Carolina rigs versus Texas rigs, what’s the difference and how do they work? They might both have states in their name and both are popular bass fishing rigs. But while Carolina rigs and Texas rigs may resemble one another, they are two distinct rigs. In this article, we’ll go over each fishing rig, how to tie them up, and how you bass fish with them.
Breakdown: Carolina Rigs vs Texas Rigs
Let’s start by breaking down the Carolina rig and Texas rig, step by step.
How To Setup a Basic Texas Rig
Starting with the Texas rig, grab the following:
1. Preferred line connected to your rod.
2. Bullet weight (preferred over the weight I’m using)
3. An offset hook, size 5 or close to 5.
4. Your choice of soft plastic bait.
Visual of the Texas Rig
Put the hook through the bait just past the small barb
Thread your hook through to the end
Turn the hook so it faces inward
Put the hook through the bait so the hook is aligned
Add your weight and tie the line to your hook, you’re done!
As a side note, it’s probably a good idea to use a small bead in between the hook and sinker if you use a metal weight like I did. As I mentioned before, using bullet weights is ideal.
How To Setup a Carolina Rig
Grab the following:
1. Cut a piece of line 12-18 inches
2. A bead
3. A round sinker
4. Ball bearing swivel
5. Size 5 or similar offset hook
6. Your choice of soft plastic bait
Carolina Rig Visual
After cutting your 12-18 inch piece, put your sinker followed by the bead on the main line
Tie your swivel to the end of the main-line
Tie your cut line and hook to the swivel, and rig your bait the same as before. You’re done!
When and how to use the carolina rig
When fishing with a Carolina rig, start by casting your line out and letting it sink to the bottom. Slowly or even quickly if you prefer, reel in and drag in along the bottom. Doing this will cause your bait to move around and bounce off the bottom.
The weight of the rig is a great way for you to get a feel of the bottom where you’re fishing. As you drag the rig, you’ll be able to tell if you’re over rocks, gravel, or mud. This rig is great for deep fish and or open water, especially when you’re not sure where the fish may be and need to cover more water.
As with most bass rigs, the best baits will be soft plastic lures such as plastic worms and creature baits,
So let’s sum it up easily because I feel like a lot of rigs are overexplained. This is a good bass rig for fishing in deep water, especially if you don’t have a fishfinder. Once it’s on the bottom, slowly work your soft plastic lure along the bottom, and the rig will do the rest of the work by making your lure appear to be something crawling and hopping along the bottom. As with most scenarios, vary your reeling speed and soft plastic lure selection to find what’s working best that day.
I should also mention that this rig is not only effective for bass but Catfish as well. When I am anchor fishing with both cut and live bait for Catfish, I will use this rig. It allows the live bait to still swim around but not go anywhere, which is what you want.
When and how to use a texas rig
Cast your line into shallow water areas with dense vegetation or structure where bass may be hanging around. The bullet sinker will cut through the vegetation and prevent snags. Let your lure sink to the bottom, a lot of hits will even come on the initial drop if they are nearby. Once it’s on the bottom, you can either do a slow retrieve or a fast retrieve by lifting your rod and bouncing it off the bottom. So lift your rod tip so the baits off the bottom, lower the rod tip, and reel in the slack, repeat this until you’re back to the shore or your boat.
The other option with this fishing rig is to vertical jig. I will vertical jig with a Texas rig where I know the fish are. I let it hit the bottom, reel up or pull up from the bottom, and let the line back out to the bottom again, repeating this process. Just like the Carolina rig, switch up your Texas rigs pace, style, and lures to see what the will catch the fish that day.
FAQ
1. What size weight for a Texas rig?
Generally, you’re going to be using 1/32 oz to 1 oz, although you can go with a heavier weight, but when I’m using Texas rigs, I never feel the need to go heavier than 1 oz. In the pictures above, I’m using a 1/2 oz.
2. What size weight for a Carolina rig?
Typically I would use something between 1/2 oz up to as heavy as 2 oz depending on how deep the water is. If you’re fishing 25+ feet of water far from your boat and want to reach deep fish, you want to go a bit heavier.
closing thoughts: texas rig vs carolina rig
After reading this article you should be familiar with the differences and similarities between a Carolina rig and a Texas rig.
A Texas rig is better for fishing areas where you know fish are likely to be, such as heavy cover, spawning sites, points, and vegetation. It’s better for a more controlled hopping presentation. With the sinker being bullet-shaped, it’s able to cut efficiently through the vegetation.
A Carolina rig is a good option when you’re fishing deep water and barren areas where you are not quite as sure where the fish will be. Think of it almost like an exploring rig. The commotion of dragging the weight on the bottom will not only cause your lure to move erratically, but it will get the attention of fish.
references
https://sportfishingbuddy.com/carolina-rig/
https://www.bassmaster.com/bass-basics/news/the-texas-rig-part-3-weight-selection/