Three Bass Rigs You Really Ought to Learn!
Three Bass Rigs You Really Ought to Learn! By Roger Lee Brown The Bass Coach
Many of today's anglers all too often seem to have
the enthusiasm to get themselves all sike’d up for that big day of
fishing the following day only to find themselves coming in at the end
of the day with only one or two bass caught. They will spend the day,
usually casting, re-rigging, running, loosing lures, etc., but most of
all getting frustrated because the fish aren't cooperating. "Sound Familiar?"
I, surly know this feeling and I'm sure that any angler reading this article
has had the same feeling at some point and time. Now, don't feel bad if
this does happen to you because you are definitely not alone, there are
probably millions of other anglers out there that this same problem happens
to! But, there are a few "Tricks of the Trade" that you can use to help
remedy this problem..... at least it works for me and many of my former
bass angling students and charter clients that I have taught in the past.
I found that on certain days when the bass don't seem
to cooperate, I usually will put my action baits away and pull out the
"Last Resort Rigs" which are the:
- TEXAS RIG
- CAROLINA RIG
- FLOATING RIG
These three rigs are probably the most successful
patterns for catching bass (Largemouth, Smallmouth, & Spotted Bass)
that an angler can use just about "Anywhere and at Anytime." Now, some
anglers may ask; "Why would I use all three of these rigs?" and the answer
is really quite simple. It's like using tools of the trade! A carpenter
wouldn't use a hammer to back out a screw, nor would he or she use a screw
driver to pound nails (Well, at least most of them wouldn't!....smile!....).
The same goes with bass fishing, an angler should have the right Tools-of-the-Trade
to do a specific job!
First, let's talk about the TEXAS RIG. This rig was
the first "Plastic Bait" rig that was used by most of the anglers when
the sport of bass fishing really got started over 25 years ago! It is
a simple rig to set up, and has produced more bass catches than any other
artificial baits ever used, even today!
To rig a Texas Rig you will need line, a hook and
a sinker.......That's It! First, you put your sinker (usually a "bullet
shaped slip sinker") onto the line with the smaller point of the weight
going on first or "facing up." Then tie your hook (usually an off-set
worm hook) to the end of the line after you put on the weight. Now you
are ready for your plastic baits (I always refer to artificial baits because
I haven't used live bait in many years) to be put on the hook.
This type of rig (Texas Rig) can be fished (or presented)
just about anywhere you will find bass, it has certain advantages and
disadvantages over the other two rigs that we will talk about, and I will
give a few examples after we rig up the Carolina Rig and the Floating
Rig.
So next, let's rig the CAROLINA RIG.... With this
rig you'll need line (main reel line), a barrel swivel, about 6' of leader
line, a weight, glass or brass bead or rattle chamber, and a hook. I know
this seems like a lot of stuff, but the results are incredible!
First, take your "Leader Line" (usually the same line
that is on your reel already, but I would suggest at least a 2 lb. test
lessor than your main line in case of a break-off..... Most of the time
by using a lighter leader line, when it breaks it will break off at the
leader line thus saving the other hardware on the rig) and tie one end
of it to one end of the barrel swivel and then put it aside for a moment.
Then, take your main line from your reel and first put on the weight (usually
anywhere from a 1/2 oz. up to a l oz. bullet or egg sinker). Next, after
the weight is on your main line, follow it with a rattle (rattle chamber,
glass or brass bead) and then tie the end of the main line to the other
end of the barrel swivel that you just put aside. After you tie to the
swivel, tie your hook at the other end of the leader line giving you a
2' to a 4' leader. Now, we're ready for the bait!
Next, let's rig the FLOATING RIG! This "Floating Rig"
can and will produce bass sometimes when all else fails...... It's quite
simple to rig and the results can be devastating! You will need a SMALL
Barrel Swivel and a Hook for this rig. First, take about 3' off of your
main line for a leader line. Tie one end of your leader line to one end
of the barrel swivel, then tie the other end of the barrel swivel to the
main reel line. With this rig you leave off the weight!........NO WEIGHT!!!!!.....
Then finally, you tie the hook (preferably a "Light Wire" worm hook) with
only allowing about a 1' leader for the leader line. The reason for no
weight and a light wire hook is to allow as much buoyancy as possible.
This rig is designed mostly for Floating Worms and buoyant plastic artificial
baits.
Now, let's say that you were to fish around "Rip-Rap"
(Rock Areas) around dams levees etc. You probably wouldn't use a Texas
Rig unless you put the lightest weight possible on it to keep it from
getting it wedged in the rocks. Nor would you use a Carolina Rig because
the heavier weight (1/2 oz. to 1.oz.) would most likely get hung up. So,
the rig that makes the most sense would be the "Floating Rig." This rig
will allow a slow presentation over the rock areas and the bass that may
be around the rocks will come up after it. Also, this kind of rig is used
better around branches, Lilly pads, thick surface vegetation etc.
Now, let's say that we are working a "Downward" slope
from about 3' depth to a 20' depth. The most sensible rig to use would
be to use the Carolina Rig because it will stay in contact with the bottom
contour and the deeper you work it, giving it line from your reel you
can get a better "Bottom Presentation." A Texas Rig can be used for this
also but the deeper you go with it the more it will lift off of the bottom.
Let's say that you were going to work some pockets around a Bull Rush
field. To accurately cast into the pockets a Texas Rig would be the most
preferred because with the weight of it you can make accurate casts. A
Floating Rig would also be recommended for this type of area as well.
Thick sloppy grass and vegetation areas, all three
would work, but the Carolina Rig has produced some quality bass in areas
like this over the other two rigs. Don't worry about getting weeds on
the Carolina Rig! Just give it a try and clean the weeds off of the rig
and keep casting into these thick areas and "Hold On!"
These rigs can be used anywhere and just about under
any circumstances. Remember this; most Bass Tournaments ever fished have
paid out more money fishing these rigs than any other types of artificial
baits ever used! So if you're not using all three of these rigs, I promise,
the results can be devastating! Just give them a try!
If you have any questions regarding this article please
feel free to Email me at: [email protected]
or please feel free to visit my web sites at: www.capital.net/~rlbrown
and at: www.fishing-boating.com/basscoach
or just give me a call at: (518) 597-4240
Until next time, Take Care & God Bless!
"The Bass Coach".... Roger Lee Brown
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