Carolina Rig Question?

[lynyrdsky1]

Did I do right by using 65 pound braid with a 20 pound fluorocarbon leader as a carolina rig? I'm using a 7'6 BPS Nitro Rod with a Pro Qualifier 6:3:1 reel. There is mono tied to the reel and I tied the braid to the mono with a blood knot.

[SeanW]

Did I do right by using 65 pound braid with a 20 pound fluorocarbon leader as a carolina rig? I'm using a 7'6 BPS Nitro Rod with a Pro Qualifier 6:3:1 reel. There is mono tied to the reel and I tied the braid to the mono with a blood knot.

   Sure that will work. I typically prefer a bit lighter leader. I never go over 15lb. I do go down as small as 8lb leader at times to. Just depends where Im fishing. I dont use braid though. Carolina Rig fish usually swim off with the bait, so getting a good hook set is pretty easy to do.

[BASSclary]

Did I do right by using 65 pound braid with a 20 pound fluorocarbon leader as a carolina rig? I'm using a 7'6 BPS Nitro Rod with a Pro Qualifier 6:3:1 reel. There is mono tied to the reel and I tied the braid to the mono with a blood knot.

Sounds exactly like what I would've done 

[TBendBassin]

i usually use a 17lb test fluorocarbon with a 12lb-15lb fluorocarbon leader

[OnthePotomac]

Similar here.  I use 50lb Sufix Performance braid with a 14lb leader and have a friend who has gone done to 30lb braid.

[wackyworm66]

I like your setup.  I have fished a c-rig with all mono, all fluro, all braid, and braid with mono or fluro leader.  The feel and hookset on the braid with fluro leader is unbeatable, and the fluro leader helps with finicky fish.  The only thing I may change is go down to 12-15 lb fluro leader.

[wackyworm66]

The fish you see in my avatar was caught on the same rig.  65 lb braid, and 12 lb fluro leader.  This fish weighed 8.4 lbs.  I also caught an 8.12 about 10 minutes later.  Great setup.

[lynyrdsky1]

The fish you see in my avatar was caught on the same rig. 65 lb braid, and 12 lb fluro leader. This fish weighed 8.4 lbs. I also caught an 8.12 about 10 minutes later. Great setup.

I got yo zuri ultra soft in 10 pound. Would this work or is it to light?

[Nibbles]

10# Yozuri is reliable up to around 16# of pressure. I would say it should be fine.

Only thing I'm curious about is why fluorocarbon for the leader? Fluoro sinks, but you typically want to use a floating bait, so it seems a little counterintuitive. I always thought the point of the c-rig was to control the length of a leader and use a floating bait so that you can drag a bait across transitions in structure and also around underwater cover while maintaining a certain distance from the lake floor. For instance, you could fish a c-rig with a 4'2" leader across pads of hydrilla growing 4' tall so that your lizard or other floating bait can skitter across the top of the weeds while the c-rig weight kicks up dust and creates commotion, attracting the attention of the bass. 

[5bass]

I wouldnt recommend Yo Zuri Ultra Soft for any type of fishing but a true fluorocarbon in either 15# or 17# test tied to 50# braid is what I use for my carolina rig setup.

The braid gives maximum feel and sensitivity as well as a rock solid hookset when you are making long casts with the rig. And if you get hung up, the braid will usually allow you to at least get your weights and beads back. 

[lynyrdsky1]

10# Yozuri is reliable up to around 16# of pressure. I would say it should be fine.

Only thing I'm curious about is why fluorocarbon for the leader? Fluoro sinks, but you typically want to use a floating bait, so it seems a little counterintuitive. I always thought the point of the c-rig was to control the length of a leader and use a floating bait so that you can drag a bait across transitions in structure and also around underwater cover while maintaining a certain distance from the lake floor. For instance, you could fish a c-rig with a 4'2" leader across pads of hydrilla growing 4' tall so that your lizard or other floating bait can skitter across the top of the weeds while the c-rig weight kicks up dust and creates commotion, attracting the attention of the bass.

So you're saying mono would probably work best?

[J Francho]

I use heavy fluoro. As long as you slowly sweep the rod, dragging the sinker, the bait will do all it needs to get bit.

[jdw174]

My current C-rig is a 7' Falcon Lizard Dragger, spooled with 20#PowerPro and a 12lb leader of copoly.  Works for me.

[ww2farmer]

I don't like braid as a main line on c-rigs, but have used it and it works fine. Personaly I use 17lb fluoro w/15 lb leader on heavy c-rigs, and 12 and 10 on light rigs. If I am using braid as the main line it's usually 50lb w/17lb fluoro leader.

[lynyrdsky1]

Some other questions. Is 3/4 weight with an 8mm bead on it good cause just bought that stuff online and wasn't sure if I was correct. What size swivel should I use.