| Instead of naming each method, one by one, we will | | | | offset hook except the point is protruded through the |
| begin with the Texas rig and then the Carolina rig. | | | | top of the bait, the bait is slid up to the jig-head and the |
| From there we will move on to the Florida, Drop Shot, | | | | hook is left exposed. |
| Weightless and the Swimming or Indiana rigs. Gear, | | | | One very diverse rig is the Drop Shot rig. With this rig |
| knots, terminal tackle and reeling methods will be | | | | you attach a three way barrel swivel to your line, the |
| explained throughout also. | | | | leader of choice to one eyelet and another leader with |
| A sad attempt at humor, I know. | | | | a sinker (usually a Bell type) to the last eyelet. As |
| O.K., let's get down to business. The first worm rig | | | | always, the length of the leader and weight of the |
| was developed by Nick Creme from guess where, | | | | sinker depends upon how far from the bottom you |
| that's right, Texas in 1949. As it spread throughout the | | | | want your lure and how you want you lure to swim. |
| fishing industry the weed-less method of hooking the | | | | The Drop Shot rig is use in a few ways, however for |
| worm was developed, this is how the Texas rig was | | | | basically the same purpose. The most common is to |
| started and the rest of the styles followed in its wake. | | | | keep your bait a specific distance from the bottom or |
| The Texas rig was the first rig that brought me into | | | | as an anchor in a current. It can be used to keep |
| the world of soft lure fishing. | | | | Crank-baits straight and level while retrieving in which |
| All of these methods contain similar elements that can | | | | the sinker does not touch the bottom. |
| be explained in one shot. The first thing is no matter | | | | All of these rigs, except for the Florida and the |
| which rig you are using, you should attach a barrel | | | | weighted leader on the Drop Shot, can be used in a |
| swivel of appropriate size to the end of your line. This | | | | weightless bait manner, but the oldest and least used |
| will prevent your line from becoming twisted and | | | | style of weightless soft-bait rigging is the "Swimming" |
| tangled. | | | | worm rig. The reason I call it the Indiana rig is one; there |
| I like to use a Surgeons loop to attach things. To tie this | | | | currently isn't an Indiana rig and it works really well |
| knot, double the line back on itself once and knot the | | | | (deadly in fact) here in Indiana. You may have seen |
| loop twice. Make the loop about two inches long. Pull | | | | this pre-made rig on the shelf in the tackle shop or |
| tight and snip the excess and you're done. This is one | | | | fishing section, it's usually called a "Trick Worm". The |
| of the strongest and most efficient ways of attaching | | | | major difference with this rig is that it is a double |
| terminal tackle to your line. | | | | Snelled, exposed bait-holder hook style. |
| To hitch a barrel swivel or a snap swivel (I prefer small | | | | The ones they sell in the stores have the hooks |
| & black) using the Surgeons loop, push the loop | | | | imbedded in a very small worm. These are great for |
| through the eye of the barrel, then open the loop and | | | | Bluegill and Rock-bass and even small Catfish. |
| pass the barrel through the loop. Fold the loop all the | | | | However, they're usually not available bigger than 3 |
| way back to the line and pull tight. The end of the loop | | | | inches. If you want to attract bigger fish, you need a |
| should be below the knot. | | | | bigger rig and will have to create one. |
| Sometimes this way of switching rigs and lures, unless | | | | Double Snelling is a bit involved and single Snelling |
| you use a snap swivel, can be a hassle when using | | | | should be taught fist. So on that note, to Snell a hook, |
| multi-hook baits. The more you use the loop method | | | | thread the leader line through the eye of the bait-holder |
| though, the better you will become. If it's too much for | | | | hook (I usually use the #6 size bait-holder) from the |
| you then the regular ol' clinch or "Fisherman's" knot | | | | point side of the eye towards the bottom of the hook |
| might be better for you. If you need more assistance | | | | and loop it back around, following the curve of the |
| ask a clerk, at you favorite outdoor, shop for help or | | | | hook. Thread the line back through again the same |
| research "knots" online. | | | | way and a little past the length of the hook. Now wrap |
| When it comes to weed-less rigs, the leaders are set | | | | the loop around the shaft of the hook about five times, |
| up basically the same way. However the length of the | | | | hold the hook by its shaft wrapped loop and pull the |
| leader depends on conditions and on the sizes of the | | | | extra tight and trim. |
| soft-baits. Attach an offset style or "worm" hook, of | | | | Wasn't that easy? Don't worry if you said no, it really |
| the appropriate size, to your leader. If you want to use | | | | isn't easy and takes some practice to master. Again, |
| the Texas method, thread the leader through a bullet | | | | you may want to find a diagram of how to do this or |
| before you tie or hitch the other end of the leader to | | | | ask for some one-on-one help. |
| the empty end of the barrel or snap swivel. The | | | | To double Snell is to do this to two hooks on the same |
| pointed end of the sinker should be pointing toward the | | | | line. Sounds like fun, huh? Once you get Snelling one |
| barrel swivel. | | | | hook down, two is basically the same. When you Snell |
| Attaching the worm or soft creature bait, in a | | | | the first hook, make the extra a little longer than the |
| weed-less fashion, to the hook can be a bit tricky, | | | | length of your worm. When you Snell the second hook, |
