Carolina Rig where and with what baits 2025
cgolf reply :
I think in all my years of fishing I tossed this one day for an hour and blanked. But thinking back on some bites, season is closed not much else to do, I could see where a bait rigged that way could trigger neutral to negative bass especially on cold mornings. Plus Bassmaster had an article on making your own C rig shortcuts and I had some piano wire in the shop.
The where? I have always heard deep weed lines, but I fish reeds a lot and those bass are finicky unless you show them something they don't see often. Thinking the C rig would would be a great presentation for those fish.
Baits to use? If I fished in reeds, would use the normal baits like tubes, finesse worms, and swim senkos, probably missing some. What else do you all toss and does it depend on the structure and cover you are tossing it too.
eyedabassman reply :
Brush Hogs,beavers,BIG worms,( any worm ), flukes,Baby paca craws, lizards,I think you get the picture!
strikefc34 reply :
You can C-rig just about any plastic bait made. I really like two...the lizard and a zoom centipede. I see your from central Wisconsin, the times I fished the Wisconsin River in the Point area I did well rigging centipedes on gravel flats. In lakes I like the C-rig and lizard for covering water as long its not overly weedy. Never used more than a 1/2 oz weight, and never fished it much deeper than 20'.
IndianaFinesse reply :
Just about any soft plastic will work. My favorites are a six inch lizard and just about all of z-mans plastics, because they are so buoyant they float off the bottom where the bass can see them. you can fish them in quite a few places, over short weeds, weedlines, almost anywhere.
Sam reply :
Fish the C-rig any where any time.
Use lizards.
Colors of your choice.
Don' fall for any "special" set ups. Get yourself some 1/2 ouch weights; some strong swivels; some clear glass beads; a good heavy rod; and load up that baitcaster with 20 pound fluorocarbon line.
Use Palomar knots to attach the lines to your swivels.
Go out and throw that sucker all over the place.
buzzed bait reply :
get you some carolina keepers and do away with all that extra bling... makes it infinitely easier to rig.
scaleface reply :
I use carolina rigs as a search bait on offshore structure . Its a fast way to work around a point, flat... Zoom lizards are a classic C-rig bait . I also like plastic worms , tubes , grubs and others .
RyneB reply :
Baby brush hog for me, also like a smoking rooster and space monkey
cgolf reply :
Like all the bait options, especially grubs which I have a ton of. Makes me realize it isn't just a finesse presentation. Also been building up my stock of Zman stuff, so that is an option. Will just have to keep myself from chopping all the baits in half to be Ned rigged.
Wonder if a TRD or 1/2 Zinker on a short light wire hook would work? A C-Ned-rig?
MIbassyaker reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 11:08 AM, cgolf said:Like all the bait options, especially grubs which I have a ton of. Makes me realize it isn't just a finesse presentation. Also been building up my stock of Zman stuff, so that is an option. Will just have to keep myself from chopping all the baits in half to be Ned rigged.
Wonder if a TRD or 1/2 Zinker on a short light wire hook would work? A C-Ned-rig?
I never fish a classic c-rig with all the hardware and 1/2oz+ weights, but I'm a big fan of a "finesse c-rig" (or slip-shot, as WRB calls it, which is a perfect name for it) --8-10lb line with 1/8-1/4oz weight ahead of a bobber stop, 12"-16" ahead of a light-wire hook and worm or creature. I'll put a 3 or 4" stick worm or french fry bait on there some times; literally anything you can drag around will work.
papajoe222 reply :
When all the soft plastic choices, you'd think that they are the only way to go. I'll let you in on a little secret I learned years ago fishing central Wisconsin; Use a #7-#9 original floating Rapala on the business end ( or any other high floating/shallow running crank). It's something the fish rarely see and it mimics natural forage so well that it works as both a power and finesse presentation.
The 'where' is a tough one to answer as there are likely more variables to consider than choices of plastics. Touted more as a search presentation vs. a target one, structural features ( points, drops, bottom transition areas) are prime locations to target.
ww2farmer reply :
I throw a Carolina rig when I have given up on catching bass by any other means for the day.
cgolf reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 11:42 AM, ww2farmer said:I throw a Carolina rig when I have given up on catching bass by any other means for the day.
I have been at this point many times, and while I have a presentation or two that I am guessing nobody or very few throw on these lakes at certain cover situations, I like to have options especially if I spend a few days on the same body of water. I have been known to try some off the wall stuff, most fail, but when it works it is a lot of fun.
