Texas Or Carolina Rig Or No Weight

[acajun2]

I've been worm fishing all spring using no weight at all in a spring fed pond with lots of undergrowth. I calculate the worm sinks about a foot / second. Just wondering why I would even need a weight on the line at all. Seems to me that when I do rig a light weight bullet weight as suggested in a Texas or Carolina rig, it just causes me to get more tangled up in the undergrowth. Any comments?

[midnighthrasher]

I only use a weight when necesary.

 

[Sam]

Weight = Fast Fall = Reaction Bite in warmer waters.

Sometimes a weightless pink or white trick worm will drive them crazy.

Minus Ones and shallow running crankbaits can work, too.

Try a Mojo or Split-Shot rig in lieu of the Carolina Rig.

If you are going to throw a Texas setup consider changing to the Shaky Head presentation.

If you can fish over the grass consider a weightless Wacky Senko offering.

You will have to experiment to see what works.

[Bluebasser86]

Just because it's the traditional way or the way everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you have to do it that way. If you're catching fish with a weightless worm then fish a weightless worm! With heavy vegetation on the bottom that may very well be the best option going.

[j.bruno]

I tried out my first carolina rig this weekend. Loved it. Caught a 4lb 10 oz slob. Big bass for a small lake in central NY anyways.

[WanderLust]

split shot rig gets the call when I need so weight generally. Heavy cover is normally a pegged bullet weight.

Weightless plastics is by far my most productive.

[RoLo]

Carolina rigs and Dropshot rigs are "bottom-oriented" rigs, they are not sink-rate intensive.

The weight attached to a Carolina rig is only used to reach the bottom quickly and to maintain bottom contact.

However, once the weight makes bottom contact, the C-rig is presenting an "unweighted" lure.

While your "unweighted" T-rigged worm is sinking one-foot per second, a C-rigged 3x worm may actually be lofting upward..

The same applies to a dropshot rig, once the weight makes bottom contact, you're presenting an "unweighted" soft-plastic.

Roger

[Siebert Outdoors]

If you can get away with weightless then I would keep it up. In your scenario that is how I would do it or go with a weighted hook so the bait falls horizontal. Use a very light weight.

[Brent1]

This may be a newbie question, but can someone explain/illustrate the slip-shot rig and the mojo rig? I am also presented with a lot of undergrowth in one of the small lakes I fish.

[SCbryan]

I have lived in Carolina all my life, but I prefer Texas rigging. LOL. I can feel the strikes alot better. Good Fishing.

[BrianSnat]

If it works stick with it. I once wouldn't dream of fishing an unweighted worm. Now I fish them unweighted about 70 percent of the time.