Omar Khalid
Soft plastic lizards are a classic bait for bass fishing. They are known for their natural look and subtle yet eye-catching movements. While they may not be as flashy as some newer creature baits, they are extremely effective in attracting bites. In this discussion, we will explore the different ways to rig a plastic lizard, including the traditional Texas and Carolina rigs, as well as some alternative methods, to help you make the most of this versatile lure.
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What You'll Learn
Texas rig
To Texas rig a soft-plastic lizard, first, select a soft-plastic lizard lure. Some lures have a top and bottom, which you can determine by looking for a flat side—the flat side is the bottom. Next, insert the point of the hook into the centre of the tip of the lizard and bring the point out the bottom of the lizard about one-quarter of an inch from the tip. Continue pushing the hook through this section of the lizard until you can safely grab the hook shank. Then, hold the hook shank and pull the hook through the tip of the lizard until the eye of the hook rests just inside the tip.
When rigging the hook, make sure to keep the lizard straight so that the hook goes back into the same side of the lizard that it came out of. Push the point all the way through the lizard, then push up on the lizard slightly so you can slip the point of the hook just under the surface of the plastic. Once the point is hidden beneath the surface, the Texas rig is called "weedless" or "skin-hooked". Rigged like this, the lizard will slip through weeds without getting snagged, but it is still easy to set the hook.
You can also add a bullet sinker to your Texas rig. Slip a bullet sinker, preferably made from something other than lead (like brass or ceramic), onto your line by inserting the line into the pointed end of the sinker. You can vary the size of the lizard and the weight of the sinker to change the rate of fall, and you can fish it as slowly or as quickly as you want.
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Carolina rig
The Carolina rig is a popular and effective method for rigging a plastic lizard lure. It is a simple yet versatile setup that can help you catch fish in various conditions, especially when bites are tricky. Here's a detailed guide on how to rig a plastic lizard using the Carolina rig:
Components and Setup:
The Carolina rig consists of a weight, a bead, a barrel swivel, a leader, and an offset hook. The weight can be a bullet, egg, or barrel weight, depending on the cover. Start by threading your mainline through the weight, followed by a plastic or glass bead. Then, tie your mainline to one end of the barrel swivel using a strong fishing knot, such as an improved clinch knot.
Adding the Leader and Hook:
Take 16-18 inches of leader material and tie it securely to the other end of the swivel using another strong fishing knot. Ensure the connection is sturdy as this will bear the weight of your lure and any potential catches. Finally, tie the other end of the leader to your hook of choice. You can use an offset worm hook or an EWG (Extra Wide Gap) hook, depending on your preference.
Rigging the Lizard:
Now, it's time to add the lizard lure. Thread the plastic lizard onto the hook in a weedless fashion. Smaller lizard lures, such as 4 or 6-inch sizes, are ideal for the Carolina rig as they offer a subtle presentation and can stimulate finicky bass into biting. The lizard lure should be rigged in a way that mimics a lizard chasing after something small along the bottom. This unique presentation creates a distinctive "clacking" noise produced by the bead and weight colliding.
Tips and Tricks:
The Carolina rig is effective year-round and can be used beyond summertime deep-water fishing. It is particularly useful when fishing in spacious lakes, as it allows you to target pre- or post-spawn fish since not all bass spawn at the same time. Additionally, the Carolina rig helps you reach fish that are farther out, where they are more likely to bite. While casting the Carolina rig can be challenging and may require practice, it is an excellent tool for bass fishing, especially when paired with plastic lizard lures.
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Weedless on a shaky head
A soft plastic lizard is an effective bait that has been used for decades. Its four tiny legs flap along, while a ribbon tail softly waves at the rear, creating an eye-catching action. You can rig a plastic lizard in several ways, including Texas-rigged or Carolina-rigged.
