Ethan Clarke
Rigging plastic baits for bass is a popular topic among anglers, with many interpretations and uses of rigs. The Texas rig is a foundation setup used in different configurations, such as the Carolina rig, drop shot rig, and shaky rig. The Carolina rig, which originated in South Carolina, gained popularity after Jim Nolan used it to win the Bass Master competition in 1991. This rig differs from the Texas rig by having the weight set over the hook rather than sliding down to it. Anglers should use floating bait with this rig and avoid heavy thick weed beds, as the dragging technique can get tangled. The Donkey rig (Double Fluke rig) and the Umbrella rig are more complex setups, with the former employing two hooks, two soft plastic jerkbaits, and two swivels. Soft plastic crawfish lures are also versatile and effective for catching bass, with various rigging techniques available.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rig type | Texas, Carolina, Drop Shot, Donkey (Double Fluke), Umbrella, Ned, Wacky, Neko, Free, Shaky |
| Bait | Worms, crawfish, lizards, creatures, tubes, stickbaits, tails, craws, trailers, toads, beavers, jigheads |
| Bait characteristics | Floating, small, soft, plastic, curly tail, craw, creature, colourful, detailed, realistic |
| Rigging technique | Slide bait onto hook, tie hook onto line, nose hooking, wacky rigging |
| Fishing technique | Vertical fishing, dragging weight along the bottom, casting out and reeling |
| Fishing location | Small waters, creeks, spawning bass areas, clear water, deep water, open water |
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The Texas Rig
Firstly, attach a float stopper to your fluorocarbon leader. The float stopper will determine how far the inline bullet sinker can move up the line. It is recommended to place the float stopper about 10 inches from the hook for a free-running rig. This free-flowing sinker helps the fish pick up the bait without feeling its weight, making it ideal for hesitant or sluggish fish.
Next, take the point of the hook and insert it down through the middle of the worm at its nose, exiting about 1/8 to 1/4 inch down the side. Pull the hook out through this new exit hole and then bring the worm over the elbow of the offset hook or the keeper on a straight shank hook. Twist the hook so that the point faces back towards the worm and the eye of the hook is at the nose.
Lay the hook next to the worm and identify where the bend meets the worm. Kink the worm at this point and push the hook into the worm until it is straight on the hook and the point is covered. Offset worm hooks or EWG hooks are commonly used for Texas rigging. Match the hook size to the size of your bait—if you're using a thin worm, a worm hook is ideal, while an EWG hook is better suited for larger soft plastic lures.
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The Carolina Rig
To set up a Carolina Rig, you will need a strong, abrasion-resistant mainline, a short and light leader line, a weight, a swivel, a bead, and a hook. The mainline should be a strong, abrasion-resistant line as you will be dragging the rig along the bottom. The leader line should be a short, light piece of fluorocarbon or monofilament line, allowing the lure to disconnect from the weight and move freely. The weight can be a bullet or egg sinker, ranging from 1/2 to 1 ounce, depending on the depth and fishing conditions. The bead should be small and plastic or magnetic, placed between the weight and the swivel to protect the knot and add clicking attraction. The swivel can be a barrel swivel or a Carolina Keeper, which is a small cylinder with a slit in the centre that you squeeze open with pliers to allow the line to pass through. The hook should be a wide gap offset worm hook, with a size of at least 3/0.
When fishing with a Carolina Rig, it is important to use floating bait. You can use plastics that mimic the type of bait that would be on the bottom of the water you're fishing. Popular choices include lizards, worms, crawfish, and other creature baits. You can also experiment with leader lengths to control the bait's movement. Longer leaders can give the bait more freedom of movement and attract more fish, while shorter leaders provide more control.
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The Drop Shot Rig
To rig a Drop Shot setup, start by tying your hook onto the line, ensuring the hook-point side of the eye is facing up. Leave a long tag end, approximately 10 to 24 inches, depending on how high you want your bait to be off the bottom. Secure the knot, then thread the tag end back through the hook eye. Pulling on the tag end and mainline simultaneously should make your hook stand straight out.
Next, you can nose hook a soft plastic bait onto the hook or rig it weedless. Popular soft plastic baits include robo worms, senko's, and Jackall Crosstail Shad. The bait selection is endless, allowing you to imitate what the bass are feeding on. Just ensure that your hook point faces up when you pull your line tight.
Finally, finish the Drop Shot Rig by adding a drop shot weight to the bottom of your tag end. You can use specific drop shot weights designed to clip onto your line, with slender weights being a good option to prevent snagging on the bottom. Generally, using the lightest weight possible while still feeling the lure and bottom is recommended for a more natural presentation.
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The Ned Rig
When choosing a rod for the Ned Rig, a light-medium or medium spinning rod with a fast action tip is recommended. The rod length should be in the 6.5' to 7' range, providing a good balance between casting distance and manoeuvrability. A purpose-built spinning rod for Ned Rig bass fishing, such as the Lews Mach Ned Rig spinning rod, is also an option.
The reel is primarily used for picking up the slack line and reeling in fish. A moderately priced reel from a reputable brand will suffice. A reel size of 2000 or 2500 is preferable, and a gear ratio of around 6.0:1 is ideal for slowly retrieving the rig while providing enough speed to fight a fish.
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The Wacky Rig
To set up the rig, you can use an o-ring and your favourite soft stick bait. Use a tool to get the o-ring onto the worm, such as spreader pliers or a cylinder tube. You can also use big split rings, but these will cut through the worm more quickly. The Wacky Rig Tool and Crossover Pliers by VMC are recommended. The rig can be fished weightless, or you can add a nail or Neko weight to the nose of the soft plastic, with the hook point facing up and away from it. This creates a snagless rig with a vertical orientation, perfect for fishing along the bottom.
When fishing with the Wacky Rig, cast it into the target area and leave some slack in the line. This allows the fish to take it and run without feeling any line tension. When a fish takes the bait, lower your rod tip and reel in any remaining slack, then yank the rod in the opposite direction to the fish's movement. This ensures the hook is pulled back into the side of the fish's mouth and not towards the front, where it could pop out.
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Frequently asked questions
Some popular rigs for plastic baits include the Texas rig, the Carolina rig, the drop shot rig, the Donkey rig, the Umbrella rig, the Ned rig, the Wacky rig, the Neko rig, and the Free rig.
To rig a plastic worm, you can use a shaky head hook and insert the hook point into the head of the worm, then back out about a 1/4 of an inch below the head. Then, slide the hook through the worm and rotate it so the head sits in the offset shank. Finally, push the hook point back through the body of the worm, leaving the hook point just below the surface of the plastic.
Plastic crawfish baits are versatile and can be used in small or large sizes depending on the fishing conditions. You can add detail to the crawfish by dying the tips of the claws or using ink pens. When fishing with a crawfish bait, it is important to use a jighead that is heavy enough for the water conditions.
The Texas rig is a foundation rig that can be used with various types of soft plastic baits. When using a Texas rig, it is important to use a weight that is heavy enough for the water conditions. The weight should be placed over the hook, rather than sliding down to it.