| however with some practice it's not very hard to | | | | position the eye of the second hook half the distance |
| accomplish successfully. First, hold the hook by the long | | | | of the length or your worm from the eye of the first |
| curve and impale the nose while pointing the eye of | | | | hook. After wrapping the loop around the shaft, pull the |
| the hook toward the tail. Stop the hook about a | | | | extra tight and trim it off. |
| ¼ of an inch into the bait or until the straight part | | | | Attach the bait by running the first hook through the |
| turns to a curve and push the point through the bottom | | | | nose the same way as the weed-less method except, |
| side of the bait. | | | | pull the line through until you get close to the second |
| Swing the bait around the hook until the long curve is | | | | hook. Run the second hook through the same way, |
| facing away form the bottom side of the bait. Now | | | | this time keep running the hook into the bait until the |
| push the nose up to the eyelet. Some anglers prefer | | | | nose reaches the eyelet and then protrude the point |
| to hide the eyelet in the nose. Lay the hook along one | | | | through the side. I like to hide the eyelet in this particular |
| side of the bait, pinch the bait where the hook ends, | | | | rig. Take the first hook and stick the point directly |
| run the point straight up through the bottom of the bait | | | | through the side of the bait ¼ of the distance |
| just ahead of the pinch and centered until the bottom | | | | from the tail. The bait should make a lazy "L" Shape |
| curve is perpendicular to the bait. The point should be | | | | when held up by the leader. |
| facing the nose. Now, run the point just under the "skin" | | | | You know now hold in your hand one of the most |
| along the back until the barb disappears. You're done. | | | | effective lures I've ever used and continue to use. |
| The Texas rig is best used thrown into a weed or | | | | When pulled through the water, it swims in a spiral |
| Lilly-pad bed and bounced or drug slightly along the | | | | motion, which is very attractive to fish and can cut |
| bottom and over structure such as logs, sunken brush | | | | down on snags as well. I can't remember the fishing |
| and rocks. This weed-less "prey" works great for | | | | T.V. show host or pro angler I got this from, it was an |
| locating that big Bass (and other fish) waitin' in ambush | | | | instructional DVD demo. When you get a strike using |
| under cover. You might want to use larger line with this | | | | this rig, you know it. Especially if you use a soft bait |
| rig no matter the size of the worm. Some fish will get | | | | made from fish food, say Berkley Brand's Gulp line of |
| tangled due to darting. You can also reel this rig a little | | | | soft-bait lures. Hands down, it is the most effective rig |
| faster to bring it up from the bottom. To get more | | | | that my buddy and I regularly use to this day. |
| control, use a split shot sinker or stick the end of a | | | | I've caught a wide variety of fish on this rig as well. |
| toothpick in the hole of the slip sinker and break it off | | | | Most experienced angles have little secrets that make |
| to make it stationary. The closer you position the sinker | | | | their rigs work better in different areas, some of which |
| to the nose, the more control you get. | | | | I'm sure are being exposed here. Generally I will leave |
| If you're going to use the Carolina method, thread the | | | | a barrel attached to my line and set up a couple of |
| main line into the pointed end and trough a bullet sinker | | | | extra rigs of each type to make the changing process |
| before attaching the barrel. If you use a split shot | | | | easier. Using the Surgeon's Loop method makes it |
| sinker, just attach the sinker to the line above the | | | | even quicker. |
| barrel swivel. The Carolina rig is used to find fish in | | | | When retrieving these rigs, remember to use a very |
| large areas of open water relatively fast, by retrieving | | | | soft touch for all the varying types of reeling methods. |
| the rig, trolling or leaving it to "swim" in a current. | | | | Always set the hook by whipping the rod-tip down, |
| Attaching the sinker above the barrel swivel gives the | | | | nice and hard, to one side or the other, depending on |
| bait a more life-like movement and improves the | | | | were you're buddy is standing. NEVER jerk hard or |
| handling of the rig. | | | | straight back when setting the hook, or anytime, no |
| Beads and blades are used on the Carolina rig more | | | | matter what kind of rigging method you're using. |
| than others, especially in currents. However, they can | | | | Soft-bait lures and crank-baits can be pulled right out |
| be used on other rigs also. The beads are on the | | | | of the water if yanked to hard, even to the side. |
| leader between the hook, blade or blades and the | | | | Hooks and "bullet" weights can be imbedded in the skin. |
| sinker. In stained water or during overcast conditions, | | | | Probably the best tool any angler should have is a pair |
| the beads and blades add noise and vibration to your | | | | of Polarized, shatterproof sun glasses. |
| presentation. | | | | So there you have it, a brief explanation of various |
| With the Florida rig, a weighted jig-head is used instead | | | | types of soft bait rigging. With experience comes |
| of an offset hook. This method is commonly not | | | | success and rigs and lures can be confusing to begin |
| weed-less and does not use a line sinker. Fish this rig | | | | with, so don't get discouraged and some day you'll be |
| along the bottom of flats and rocky bottoms. It does | | | | as deft as Grandpa or that T.V. host. As always, keep |
| not work well with cover and on rip-rap. Attach the | | | | happy thoughts and good fishing to ya. |
| soft bait by using the same impaling method as the | | | | |