Carolina Rigging

[WdyCrankbait]

Hey everyone,

Wdy here, I am heading to a private farm pond Friday afternoon with the intent of finding Bubba in that pond! I read Carolina rigging is a good method to use for bigger bass. The max depth of the pond is 7.5' with dimensions of 150' long and about 40' across. It is a creek the land owner stopped up.

Well, I have my 1/4oz. egg sinker on, glass beads, and swivels on and ready to go. I plan on using a 10" silver and black Culprit worm or Zoom Ol' Monster red worm. I got it sitting on a Powell Endurance MH/exft tip with a Curado 200e5. Since I have never fished this method before I want to see if anyone has tips on this type of fishing before I go out there and risk losing a huge bass.

Thank in advance,

Wdy

[webertime]

If it's Rocky use Mojo Rockhoppers weights

If it's super weedy us thin/pencil Mojo (forgot the name) weights, 

My favorite C-Rig baits (produced 2 5lb Smallies) are Rage Craws and Smokin' Roosters along with Zoom Speedcraws. Sebile Magic Swimmers work really well as a C-Rig bait.

Shallow water/small pond go with a 4' leader.

It's a lot of fun sitting there going "fish?! nope rock, FISH?! nope weeds, FI..!!! Oh yeah that's a big one!"

[Fat-G]

Woody, with a C-rig you want to do a long sweep-set. You'll need to reel in all the slack until the weight of the fish feels like it's at the end of the rod.

I would fish midday if you want a big fish. Deadsticking plastics usually catches me size.

[endless]

I still yet to catch anything on a C-rig but I was told that I reel it in to fast. Not sure this is true or not but the way I was explain is when reel or hop the lure you must wait due to cloud of dirt the weight kicks up the bass doesn't see the lure till it clears. Now if this is true or not not sure but can someone clarify for me. Was I told right? and if so for mine and WdyCrankbait understanding how long should you wait to reel or hop again? If doing the slow reeling how many should seconds should reeling and pausing be?

[NBR]

At 7.5' max depth you might want to try a split shot rig.

[A-Jay]

I recommend using a weight that is heavy enough to keep the rig on the bottom.

The Rage Tail Eeliminator on a Carolina rig is Lethal !

A-Jay

[laus]

If it's Rocky use Mojo Rockhoppers weights

If it's super weedy us thin/pencil Mojo (forgot the name) weights, Basstackledepot.com has both.

My favorite C-Rig baits (produced 2 5lb Smallies) are Rage Craws and Smokin' Roosters along with Zoom Speedcraws. Sebile Magic Swimmers work really well as a C-Rig bait.

Shallow water/small pond go with a 4' leader.

It's a lot of fun sitting there going "fish?! nope rock, FISH?! nope weeds, FI..!!! Oh yeah that's a big one!"

I use a soft sebile magic swimmer on a C-rig in several of Maine's clear rocky lakes for smallies.....works great!

[Sam]

You pull the bait along the bottom with sweeping motions to the right or left.

Do not pull the bait along as you would fish a Texas rig. Keep bait on bottom.

Make it a slow return.

Let it sit and move it some more.

Keep finger on line so you can feel what is on the bottom and if you get a hit.

Let them take the bait for a few seconds and then reel in any slack and set the hook over your head, hard.

Can be slow fishing a C-rig so be patient.

[WdyCrankbait]

Everyone, thanks for the tips! I'll try it out Friday night and report back. Apperciate the advice everyone!

Sam, am I going to be getting a phone call asking how to fix your computer? If so, I will be charging you in senkos from here on out, hahah

[lynyrdsky1]

Sorry if I am repeating anything but,

If the pond is grassy on the bottom use a half to a foot and a half leader, with a half ounce wieght, glass bead, and brass bead. If it is rocky use a foot and a half to a 3 foot leader. Since it is a pond with no current half ounce is all your gonna need. Personally though, 3 feet may be too long use at the longest, a 2 and half foot leader.

I personally like smaller baits so I would go with a zoom baby brush. Watermelon magic or candy if it is clear or a black red glitter in dirty water. If you're gonna use bigger baits use a zoom ol monster or a rage tail.

When it comes to setting the hook, do not do it like a texas rig. You need to have a firm sweeping motion. If you feel it hit stuff on the bottom let it stop, give it a sec, reel up to it and repeat. If you feel a bite do not set the hook on the first tap give a couple of taps, reel up to it, let the rod load up and set the hook.

Oh to explain why i said brass bead: the weight is gonna clack up against the glass bead and with the brass the glass will hit and also the brass will be a spacer between the glass and the swivel.

[WdyCrankbait]

Any advice is welcome. I saw brass weights in the BPS catalog today and was wondering about them, haha now I guess I know.

[lynyrdsky1]

Any advice is welcome. I saw brass weights in the BPS catalog today and was wondering about them, haha now I guess I know.

Oh, not the weights, the beads.

[Sam]

You do not need brass weights.

The lead ones are fine or if you want to spend your money go for the tungston.

Here is the order of setup:

Hook

Leader

Swivel

Bead #1

Bead #2

Weight

Rod Tip

Take your line and cut about two or three feet off the main line and tie the swivel onto it using a Palamor knot. You can go with four feet of line if you wish.

Put the weight and the two beads on the main line coming off the rod and then tie the swivel onto that line with a Palamor Knot. Use a good swivel, like an Eagle Claw Size 3 Barrel Swivel.

You now have the swivel tied on to your line with two Palamor knots.

Do not burn the line when tying the Palamor knot.

After settig up the swivel, decide how long of a leader you want and then cut the two or three foot section of line hanging off the swivel to the desired length and add your hook using a Palamor knot.

You can use braid for your main line and fluoro of at least 15 pounds as your leader. If you want, go to 17 or 20 pound test for your leader or for your entirmain line and leader if you are not using braid.

Have a heavy rod that can handle the weight along with a strong baitcaster.

Cast - swing to left or right to move bait - reel in slack - and feel for the hit and weight on your line. Make a few casts to get used to how the line feels when retrieving. Any different feel to the line or if there is a "weight" on your line...SET THE HOOK hard over your head.

Close your eyes and concentrate on the feel of the bait. Remember, if the bait feels slow, sluggish, heavy or is not moving, SET THE HOOK!

Good luck.

[Sam]

Woody, glass faceted beads are the best but the plastic ones work just as good.

Remember, you want the bass to hit your bait, not the beads.

[kikstand454]

i fish a c-rig alot. like.... alot. heres some of my conclusions. almost any plastic will work on a crig when the fish are agressive. this is with any bait really. so if you have confidence in one particular bait... go for it. personally for numbers i think a black zoom trickworm catches them most anytime... agressive or passive. the rest if the advice here is dead on. i personally like to sweep set the hook and only a split second after i feel a bite. it has been my experience that when i "let them have it for a second" i end up with bleeding fish that are going to die.

good luck!

[WdyCrankbait]

I went out and tried C-rigging for a little last night and nothing. The lake I was fishing at was covered in scum. So, the weight grabbed everything, the worm caught stuff up by the eye of the hook. I'll try again soon. Thanks for all the input everyone!