Nov
05
How can I maximize my Carolina Rig fishing efficiency?
Filed Under (Fishing) by swapquot on 05-11-2009
Tagged Under : Efficiency, Fish, Fishing Bait, Trial And Error, Variables, Worm
Dane Cruz asked:
I have never actually had anyone show me how to properly fish the Carolina Rig. It’s been trial and error for me, well honestly just error! Is there a key to fishing the rig? Like worm fishing, do you want to “slow down” a bit, or does it depend on certain variables? Is it good for deep and shallow water fishing? Does the bait have to be something that’s at least 4 inches? Thanks!
I have never actually had anyone show me how to properly fish the Carolina Rig. It’s been trial and error for me, well honestly just error! Is there a key to fishing the rig? Like worm fishing, do you want to “slow down” a bit, or does it depend on certain variables? Is it good for deep and shallow water fishing? Does the bait have to be something that’s at least 4 inches? Thanks!
#1. Get the highest “Floating” worm you can find. A “real” floating worm (a worm that can float a 2-3/0 hook) works VERY well on a C-rigg.
#2. Use various retrieves to determine the Bass “attitude”; fast, slow, medium, Etc.(The same way you would for a Texas-rigged worm.) However, Carolina riggs are designed to fish slooooooooooowwwww.
#3. The clearer the water and “spookier” the Bass, the longer the leader. I’ve seen people using up to a 2 1/2-4 FT leader!
#4. BRASS & GLASS beads! Brass and glass beads mixed together are excellent for C-riggs!
#5. Depths of 8-15 FT are perfect for C-riggin’. Use a Carolina Rig when you want to fish long ,deep ,tapering, points and the edges of deepwater weedbeds.
Hope this helps ya bro?
UPDATE: Cool! I got a fan! (lol) Thanks for the vote of confidence Help1 but I think Golden added many more helpful tips & links than I did. I just “scratched the surface”. Thumbs up to Golden!
Well Dan lets see if I can hit the high points and not write a book or get you all confused. LMAO
1-Carolina Rigs (CR) can be used in water from 10 – 45 ft. or should say I have used them this way.
2-Minimum weight I use is 1/2 oz and have used as much as 1 oz. depends on the depth you are fishing.
My rule of thumb is 10 – 20ft 1/2 oz, 20-30ft 3/4 oz, deeper than that and its 1 oz.
3- I determine how long my leader will be by looking at my graph (fish finder) and seeing how far off the bottom the fish are holding, or if they are right on the bottom.
The farther off the bottom the longer the leader you want up to 3 ft long, any longer and you might get all tangled up when you make your cast. NEVER make you leader stronger than you main line..PERIOD, enough said on that.
4- I never use any bait smaller than 6″. You can use a worm, creature bait, tube, and even a fluke.(soft plastic jerk bait)
I do know guys that down size their CR’s and use 6″ straight finesse worms using a 3/8 oz weight.
5- If there are grass beds in the lakes you fish, take a CR and throw it IN the grass then rip it out of the grass, when it breaks out and the bass see it, hang on….good idea to see bass on graph first tho LOL
6- Locations; Long tapering points that meet the channel, off shore humps, channel breaks or any where where there is a drop off.
Throw you CR past the break let it contact the bottom. OK what I am going to tell you now is where most people mess up. DO NOT pull the CR with the rod vertical like you would a Texas rigged worm. Hold the rod off to the side and make short sweeps, by having the rod to the side gives you way more sweeping motion to set the hook instead of trying to do it over your head.
Could go on but with this and what others will tell you hope you can get better at it. It takes time to learn the difference between the weight hitting a rock, stump, etc. and a strike, witch sometimes can just feel like resistance..
Good Luck and nice to see a good question for a change…:))
Don’t much care about the points either, just hope I was able to help you out some with the little amount of info we can put on here.
Will see if I can find some links about CR for ya.
Here ya go, hope these help!
pick stop makin sence as a best answer.
hes really nice