to clarify, for those questioning how to work a C-rig on a point.  The lakes I fish are mostly natural lakes and the only cover, if any, is weeds. Working uphill with a lighter weight doesn't present the problems it would in many man made lakes. This is just another example of applying information to your situation.  Would my approach work as well if I reversed it and worked shallow to deep. Most likely, it would.