Fishing A Texas Rig:

This is one of the most versatile rigs for fishing. The rig consists of a bullet weight, sometimes a small glass bead, and a hook. You can fish almost any style soft plastic lure on a Texas rig but a worm or lizard is the most common. You can fish a Texas rig over any kind of structure, through weeds and grass, and at any depth you want. You can use any size bait and the sinker weight can vary to control the rate of fall, and you can fish it at any speed.

Your gear should consist of a medium-heavy rod about 6’ -6” to 7’ long with a moderately stiff tip. You can use any spinning or baitcasting reel but a faster gear ratio is recommended. All though the hook tip is buried into the body of the bait, hang ups are the biggest problem with a Texas rig so you should use a 14lb to 20lb test line.

Texas Rig Set Up

For exciting top water fishing, try fishing a floating soft plastic lure rigged Texas style but without the sinker or Wacky style with the hook through the center of the worm and the point left exposed.

Fishing a Carolina Rig:

A Carolina rig consists of a slip sinker, swivel, bead and leader with a hook rigged Texas style to a soft plastic lure. The Carolina rig is fished by dragging or twitching the sinker along the bottom but unlike a Texas rig, the leader attached to a swivel allows the lure to swim or “float” off the bottom above the weight. The bead makes a “clicking” sound as it makes contact with the sinker that helps to attract fish.

Again you want to use medium to heavy action gear with 16lb to 20lb test line. Use a lighter line for a leader. The lighter line will allow you to break off easier if you get hung up and you will not lose your rig. Just replace the leader line and hook and you are back to fishing. This rig is to be fished slow keeping the weight in contact with the bottom and the length of the leader will determine the swimming depth of the lure.

Carolina Rig Set Up

Fishing a Drop Shot Rig:

A Drop shot rig is simply a hook attached up on the line for a desired depth and the sinker tied to the bottom. This rig has been around for many years but recently has become very popular with Bass fisherman.

This rig is best when fished with light action gear such as a 6 foot spinning rod with 6lb – 8lb test line. Present this rig vertically with the weight on the bottom for suspended fish.

Drop Shot Rig Set Up

A good technique for fishing soft plastic lures is the art of Pitching or Flipping. This involves fishing in heavy cover so using a Texas rigged soft plastic lure with the sinker pegged to the head of the bait is recommended to avoid hang ups. When flipping, you want to get as close to the fish as possible. With the rod tip elevated, flip your bait a short distance allowing the lure to enter the water with little or no splash to avoid spooking the fish. Let the bait settle to the bottom and then work the bait up and down vertically through the cover. Pitching is just a long distance flip or underhand cast. This is great for fishing in shallow water where the fish are easily spooked.