Catt reply :
Bluebasser86 reply :
First, lose the premade rig. Bass have to drag the sinker along behind them with that rig and it pulls and jerks on their mouth if it catches on anything which could make them drop it. You have to tie the same amount of knots anyways.
Second, you can C rig about anything. My personal favorite is a full sized brush hog. As for where, I like points, ledges, and rockpiles.
SDoolittle reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 2:47 PM, Bluebasser86 said:First, lose the premade rig. Bass have to drag the sinker along behind them with that rig and it pulls and jerks on their mouth if it catches on anything which could make them drop it. You have to tie the same amount of knots anyways.
Thank you! I have never understood why anyone would use those premade rigs. They defeat the whole purpose of using a slip sinker.
billgator reply :
Would a C-rig be a good bet at the tail end of the spawn/early post spawn? I've got a big trip planned and im thinking it could be a good option for me. The lake im fishing has a creek channel just off of a good 45 degree spawning bank and some rock piles in 5 to 10 feet of water on the outside of a good shallow cove. What do you guys think?
cgolf reply :
So really the c rig is like a mojo of split shot, but has a bead for sound and a heavier sliding weight. I may still try the pre tied rig a few times, just because I have no idea if it would work and wouldn't want to sacrifice a rod choice just yet for this, and really I want to see if the fish will hit a bait presented like that more readily then my standard presentations, if they do I can dedicate a rod to it.
I could rig it without the swivel too right? Was thinking I could use one of those rubber T stops on a bead to hold it in place and then I only have one tie on the rig.
On 3/27/2016 at 2:47 PM, Bluebasser86 said:First, lose the premade rig. Bass have to drag the sinker along behind them with that rig and it pulls and jerks on their mouth if it catches on anything which could make them drop it. You have to tie the same amount of knots anyways.
Second, you can C rig about anything. My personal favorite is a full sized brush hog. As for where, I like points, ledges, and rockpiles.
Don't you hit it right away? I have always been in the camp of it hit when you feel it. I would rather miss a fish than gut hook it. I have never given a fish slack when I felt a bite, and it seems to work out pretty good for me.
Bluebasser86 reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 8:12 PM, cgolf said:So really the c rig is like a mojo of split shot, but has a bead for sound and a heavier sliding weight. I may still try the pre tied rig a few times, just because I have no idea if it would work and wouldn't want to sacrifice a rod choice just yet for this, and really I want to see if the fish will hit a bait presented like that more readily then my standard presentations, if they do I can dedicate a rod to it.
I could rig it without the swivel too right? Was thinking I could use one of those rubber T stops on a bead to hold it in place and then I only have one tie on the rig.
Don't you hit it right away? I have always been in the camp of it hit when you feel it. I would rather miss a fish than gut hook it. I have never given a fish slack when I felt a bite, and it seems to work out pretty good for me.
C rig is the only exception to that rule it seems. Even if you do try to get them right away, you've got a bunch of line out and it's down 10-30' the winds blowing and the fish are biting light. What do you think your odds are you get the fish before it swims a couple feet through the rocks you were dragging and your sinker sticks and makes the fish spit your bait?
Not saying the pre-made rigs won't catch fish, but I don't trust them and wouldn't suggest them to anyone.
Catt reply :
SDoolittle reply :
I'm not a fan of those Carolina keepers either. I like to run 15-17 lb fluorocarbon as a main line and 12lb mono as a leader. You can't do that with a Carolina keeper. If you want to make rigging easier, tie up a few leaders with a hook on one end and a swivel on the other before you leave the house. Then, all you have to do is slip on a weight and a bead and tie one knot. It may not be quite as simple as using a keeper, but it's far more effective.
Catt reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 9:28 PM, S. Doolittle said:I'm not a fan of those Carolina keepers either. I like to run 15-17 lb fluorocarbon as a main line and 12lb mono as a leader. You can't do that with a Carolina keeper. If you want to make rigging easier, tie up a few leaders with a hook on one end and a swivel on the other before you leave the house. Then, all you have to do is slip on a weight and a bead and tie one knot. It may not be quite as simple as using a keeper, but it's far more effective.
What ya need a leader for?
chadmack282 reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 11:57 AM, Catt said:
what is that Catt?
lo n slo reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 8:21 PM, Bluebasser86 said:C rig is the only exception to that rule it seems. Even if you do try to get them right away, you've got a bunch of line out and it's down 10-30' the winds blowing and the fish are biting light. What do you think your odds are you get the fish before it swims a couple feet through the rocks you were dragging and your sinker sticks and makes the fish spit your bait?
