Carolina Rig 101

[EBass]

This forum seems to be a bit slower than normal. Let's see if we can get some info sharing on Carolina Rigs. (And I want some more tactics for outside weededge bass)

I like to use a (depending on wind and how deep I want to target) a 1/4 - 3/8 oz Lindy rattle no snagg sinker with a bead, swivel and about 12-24" leader (mono) with a 2/0-3/0 wide gap offset off (gami's) with a super fluke.

I try to keep a 45 degree angle to limit snags and keep watch my vex to stay on the weededge. (Water clarity will dictate how close I am to the weedline) I just drag it along and pop it free from the weeds. Is this a good tatic? Any of you tourney guys have something to share? Heck anyone?

Just wondering,
Thanks EBass

[Wayne Ek]

E-bass, I've probably used my C-rig less this year than any other time. When I do use it I fish it on braid with a fluorocarbon leader. I've been using the 1/2 oz. rattling gambler weights and still use a glass bead. I've had good luck with the HP hooks, especially when fishing a deep water cabbage edge. I usually start out with a lake fork ring fry and smelly jelly.

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Wayne
Agape Fishing Guides
www.agapefishingguides.com

[Deitz Dittrich]

I myself dont Carolina Rig.. I do a modified rig that myself and friends call the "Stupid Rig"... Primarily a Bull Shot crimp on bullet weight. Most often times a 1/4 oz or lighter sinker. No bead, no swivel...Just the crimp on weight... about a 8-10" leader is all. And often times a fry type or large flipping tube as the buisness end of the rig. I fish it much like people do a carolina rig, but slower.

I will often keep my boat at least 15 feet off the weedline as that is where the biggest fish seem to be.. if you keep your lure on the weed edge you are missing those fish.

best of luck!

[This message has been edited by Exudedude (edited 09-15-2004).]

[EBass]

Thanks fellas, this is what I was looking for. So 15ft off the weedline? Hmm, I will give that a try next time.

[BDR]

For carolina rigs I like to use a 1/4- 3/8 bullet. I use a bobber stop as a sinker stop then I can instantly change the length. No swivel or snap.

I am not a hard core Bass guy but I have some sucess with that set up.

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Brian Rogers

Iceleaders
JR's Tackle
Catch-N Tackle and Bio-Bait

[email protected]

[Ray Esboldt]

Carolina Rigs are awesome rigs. You can really do some deep water, outside the weedline probing and stick some fish while you're at it. But, I almost never use them.

Too lazy to tie them up.

I use 5/8 to 3/4oz Roller jigs. I am actually not too lazy to setup a C-Rig. I just catch more fish on a Roller jig.

Now, heavy Rollers and heavily weighted C-Rigs are really only effective on very hard bottom. And, only one factor prevents them from being effective everywhere, decaying weed garbage. If anyone can tell me how to avoid that stuff (other than fishing with a lighter weight), they can babysit my kids while I take the wife fishing. I'd use these baits everywhere deeper than 12 feet, all the time, if I could get away with it. This time of year in particular.

The plastics I like on a Roller...well they're not really secret baits. But, I really don't like coughing it up. OK, one of them is a French Fry type worm like Exude mentioned. The other's going to stay off the record.

When I do get into the garbage on the bottom stuff, I like dragging a 3/4oz. skirted jig with a Zoom chunk or a Catch-N Tackle Kick-N Craw. Again, late summer into early fall is the time for this rig. And, I drag it. I don't lift it, except to rip it off a weed, I just plow it along the bottom.

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Ray Esboldt

Catch-N Tackle
MarCum
Stone Legacy

[Clay.P]

On my rigs I usually use a 20 XT mainline and a 12 lb leader at least 3-4 ft long. I use a 3/4 oz. weight exclusively with two beads and a swivel. I like to keep the boat a foot or two inside the weedline and cast out to deeper water at a 45 degree angle. I can get a good portion of the clean bottom outside the weedlines, where Exudedude is talking about, and then I can drag the rig into the weedline during frontal conditions when the fish hunker down. On mainlake points I sit further into the weeds and make long fan casts around the point. I get good contact both on the outside area where you will find rock and on the weedline.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ebass- sometimes even more.. it depends on why the weedline ended... if the weed line ended because of it just getting to deep.. yes I hang off at least 15 feet.. but many times its something else, ie sand or rock... then I may go even further off the weedline. An Aqua-Vu is a great tool when learning how to carolina rig! Knowing what your hitting and if fish are there can really help your confidence!