One way to rig a plastic lizard is weedless on a shaky head. The shaky head rig is a great all-around bait that produces bites even on zero-bite days. It is a good bait to tie on to a child's line to help them catch their first bass. When using a shaky head rig, you should fish it on the bottom, imitating a foraging bait fish. You can use a shaky jig head of 3/16 oz. or lighter, and in a variety of colors, such as green pumpkin or black. For the soft plastic, a 4-inch green pumpkin and watermelon senko or a natural shad color are good options.
When rigging a lizard weedless on a shaky head, you can fish a 4-inch lizard in and around brush piles, laydowns, and other wood cover. A 4-inch lizard is more realistic in matching the hatch than a bigger one, and you will often get more bites with a smaller lizard.
The "Weedless Wonder" shaky head has a unique patented design with a hidden eye that assures fewer hang-ups. This allows you to pitch it into a brush pile without getting hung up.
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Colours and presentation
When it comes to colours and presentation, there are a few things to consider when rigging a plastic lizard. Firstly, the colour of the lizard lure can impact its effectiveness in attracting bass. Natural colours like watermelon are often preferred, with some lures featuring a frog colour on top with dark specs and a white or silvery belly. Two-toned lures, such as those with watermelon on top and silver on the bottom, can also be effective. The Zoom Lizard, for example, offers a colour called "baby bass" that combines these colours.
The size and presentation of the lizard lure also matter. Lizard lures come in various sizes, from 4-inch to 6-inch lengths. Smaller lizards, such as the YUM Finesse Lizard, can be more realistic and effective in getting bites, especially when fishing in areas with thicker vegetation or brushy cover. Larger lizards, on the other hand, can be more visible to fish and are suitable for heavier-weighted rigs.
The way you rig the lizard lure also affects its presentation. The Texas Rig is one of the most popular methods for rigging plastic lizards and can be configured in multiple ways. It allows the lizard to penetrate cover areas without getting buried in grass or mud, and you can shake it on the bottom, drop it vertically around edges, or drag it across. The Carolina Rig is another effective method, creating a unique presentation with a free-moving bait and a distinctive "clacking" noise produced by the bead and weight colliding. This rig is ideal for pre-spawn bass and summer fishing in deeper water.
Additionally, the action of the lizard lure in the water is an important aspect of its presentation. The legs and tail of the lizard create resistance in the water, causing it to sink slowly and resulting in a realistic look that attracts bass. The curly legs and tail ripple in the water, creating eye-catching movement that entices bass to bite.
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Retrieval speed
The retrieval speed of your plastic lizard lure will depend on the rig you use. Texas Rigs are the most popular and widely used for soft plastic baits. They can be configured in several ways and are weedless, meaning they won't get caught in the grass or mud. A light Texas Rig will allow your lizard to penetrate cover areas with a slow to moderate drop speed. You can shake it on the bottom, drop it vertically around edges, or drag it across the bottom.
Carolina Rigs are another option and are great for pre-spawn bass before they move to shallow water. You can use a light weight in spring when bass are shallow, and a heavier weight in summer when they are in deeper water. This setup works well on deeper shell beds, ledges, and humps during the summer.
Another factor that will affect retrieval speed is the size of your lizard. A 4-inch lizard is more realistic and will get more bites than a larger one. You can also try downsizing to a 4-inch or even smaller lizard on a jighead if you're having trouble getting bites.
The type of rod and line you use will also impact retrieval speed. A longer rod, such as a 7-foot medium-heavy rod, will allow for more accurate pitches. A fluorocarbon line excels in close quarters, while a heavier line will give you more control when retrieving your lure.
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Frequently asked questions
Texas-rigging soft plastic lizards is a classic and effective method. It is versatile and can be used by anglers of any skill level. You can cast it, pitch it, flip it, and drag it around wood, rock, grass, and docks.
You can fish a 4-inch lizard in and around brushpiles, laydowns, and other wood cover. Lizards are good for fishing in the spring and early summer, and they work best when the sun is high and bright and penetrating deep in the water.
Natural colors like watermelon tend to work well. Colors such as junebug, moccasin blue, watermelon seed, or watermelon chartreuse are also good options.
