Bass can sometimes be very picky with what they like and don't like - especially when it comes to what they eat.
Fishing the right rig for your unique situation can sometimes make all the difference in filling the live well or leaving the water without a bite.
Below is a list of our top four rigs used in bass fishing as well as a few tips on how to use them effectively.
Texas Rig
This is the MOST used rig in the bass fishing world.
In its simplest form, the Texas rig consists of bullet weight (tungsten or lead) and a hook. Most anglers opt for a wide gap hook, especially when targeting largemouth bass, to allow plenty of opportunity to get a good hookset in the fish's mouth.
The great thing about Texas rigged lures is that they are pretty much weedless - making them a perfect option for those 'tough to get to' places where you would be hesitant to throw other lures.
If you're trying to work through some heavy cover, such as a brush pile or fallen tree, a Texas rig is a good place to start. These rigs are great for just about anything - jigging, swimming, crawling just to name a few.
TIP: If you ever feel your weight is sliding too much or getting hung up on objects in the water try using a bobber stopper (https://amzn.to/3MqQBgl). These are a great way to pin the weight right up against your hook and lure while also increasing the sensitivity you feel when working your lure through the water.
For most anglers the Texas rig is fished one of two ways. You can choose to hop it through whatever you are fishing or you can drag it.
For both retrievals be aware for when your lure is coming into contact with something (submerged timber, rocks, etc.) and then try and slow things down. There's a good chance that a fish will be nearby.
Wacky Rig
If they ain't biting on the Texas rig consider enticing them with a wacky rig.
The wacky rig is very versatile and can be fished in just about any depth of water.
Essentially the wacky rig is just running a hook through the middle, or slightly off-centered, portion of a soft plastic bait.
Most anglers choose a worm imitation when fishing this rig.
When properly rigged you should have a floppy looking bait with loose, dangly ends. This is what produces the great action of the wacky rig.
Our bait choices:
YUM Dinger (https://amzn.to/3MaM3dF)
Zoom Trick Worm(https://amzn.to/38M0580)
The wacky rig continues to gain popularity and is mostly fished one of two ways.
The first way to fish it is to use subtle twitches of the wrist (3-5 times) with pauses in between. This often produces reaction strikes that bass simply can't resist.
The second way to fish a wacky rig is called 'dead sticking'. You basically cast to your target, mend your line, and that's it!
Thanks to the hook being positioned in the middle portion of the lure, dead sticking uses the shape of the worm, water resistance, and movement of the current to produce small wiggles at the ends of the soft plastic worm. This is especially true when fishing a Senko.
This presentation offers just enough movement to fool a fish into thinking they're going to get an easy meal. Once you see your line tighten up or start swimming off in a direction it's not supposed to set the hook because it's in the fish's mouth.
Wacky rigs are a great option due to providing fish with an extremely vulnerable bait when properly presented.
The downside that keeps many anglers from using the rig as much as it could be used is the high probability of the lure getting snagged on something.
Dropshot Rig
Regardless of the time of year, you can catch fish on a dropshot.
In the springtime you can leave a dropshot rig on the bass bed until they're destined to bite. It's great in the summertime for fishing deep, offshore structures. For fall, pair it with a baitfish imitation and you have a deadly winner. And in the winter, fish it slow around submerged cover for big bites.
The difference maker for the dropshot rig when compared to other bass fishing rigs is the position of the hook and weight. Instead of the hook being tied at the end of the line, the weight is tied to the tag end of the line.
This feature of the hook being above the weight is what makes a dropshot so effective. Because of the lure being suspended off the bottom you are able to effectively fish a larger portion of the water column.
Dropshot rigs work best when paired with a worm or baitfish imitation. The one soft plastic that stands out among others when fishing a dropshot is the Roboworm (https://amzn.to/3tcQ7n6).
For presentation consider fishing it with subtle twitches mixed in with occasional pauses.
TIP: Dropshots are best fished with just a little bit of slack in the line. This allows you to work the lure without moving the position of the weight and risking dragging your lure out of the strike zone.
Fish this rig long enough and you may find that it is your new go-to for every fishing trip.
Carolina Rig
Last but not least, the Carolina rig...
The Carolina rig consist of a hook, swivel, and weight - but also know that many anglers will use a bead as well. The bead is not a necessity but there are two advantages to using one; it protects your knot and adds sound to your rigs profile.
When tied properly you have a hook tied to the end of a 12-24" leader with a swivel, bead, and weight.
Many anglers skip over this rig because of the patience it requires. However, if you like fishing slow this is the rig for you.
The great thing about the Carolina rig is the ability to fish a lure essentially weightless but still have the advantages of a weight for longer casts and quickly getting your bait to the bottom.
The Carolina rig is fished using a short pull or glide in between relatively long pauses (5-10 seconds). This allows the lure to naturally and freely move each time you work the lure.
TIP: When you think you have a bite use a long, sweeping hookset. This helps with cleaning up any slack line you may have if, for instance, the lure and leader has moved in front of your sinker at the time of getting bit.
Carolina rigs pair great with a handful of soft plastic baits. Consider pairing this rig with worms, lizards, crawfish, or gliding baitfish imitations like a fluke on your next trip.
Happy Fishing Y'all!
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