[EBass]

Man, if I had an Aquau-view I'd catch way more fish. Or watch them on TV all day long. Listen to the vikes on the radio and watch fish on TV....hmmm

I like the all the different options that everyone is contributing - this is great! I'm taking notes. Plus we need to give the server a workout once in a while.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Ebass-yes you do waste some time looking at fish on the Vu.. its a blast for sure... but knowing that what you are fishing for is bass and not walleye or pike on a weed edge is very valuable also...

ON A SIDE NOTE.. the carlina/stupid rig.. is not just a deep water technique... I have done quite well in shallow water with it as well.

[Dan Wood]

Good topic EBass!

Exude - sounds like a split shot rig with a bull-shot I like to use that rig for shallower water too.

I use a set-up similar to Agape for Carolina rigging - braid with a fluorocarbon leader. 18-36" leader. The braid gives you the sensitivity and the fluoro leader is nearly invisible.. I typically use a heavy weight to bang the rocks and make some noise, and it allows you to cover water quicker on the deeper edges. It also gives you a chance to feel what is all down there (this can be worth carolina rigging itself even if you don't catch a thing, you will find structure using this method). I use 3/8 and 1/2 oz. normally. I don't find the heavy weight to be a hinderance at all with carolina rigging, since it sits on the bottom and the fish doesn't feel it.

Magic Stiks and Hellgramites are my go-to Carolina rig baits. This is an excellent technique as noted for deeper weed edges and humps.

http://tjtackle.com

I've also had good luck with the Catch-n.com Kick'N craws carolina rigged. This isn't a typical carolina rigged bait, but it has great action with very little motion, making it a great bait to work using this technique (especially when your fishing rocks). The 3" can be deadly in waters that crawfish are present.

http://www.catch-n.com/plastics.html

[EBass]

I had more action using a C-rig on a rocky sunken hump (Medicine Lake) than I did on the outer weededge. (West end Tonka) I've only tried this 2-3 times this year, but I didn't mix it up much.

Dan I like that Kickncraw. I like the rings it has. Kinda like the ringworm but not. I do like the catchngrubs to. Dennis Steele schooled us and the white bass on the MN river in spring.

Thanks Sami, I think a lot of it has to do with confidence and just using that method more often than not to gain that confidence. I didn't really like jig n grubs much at all until Tonka Boy schooled (well Dennis to)on the rivers in the spring. Now I use it on lakes to and rivers all the time. Of course my allocated spinnerbait time has decreased.

My buddy got mad at me a few weeks ago because, "All you fish for are bass." I laughed because I didn't want to troll for pike. Bass fishing has so many more methods or presentations than any other fish. In my mind, they are the best fish to chase.

WHERE's GRANNY? I think he C-rigs M-80s!

[Superduty]

I agree with Exudedude about the Aquaview. Can be great confidence builders to see the real bottom content and even if fish are present. I recommend using any of the various brands of tungsten weights when c-rigging. These harder sinkers transmit more info about bottom content than any sinkers I have ever used. Don't use these sinkers with glass beads because the tungsten will break the glass. Use either 2 tungsten sinkers or add a brass clacker for sound. You will know when you have found rock with a tungsten weight. I use 20 lb main line with 15 lb leader most of the time. I like mono over flourocarbon for a leader because flourocarbon sinks.

[sami0115]

this is a good topic! i have tried Carolina riggin' a little this summer but have had no success at all. i plan to expirament a little more with it next year. i assume most people are using it as a summer pattern? that's what i have been doing. i work it along the outside edge of cabbage while fishing some of the clear water northern lakes. i have been using the "super plastics" because of the floatation qualities. it does help keep it out of the weeds. i'd love to hear some more conversation regarding this topic!

andy