Plastic for the Carolina Rig

[cabela10]

This upcoming bass season, I plan on fishing the Carolina Rig alot.  I haven't really utilized the carolina rig in my fishing arsenal and would like to know what you guys prefer to use for the plastics on your carolina rig.

Also, when picking the line for your leader line, is it best to get a line that floats to get the bait off the bottom?  Most likely a mono.  I know the basics of riggin the carolina rig but I would like to know the most affective soft plastic for this technique.  Right now, I'm going with the Gambler brand of baits.  I recently bought over $70 of Gambler.  So far I love the smell coming from the packages.

[jdw174]

As with any soft plastics, it's what the fish seem to prefer that day. The old stand-by is the lizard. French Fries also work well as do creature baits (brush hogs, et al).  Also add in flukes, tubes, the list just goes on and on.  In short, you can c-rig just about any soft plastic you like.

[cabela10]

What I mean is... If you only had the option to pick one plastic to fish on a carolina rig, what would that one bait be? I understand all the different scenerios that comes into play with selecting baits.  I just want to know, when it comes to that one plastic for the carolina rig, what is it?  I hear a lot about a lizard and fluke.

[justfishin]

This is another technique that I really do not like to use but, it is a great spring flats tech. and summer points way to fish. I used to throw them a good bit on the Lower Potomac in the spring and had my best days using lizards with them in green pumpkin. I started throwing a mojo rig instead as it is not a bulky to throw. I use a mojo cylinder sinker pegged about 15" up my line and usually throw a Zoom Centipede in green pumpkin or watermelon on #12 test and a 7' MH rod.

[roadwarrior]

I'm with Jim, I just don't like the way this rig casts. That said, I still fish a C-rig occasionally. My #1 plastic for this technmique is a lizard; #2 is a Gitzit.

[cabela10]

You use a Gitzit tube for a c-rig plastic?  What's a mojo rig?  Just a pegged sinker instead of the barrel swivel?

[5bass]

I am partial to the 3X stuff.....mainly the lizards. The 3X baits float like a life vest. In my opinion,a bait that floats well is key on a c-rig.

Another thing to watch for is that if you're getting bit but cant hook up.....the fish may be hitting your weight. If that happens,use a heavy jig as your weight.

[burleytog]

Baby Brush Hog, Zoom 5" lizard.

Will try the Zoom Mag II and Ol' Monster this summer/spring as well.

[flechero]

I like lizards for a c-rig probably 80% + of the time. (Zoom is my favorite but any lizard will do)   You'll get used to casting it..... and very quickly if you start catching fish on it.  It takes a little practice to cast w/o the leader wrapping the mainline.  

is it best to get a line that floats to get the bait off the bottom?

The leader line won't float the bait... if you want the bait to float, buy floating plastics.  This is a confidence thing that varies by person.  In contrast to 5BL, I much prefer my lizard on the bottom.  I only like floating with a fluke or french fry.  

You'll only need to fish it a little while to develop your own preferences.

[5bass]

flechero,the lizard point you made is a good one. I do use a short leader with them,usually 12" and that also goes for any creature type baits. I'll go up to 3 ft with the finesse worms and french fry's depending on how close to the bottom the fish are when I mark them.

[KYbass1276]

Culprit 10 worm and Zooms or yum 7.5 ribbion tail worm in tequilla sunrise.  Watermelon or pumpkin seed, as well as a LC pointer in lavender shad

[cabela10]

is it best to get a line that floats to get the bait off the bottom?

The leader line won't float the bait... if you want the bait to float, buy floating plastics.

What I meant by the leader line floating is comparing mono to flouro, since flouro is suppose to sink.  So if the advantage of the c-rig was to get the bait off the bottom, then a line that would float more(with the bait) would be the ticket, instead of a flourocarbon that would attempt to keep the plastic more on the bottom.

[New 2 Bass]

I use a lizard and it works.  Havn't really tried anything else.

[ww2farmer]

My personal favorite carolina rig bait is the zoom super fluke, I also like carolina rigging senko type baits (I use the yum dingers). Both of those baits are so versatile you just about can't fish them wrong.

[flechero]

What I meant by the leader line floating is comparing mono to flouro, since flouro is suppose to sink. So if the advantage of the c-rig was to get the bait off the bottom, then a line that would float more(with the bait) would be the ticket, instead of a flourocarbon that would attempt to keep the plastic more on the bottom.

I knew what you meant but the truth of the matter is that just the weight of the hook will sink a mono leader.  It's one of those things that make sense in theory but in reality, mono will barely float itself so if you don't have a floating plastic you are on the bottom.  

One of the advantages to a c-rig is that it's not weighted at the bait, so even though it's on the bottom, it sinks slowly and moves around in a more realistic fashion.  You can crawl it or hop it along and let it flutter or whatever you want.  Or you can use floating plastics and keep it off the bottom altogether...  Lots of options and all have a time and place and all can be good.

[cabela10]

Cool.  Thanks.  Seems like the lizard is the ticket.

[Rattlinrogue]

1)Zoom or 3X lizard

2)Finese worm

3)Senko

[Raul]

Cool. Thanks. Seems like the lizard is the ticket.

No my man, the lizard is not the ticket, use whatever you feel is going to bring you in better results. It is not the bait, it 's the rigging what makes the bait present itself differently, Flechero pointed out very intelligently: One of the advantages to a c-rig is that it's not weighted at the bait, so even though it's on the bottom, it sinks slowly and moves around in a more realistic fashion. , that 's the catch with the C-rig.

[Siebert Outdoors]

a jitterbug is one of my favorites to c rig. ;D Ok I'm just kidding on that one

Here are my favorite c rig baits

lizard

beaver type

4" worm

sometimes i will c rig tubes or 10" worms

[RoLo]

If I have to use a Carolina-rig (not exactly a casting gem), I'm going to use it with "High-floating plastic".

To that end, an angler would be hard pressed to beat a Strike King 3x Floating Worm.

Be reminded, with a lure this buoyant the leader length becomes more critical.

Roger

[FishTank]

Zoom lizards or yum lizards. My favorites are watermelon red and june bug. I have tried the Zoom U tail worms, good but not as good as lizards.