The Carolina Rig - weakness is the knots? Does it matter to you?

[RandySBreth]

Carolina rigging- do you worry about all the knots?

I was thinking about this the other day when writing back and forth to someone who was interested in using a leader with superlines, and that was their main concern- the knot tying the two dissimilar lines together. I remembered they love to use a Carolina rig, and asked them if they worried about the knots then. The answer was no, because the had used it long enough to have confidence in it.

So now I'm wondering - does anyone NOT use the Carolina rig just because of the "weak spots" (knots) required to use it?

[jeb2]

I was reading my most recent FLW mag and one of the pros in there stated he didn't use the C-rig because of all the possible points of failure. And I understand that. They are high maintenance rigs to fish, especially in the rocky lakes I tend to fish. I just put up with it since they just plain work for me. I fish the C-rig a lot. I check them/re-tie them often.

[Chuck H.]

I throw a Rig probably 80% of the time and have done so for years. I have absolutely no concerns about knots failing. As already stated, the main thing to remember is to keep a close check on your leader and main line above the swivel for frays. I use a palomar knot for all connections and never have any knot related failures.

[flechero]

Knots are important...

I pre tie my leaders with swivels and hooks at home and bring a zip lock of them rolled up and ready.  So when I have to re-tie for any reason, I just tie on the new leader and I'm ready just as quick as any re-tie.

Pre tying allows you to take a few minutes and make sure the knots are all perfect while not on the water wasting time.

[K_Mac]

Knots are important...

I pre tie my leaders with swivels and hooks at home and bring a zip lock of them rolled up and ready. So when I have to re-tie for any reason, I just tie on the new leader and I'm ready just as quick as any re-tie.

Pre tying allows you to take a few minutes and make sure the knots are all perfect while not on the water wasting time.

I do the same. Having only one knot to tie when on the water makes it faster and less likely to get in a hurry and mess one up. Check your line often. Knots are not an issue. 8-)

[jeb2]

Knots are important...

I pre tie my leaders with swivels and hooks at home and bring a zip lock of them rolled up and ready. So when I have to re-tie for any reason, I just tie on the new leader and I'm ready just as quick as any re-tie.

Pre tying allows you to take a few minutes and make sure the knots are all perfect while not on the water wasting time.

I do the same. Having only one knot to tie when on the water makes it faster and less likely to get in a hurry and mess one up. Check your line often. Knots are not an issue. 8-)

Same here. I use these "tackle tamers" from Cabelas to keep them ready to go:

Tackle Tamer

[hitchhiker]

I trust the knots that I tie.  I'm not going to avoid using an effective technique because it involves more than one knot.  Like others have already stated, line fray or snags more often lead to lost rigs than knot failure. 

IMO the knots aren't the weakness.

[kikstand454]

in the grand scheme of things... i dont trust/distrust my c-rig knots any more than i do a single knot to a jig or whatever. i throw a c-rig alot... and i never think twice about it.

check your line every third or fourth cast, more if youre in shells or rocks and youre fine.

[RandySBreth]

That was the point I was trying to make to this guy - one knot ( the superline to leader knot) wasn't as much of a "weak point" as the three knots he used all the time on his Carolina rig. He's warming up to it, but slowly.

Old dog/new tricks sort of thing... (Wasn't Carolina rigging a "new trick" also back whenever?!) ;D