Maya Ellison
Soft plastic baits are a popular choice for fishing enthusiasts, and there are several ways to rig them to maximise your chances of catching fish. The basic setup includes a weight, a hook, and a soft plastic lure, but there are variations in how these components are put together, and there are more complex setups that use multiple hooks and swivels. The weight you use will depend on the depth of the water, the current, wind, and the mood of the fish. In this article, we will cover the most popular soft plastic rigs and how to rig them.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rig type | Texas rig, Carolina rig, Drop shot rig, Shaky rig, Wacky rig, Neko rig, Free rig, Tokyo rig, Donkey rig, Umbrella rig |
| Rigging technique | Insert hook into the nose of the worm, circle it down and out of the belly, slide the worm up the shank of the hook, push the point into the belly angling towards the nose, ensure the hook is hidden within the bait |
| Weight | The deeper the water, the heavier the weight; the heavier the cover/foliage, the heavier the weight; on a windy day or with a current, use a weight to get the bait to the bottom |
| Knot type | Palomar knot, Trilene knot |
| Line type | Lighter line for Drop Shot rig |
| Hook type | Small hook, Finesse wide gap, Open bend hook, Octopus style, Straight shank hook, Round bend, EWG |
| Hook size | Between 2 to 2/0, commonly 2 or 1 |
| Bait type | Soft plastic, worms, creatures, tubes, stickbaits, tails, craws, trailers, toads, beavers, lizards, trick worms |
| Retrieval technique | Slow and steady retrieve, shake the rod tip while lifting the bait to simulate a dying bait fish |
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What You'll Learn
Texas rig
To get started with Texas rigging, you will need a medium to medium-heavy rod that is around 6 1/2 to 7 feet in length. A longer rod will help you take up slack quickly on the hookset. For the line, consider using fluorocarbon in the range of 12 to 20 pounds, depending on the water conditions and the desired presentation. If you are fishing in clear water or fishing out deep, you may use a lighter line, such as 12-pound fluorocarbon, to get the worm down quicker and achieve a more natural presentation. On the other hand, when fishing in heavy cover, you may want to upgrade to a heavier line, such as 25-pound fluorocarbon, to handle the extra resistance. Additionally, consider using a high-speed baitcast reel with a gear ratio of 7.1:1 or higher.
The key components of a Texas rig include a bullet-shaped sinker or slip sinker, a pegging device, and a hook. The sinker helps to weigh down the rig, allowing it to reach the desired depth or cover. The pegging device secures the sinker in place, preventing it from sliding up the line. As for the hook, offset worm hooks or EWG (Extra Wide Gap) hooks are commonly used for Texas rigging. Offset worm hooks feature a 90-degree elbow that is designed specifically for this rigging style. EWG hooks are recommended when using larger soft plastic lures, as they provide a wider gap to accommodate the extra material.
When rigging the soft plastic bait onto the hook, start by inserting the hook point into the nose or top of the bait. Push it in about a half inch, then circle it down and out of the "belly" of the bait. Slide the bait up the shank of the hook and twist it, so the hook's point faces the lure. Then, insert the hook at a right angle into the lure, driving the hook point through the body. Finally, push the hook point just underneath the plastic surface to create a weedless presentation, which helps the rig move smoothly through the water without getting caught on vegetation or other obstacles.
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Carolina rig
The Carolina rig is a popular choice for fishing in deep clear water. It is also used to cover a lot of water in the spring and summer. The Carolina rig is similar to the Texas rig in how the plastic bait is rigged onto the hook, but the Carolina rig requires a weight. The weight is always positioned somewhere on the leader, between 3 and 18 inches above the hook and plastic. The weight can be as heavy as 2 ounces without reducing the bait action, making it perfect for deep-water fishing.
To set up a Carolina rig, you will need a mainline, a weight, a bead, a swivel, a leader, and a hook. The mainline should be strong and abrasion-resistant, as the rig will be dragged along the bottom. The weight can be egg, bullet, or cylindrical-shaped, and should be slid onto the mainline. Next, add the bead and tie the swivel to the end of the mainline. The leader should be a short, light piece of fluorocarbon or monofilament line, and is tied to the swivel. Finally, tie the hook to the end of the leader. The hook should be big enough to accommodate the size of the plastic bait.
When fishing with a Carolina rig, start by picking the area you want to fish and make a series of fan casts. Use a long rod to account for the added leader length, and make a long cast so that the weight pulls the rig to the bottom. Once it's on the bottom, pull the rig along with a slow, sweeping action. You can also jig the bait with slight twitches of the rod tip to make the lure zip upward and then flutter back down.
The Carolina rig is a great way to present a soft plastic lure to the fish in a natural way. The weight stirs up silt and makes noise, drawing attention, while the lure swims behind it. This rig can be used to fish over all kinds of bottoms, including sandy, rocky, or weedy areas.
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Drop shot rig
The Drop Shot rig is a versatile setup that gently presents soft plastic lures to mimic a live baitfish hovering near the cover. It is particularly effective for fishing bass as it keeps the bait stationary at the bass' eye level, giving the bass plenty of time to bite.
