When is it time to Carolina Rig?

[Aquaman01]

I've had decent luck with a similiar rig. I use a pair of glass beads instead of or with the bullet. Usually I have decent luck with it in tall slender weeds, or sandy/gravelly openings. Docks, too. If it looks "all clear", I drop it right on the dock and twitch it to the edge, then tight-line drop it off the edge.

Seasons? Just spring, so far.

------------------
Aquaman
<')}}}}}><{
Peace and Fishes

[MJR]

Last summer I started using a Carolina Rig and never stopped. I recall fishing in a couple of tournaments and had 4 rods set up with carolina rigs. I have had the best luck on outside edges of the weeds mostly but you can get them anywhere. Generally I would use one in deeper water where the weeds are not so thick. With that being said I have not caught a bass on a Carolina Rig yet this year but I am about to start using them much more.

[EBass]

Thanks fellas. I want to try that on some mid lake humps, especailly since we're getting into the summer months.

[catchin'whopper]

What about casting angles and retrieval?

Obviously this is a great search bait for covering water and probing somewhat less weedier areas when texas rigged.

But as far as retrieving and casting angles, which seems to work better? I believe the obvious answer is parallel, but again, when you are trying to find subtleties, breaks, or gravel adjacent to weeds, it is hard to tell what is "parallel" to the weedline/edge. Casting directly on the structure tends to bind me up more often then not, after three casts into it, the head of my texas rigged plastic gets snarled or ripped up.

So I guess I too am looking for a finer point or trick or veteran move as far as being a more effective carolina fisherman. It is the one presentation i have had extremely little success on despite throwing it for hours on end with few bites or fish. I know it catches fish though and I am just missing somethign on that level. Thanks for any help!

-Catchin'

[EBass]

I rarely use this type of method and was wanting to give her a try. Anyone have and success stories or tips?

[Guest]

Carolina rigged method works great in some bodies of water but not all. Like when I was stationed in Oklahoma, The waters down their are much different then we fish. I found this method to be most productive in and around trees that lead into deeper water (10ft. or more). Which a Carolina rigged weedless, is a perfect setup. Matter of fact my biggest LM (10lb. 12oz.)Came off a Black and blue Lizzard fished this way. But as far as the lakes up north here, There just aren't that many lakes with trees sticking out of 10 ft of water, So we relie on weed edges, lilly pads, docks, etc. To make a long story short. I've had better luck on doing the old texas style than the Carolina style up here in the northern waters.

[fishman50]

I would agree that a Texas rig or jigworm setup is better right around the weeds. I've had my best Carolina rig success sitting just inside the outside weedline and casting into deep water. In summer, the fish will often hold out on the transition areas outside of the weedlines. Casting into deep water and retrieving it up to the outside weededge has worked well for me. You can do this casting somewhat parallel to the deep edge, or cast straight out. However, trying to pull kind of parallel allows you to cover the most water.

[EBass]

Thanks for the tips. Anyone every drift and pull carolinas? I got sick of casting and pulled my texas rigged worm behind the boat while my fried still casted. I get all comfy (taking a break) and wham. Nice bass.

Ended up being a not to shabby pattern for that day. Lazy fishing to.

[idratherbefishing]

could someone explain a carolina rig and a texas rig and their differences. i have mainly fished walleyes and would like to get into bass fishing a little more. the only thing i have ever caught bass on is a beetle spin or a rapala.

------------------
"Fishing is a condition of the mind in which one cannot possibly have a bad time."
idratherbefishing

[Yaeger Guide]

idratherbefishing,

Carolina-rigging is identical to Lindy-rigging. We bass guys didn't want to give the credit to Al Lindner, so we named it the Carolina-rig. I run my Carolina-rigs anywhere from 12" to 36" with a 3X or Terminator cyberflex plastic.