Not saying the pre-made rigs won't catch fish, but I don't trust them and wouldn't suggest them to anyone.
confessions of a life long t-rigger
i am the worlds worst at setting the hook on a c-rig. 50% of the time i either hit them with too much slack out or they swallow it.
Catt reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 8:45 AM, chadmack282 said:what is that Catt?
Lake Fork Trophy Lure Ring Fry #720 Fork Secret!
Carolina Rigged French Fry, Ring Fry, Centipede, & other similar baits are extremely deadly & highly over looked!
SDoolittle reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 6:28 AM, Catt said:What ya need a leader for?
Catt, you've been around long enough to know how a Carolina rig works. Taking shortcuts is never the right answer in life or in fishing.
scaleface reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 8:22 PM, S. Doolittle said:Catt, you've been around long enough to know how a Carolina rig works. Taking shortcuts is never the right answer in life or in fishing.
I think what he means is why a leader of a lighter test .My leaders are the same test as my main line . I have never used a Carolina Keeper but am going to try it . I use 3/4 ounce weights and am skeptical that the keepers they will keep them in place .
Bluebasser86 reply :
I use a leader with lighter test because my main line is 50lb braid 
I would still use a lighter leader even if I was still using mono so when I get hung up (because we all know it's going to happen), I want to be able to just lose a hook and plastic, not my expensive sinker/bead/clacker/swivel setup.
I'm plenty vocal about my hatred for C rigging, but I've gotten much better at it since I switched to braid for my main line. Feeling everything is much easier, and hooksets are much surer than they use to be.
scaleface reply :
On 3/28/2016 at 8:48 PM, Bluebasser86 said:I use a leader with lighter test because my main line is 50lb braid
I'm plenty vocal about my hatred for C rigging, but I've gotten much better at it since I switched to braid for my main line. Feeling everything is much easier, and hooksets are much surer than they use to be.
Braid is probably the way to go . I tried it and cant use it . The way I hold my line and I've been doing it that way forever , it cuts my index finger on the hookset .
Catt reply :
On 3/27/2016 at 9:28 PM, S. Doolittle said:I'm not a fan of those Carolina keepers either. I like to run 15-17 lb fluorocarbon as a main line and 12lb mono as a leader. You can't do that with a Carolina keeper. If you want to make rigging easier, tie up a few leaders with a hook on one end and a swivel on the other before you leave the house. Then, all you have to do is slip on a weight and a bead and tie one knot. It may not be quite as simple as using a keeper, but it's far more effective.
Could have been a little more specific!
Your main line is 15-17lb with a 12lb leader
My question why a leader?
My basic setup is 15 lb, 3/8-1/2 oz, & a Carolina Keeper.
When I break off I simply tie on a hook, move the keeper up, & cast.
SDoolittle reply :
The reason for my setup is simple. I have a strong, sensitive, abrasion resistant main line with the heavier fluorocarbon. The lighter, mono leader is more buoyant and gives the bait better action. A few more things to consider are rod, reel, and hook selection. I prefer a 7'6" MH/F rod and a high speed reel. I built mine on a Rainshadow REVC76MH and paired it with a Revo STXHS. I almost always choose a traditional round bend worm hook over an EWG hook when fishing the C-rig. I just seem to get better hookups with the round bend hooks. There's a lot more to fishing the old chicken liver rig than some people realize, and I suspect that is why a lot of people don't do well with it. Give my setup a try, and see if your Carolina rig game doesn't improve.
Scarborough817 reply :
normally a space monkey or a ribbon tail
Catt reply :
On 3/29/2016 at 12:00 AM, S. Doolittle said:The reason for my setup is simple. I have a strong, sensitive, abrasion resistant main line with the heavier fluorocarbon. The lighter, mono leader is more buoyant and gives the bait better action. A few more things to consider are rod, reel, and hook selection. I prefer a 7'6" MH/F rod and a high speed reel. I built mine on a Rainshadow REVC76MH and paired it with a Revo STXHS. I almost always choose a traditional round bend worm hook over an EWG hook when fishing the C-rig. I just seem to get better hookups with the round bend hooks. There's a lot more to fishing the old chicken liver rig than some people realize, and I suspect that is why a lot of people don't do well with it. Give my setup a try, and see if your Carolina rig game doesn't improve.
Mine's a Falcon LowRider® XG Carolina Lizard Dragger 7' H Casting Rod
Shimano Citica CI200HG
Preferred hook
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