To set up a Drop Shot rig, you will need a hook, a soft plastic bait, and a weight (also known as a sinker). The hook size should generally be between 2 to 2/0, with the most commonly used sizes being 1 or 2. You can use a range of soft plastic baits, such as worms, creatures, tubes, tails, craws, or lizards. The weight can be a traditional bass sinker or a specially designed drop-shot weight, which is moulded with a swivel for a line tie.
To rig the Drop Shot, tie a Palomar knot to the hook, leaving a long tag end of 15-20 inches. Ensure that the hook point is facing up when you pull the line tight. Thread the line through the hook's eye from the same side as its point, so it curves upward when the knot is drawn tight. Add the sinker to the tag end, anywhere from 6 inches to 2 feet or more below the hook, depending on how far off the bottom you want the bait to be.
When fishing with a Drop Shot rig, keep the weight in one spot for as long as possible before moving it to another spot. This technique allows the soft plastic bait to have more action while it suspends off the bottom, creating an enticing presentation for the fish. The Drop Shot rig is especially useful when fishing in deep water or in areas with vegetation, as it allows you to get your bait down to the bottom quickly and keep it in one place.
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Wacky rig
To set up a wacky rig, you can use a TK137 Pro-V Finesse Hook or a wacky worm hook, which is specifically designed for wacky worm rigging, although these tend to be larger sizes meant for bass. For smaller lures, such as trout worms, a mosquito hook or a small jig head can be used. The hook should be pierced through the middle of the bait, letting it hang between the gap in the hook, with the point of the hook exposed. Alternatively, Finesse wide gap or Octopus hooks can be used. O-rings can also be used with wacky rigs to help preserve the plastic bait and get more fish per bait.
When casting a wacky rig, it is important to let it fall on a semi-slack line. This allows you to see the bites translate through the line, which are sometimes indicated by a subtle tick. After a few casts, you will find the perfect semi-slack bow in your line that will not change the free fall of the bait but is tight enough to signal a bite. The wacky rig is especially effective when worked around the edges of structures and cover.
The Mizmo Diamond Darter is a wacky-rigged fluke that creates a bizarre shimmy action, similar to a crawfish skittering away from a predator. The Whiskey River Tube is another example of a tube that can be wacky rigged, creating a corkscrew action on the fall.
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Donkey rig
The donkey rig, also known as the double fluke rig, is a versatile and effective setup for bass fishing. It is also considered the most fun way to catch bass in cold water. This setup uses two hooks, two soft plastic jerkbaits, and two swivels. The donkey rig does not use any weights.
To rig a donkey rig, you will need two hooks, a leader line, and your choice of soft plastic baits. Start by rigging a soft-plastic fishing bait on a hook. Cut off about 10 inches of the fishing line after tying your first hook. Connect the end of the line to a small barrel swivel with your fishing knot of choice. Run your main line without a hook through the opposite end of the barrel swivel. Connect the end of your main line to a second barrel swivel with the knot of your choice. Tie about eight inches of line to the bottom of the second barrel swivel. Tie your second hook to the main line and rig another soft plastic bait on the hook. The top swivel should rest on the bottom swivel, and the line connected to the top barrel swivel should be longer than the other to prevent tangles. When rigged properly, the top swivel freely glides on the main line of the donkey rig.
When fishing with a donkey rig, cast it near cover, structure, open water, or other likely bass-holding areas. Allow the rig to sink to the desired depth, keeping an eye on your line for subtle bites or movements. Once the rig has reached the desired depth, start by using a slow, steady retrieve to impart action to the soft plastic baits. Experiment with different retrieval speeds, pauses, and jerks to entice strikes from bass. If one bait sinks and the other floats, the erratic action will be amplified. Try choosing lifelike shad colours to skip the rig under docks, where bass are feeding on schools of baitfish. When bass are feeding at the surface, mix up your twitch/twitch/pause cadence until you start to produce bites. If bass are suspended and schooling, fish the Donkey Rig like a regular jerkbait, mixing up your twitches and pauses, but allowing it to sink a few feet and working it back beneath the surface.
Pay attention to changes in water temperature, wind direction, or other environmental factors that may affect bass behaviour. Be patient and persistent, as bass may be attracted to one bait over the other or prefer a specific presentation style.
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Frequently asked questions
The basic components of a soft plastic bait rig are a weight, a hook, and a soft plastic lure.
A Texas rig is a foundation rig used in different setups, such as Carolina rig, drop shot rig, and shaky rig. It is a quick and easy setup that can be applied to most soft plastic baits.
To rig a plastic worm with a Texas rig, first, insert the hook point into the nose of the worm and push it in about 1/2 inch. Circle it down and out of the "belly" of the worm. Slide the worm up the shank of the hook and hold it against the tip to determine the exit point. Push the point into the belly again, angling towards the nose, ensuring the hook is hidden within the bait.
A Drop Shot rig is a hook followed by a leader line tied to a weight, with the goal of suspending the bait off the bottom. It is a versatile "finesse" soft plastic setup that can be used anywhere.
A Wacky rig is assembled using a simple straight shank hook and a trick worm, with the hook going perpendicular to the worm and the bait resting in the bend of the hook. It is one of the best bass rigs when fish are finicky and near the surface.