Texas rigging is simply putting the bullet weight right next to the hook. Some toothpick the bullet, keeping the weight right on the hook (now there are weight/hook combos that do the same thing). The other way (not weight and hook toothpicked) has the bullet weight freely moving on the line above the hook. This can lead to the weight being out in front of the hook. It also gives the bass an opportunity to shake the hook free by having the weight out away from the mouth, thus giving the bass "slack" line from the weight to the hook. I run my Texas rigs mostly "toothpicked".

------------------
God bless,
Judd Yaeger
Yaeger Guides (Twin Cities Guides) www.yaegerweb.com/guide

[EBass]

I tried the carolina rig on Medicine. I was dragging a strike king wild thang and I didn't get a bite. My friend Rob using the same method diff bait got a hit, but that was it.

the cool thing was feeling the bottom. Sand and small rocks were on the bottom of one of the mid lake humps I was fishing. I never would've knew if it wasn't for good ol Carolinan rig.

[rascalP]

How about which plastics work best with a carolina? So many choices -- worm, tube, liz, craw, frenchfry, uglything, thing-a-ma-jig, etc... I never know if it's the plastic not catching fish, the technique, or like usual, just me.

[Guest]

Hey EBass. I had a lot of luck last August on Medecine using a jigworm. It's really easy to fish and you hardly ever miss a fish since the hook is exposed. I haven't been out there this year, but had my best luck around in 10-12 ft around the milfoil in the main lake. Lots of nice bass and northerns.

[EBass]

Thanks BBP,

R U talking about a bass jig with a plastic worm or like a regualr jig with a night crawler?

[Wayne Ek]

Ebass, I believe he is talking about a gopher mushroom-head jig and a plastic worm, 4" to 7". You asked about plastics on a C-rig. I have most of my clients start out with fry's ( lake fork ring frys Jr.) or baby brush hogs. If you look around you can still find the Florida Weights with rattles inside them, these are the non-screw in ones, I use mostly half oz. ones .
Good luck, c-rigging can help you cover alot of water fast and gives you a good idea as to bottom type.

------------------
Wayne
Agape Fishing Guides
www.agapefishingguides.com

[ranger2bass]

My approach with caralina rigs is to a cover water/search bait when fishing a flat or alot of the same area with the same depth and cover. Or parallel to a weed wall. A fast speed reel to gather up all the slack line quick and a 7 or 7.6 med- heavy or heavy action rod work best with a super braid line as to feel bottom better and a mono or florocarbon leader with a light wire hook approximately the same length as the weeds or cover your in. Unless there 10'tall. They due have draw backs; northerns tend to bite you off alot, I think they spook the fish more than other presentations, and theyre kind of a pain in the *** how they get fouled up alot in weeds. You cant really use them in close quarters. I think the reason people have most of theyre success with them is because they basically force you to keep your lure moving slower longer. Use them to find fish then switch over to another presentation.

[Guest]

EBass. I use mushroom style jig heads with a 7 inch worm or brushhog. I get most of my bites on the drop and a lot of the time you will catch fish just as you get loose off a snag. There are lots of ways to fish plastics, but I think this is the easiest.

[EBass]

Cool, thanks for all the good tips.

[dan sexton]

I have had good success with the heavy C-rig: 7'6" M-heavy flip-stick with 20lb mono and 12lb or 14lb leader line;1/2oz to 3/4oz barrell weight behind 1 glass bead (red or purple)agian behind a swivel connecting the leader line. On the leader line I have had luck with Jeff's salty craw (watermellon), brush-hogs, 6" handpours, Yamy grubs (4"), power craws(craw worms), and of course lizards.

This technique has been most productive for me on flats with rock and brush, steep banks and long sloping points. I mostly like to fish this style up-hill (I like the bait to land in deep water and retrieve it to shallow, as if you were bank fishing).

As some of you have said, the information you gain from feeling the bottom is awesome! Oh yeah, I like the leader on this to be a minimum 3', up to 5'. This way I can work the weight fast and when I contact structure or snags I slow down and the lure is in the right position for the strike...This is the heavy C-rig for me.

If you want to know about the light C-rig...I can tell you more. I just don't want to over stay my welcome here, just let me know if you want more.
TY
Dan