Carolina rig for Bass

The Carolina rig for Bass is a great place to start with when you decide to target bass. It’s a very productive way to set up your line for bass fishing and very simple. Give it a try and see how well it works for you.

If you mark fish holding on a point or hump this is going to get you a bite. Even if you don’t have a sonar, work these areas from one side to the other to catch bass efficiently with the Carolina rig. You can cover a lot of ground quickly and either catch fish or make the decision to move on and try another spot for bass.

The Carolina rig is used by casting then dragging the rig across your target area. You will drag by positioning your pole parallel to the surface of the water. Use a sweeping motion to move the lure over the structure you are fishing. Don’t jerk the rig, just a nice smooth sweep will work. This technique for bass fishing will yield good results with the Carolina rig.

Five things to tie up a Carolina rig

A good rule of thumb is with your rod pointing at the 12 O’clock position move to the 2 o’clock position. Then take up the slack and repeat. This is one of the reasons to use a rod 7′ or longer. This small sweep will move a lot more line than one less than 7′. So, if that’s what you are using just move it to the 3 or 4 position.

You basically need five things to tie up a Carolina rig and then a favorite plastic to put on it for catching Bass.

1. Main Line: A strong, abrasion-resistant main line is a good start with a Carolina rig. You will be dragging this rig along the bottom for the most part and using it for Bass fishing.
2. Leader Line: A short and often lighter piece of fluorocarbon or monofilament line is ideal. It allows the lure to disconnect from the weight and have freedom of movement other rigs can’t duplicate.
3. Weight: A bullet or egg sinker of appropriate size for the depth and the fishing conditions.
4. Bead: A small plastic or magnetic bead is placed between the weight and the swivel. This protects the knot from the weight and gives the rig some added clicking attraction.
5. Swivel: A barrel swivel is used to attach the leader line to the main line.
6. Hook: A hook of appropriate size in either EWG or offset for rigging a plastic snagless is preferred.

Pay extra attention when you feel the structure change

Remember while you are going through this motion to take note of what your rod is telling you about the bottom. You will feel the difference in the composition of the bottom of the lake. The rod will signal as you move across grass, sand, and gravel. Learn what each piece of structure feels like when using the Carolina rig for Bass fishing.

Pay extra attention when you feel the structure change. If you feel this you should stop moving your rig and let it rest in the area for a bit. You just may be over a gold mine. Bass will hold in the one area that is different than everything around it. Work this area over again and it should prove to be fruitful when using a Carolina rig for Bass.