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ALL DAY. EVERY DAY.
The Carolina rig is actually very similar to the Texas rig in terms of how the plastic bait is rigged onto the hook, the main difference between the two is the weight; by definition, a Carolina rig must use some sort of weight (Texas rigs can be fished weightless) and the position of the weight is always somewhere on the leader between 3 and 18 inches above the hook/plastic - it is never pegged right to the hook.
By keeping the weight above the lure, the rig produces an entirely different action than a Texas rig, creating more of a circular swimming motion as the lure descends through the water column or is retrieved along or near the bottom back to the angler.
Another notable difference between Texas and Carolina rigs related to weight is size. Unless punching through cover, many situations where you fish a Texas rig only require weights between 1/16 ounce and 1/2 ounce (or no weight at all). While Carolina rigs will typically use at least a 3/8 ounce weight, and sometimes as heavy as 2 ounces or more depending on what species you are targeting and water conditions.
For soft baits, there a wide range of options that pair well with Carolina rigging - ribbontail worms, stick baits, soft jekbaits, lizards, creatures, and craws are all good choices for this rig. This means you can pair whatever size and profile bait is best for the given situation.
To your mainline add a sinker using an egg, bullet, or cylindrical-shaped weight. Behind that add a bead then tie to a swivel. Decide on a leader both in type and length. At the end of your leader tie on a worm hook or EWG worm hook big enough to accommodate whatever size plastic you have chosen.
The Carolina rig is typically fished by casting then dragging the rig across your target area along or near the bottom. To properly drag the rig, you want to position your rod parallel to the surface of the water and use a sweeping motion to move the lure over the target area you are fishing. No need to jerk the rig, just a nice smooth sweep will work.
How to Rig and Fish the Carolina Rig
How to Fish the Carolina Rig
The Perfect Carolina Rig Combo
5.0 / 5.0
6 Reviews
Features: Berkley PowerBait Power Worms feature ribbontail design that swims naturally on the fall with twitches and short hops. Soft but firm te...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
6 Reviews
Features: Gambler Brass Rat'lin Weights are bullet shape brass sinkers that generate a boisterous clacking noise as they move through the water. Pa...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: Gambler Ribbon Tail Worms are large soft plastic worms with a classic ribbon tail design Enticing swimming tail action at any retrieve sp...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Strike King EZ-Rig is a 2 pack of pre-rigged weights for Carolina rigging. Pre-rigged system will save you loads of valuable fishing ...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
When the standard six-inch lizard is just a bit too big for finicky bass, the five-inch size may be the perfect compromise between a snack and a me...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: The Zoom Brush Hog is a 6 inch soft plastic creature bait. Beefy body with multiple appendages to move water. Salt-impregnated. Great on...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
6 Reviews
Features: The Lazer TroKar TK110 EWG Worm Hook features an offset shank and extra wide gap perfect for rigging a variety of worms and soft plastic...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Keitech Shad Impact is a 4 inch soft jerkbait that imitates a wounded bait fish. Top section of the bait is a no salt, lightweight p...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
8 Reviews
Features: The Zoom Fluke is a 4 inch soft plastic jerkbait with a forked tail. Great anytime bass are chewing mid-sized bait, can be used in count...
View full detailsFeatures: The Strike King Rage Lobster is a 4 1/2 inch soft plastic craw with Rage Tail appendages. Oversized version of the Rage Craw. With the s...
View full details4.67 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: The Gary Yamamoto Double Tail Grub is a 4 inch soft plastic grub with twin rear appendages. Great swim jig, bladed vibrating jig, or sp...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
9 Reviews
Features: Gamakatsu's EWG (Extra Wide Gap) Offset Worm Hook is a popular, versatile, and respected offset shank, extra-wide gap soft bait hook. Ho...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
Offering the performance Bassmaster Elite Series veteran pros Kevin Van Dam and Shaw Grigsby need to compete at the highest levels of professional ...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Keitech Mad Wag is truly a unique 7 inch soft bait offering a ribbed body design and U-shaped tail. Thick "Bone" tail creates an i...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: Owner Hyper Ball Bearing Swivels are high-quality ball-bearing swivels. Stainless steel construction with corrosion-resistant black chro...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: The VMC Tungsten Slider weight is a cylindrical tungsten sinker. Tungsten's extreme hardness provides a better feel for structure and lig...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Zoom Magnum Lizard is the standard-setter any place big bass live, flipped to laydowns and grass, or Carolina rigged across a textbo...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Zoom Midsize Brush Hog is a 4 1/2 inch soft plastic creature bait. Designed for those times when a Baby Brush Hog is too small and th...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
Features: The Owner All Purpose Soft Bait Hook accommodates a wide range of soft plastic baits. Extra-wide gap for weedless rigging. Z-lock should...
View full details4.89 / 5.0
9 Reviews
Features: The Berkly Fusion19 Offset Worm hook has a standard offset shank with a round bend that is ideal for Texas rigging. Needle point with Sl...
View full details4.25 / 5.0
4 Reviews
These P-Line Ball Bearing Swivels with Cross Lock Snaps feature smooth no-twist ball bearing operation, strong welded rings, and a heavy-duty Cro...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
The Mag II is an upsized worm perfect for flipping and pitching into heavy cover when the water heats up. But it's also a killer out of ledges and ...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: The Keitech Mad Wag Long is a new larger version of Keitech's Mad Wag ribbed u-tail soft plastic worms. Big bait designed for drawing bi...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
Features: The Xzone Bltiz Worm is a massive, 11 inch long ribbon tail soft plastic worm. Made from a specialized blend of soft plastic, when fished...
View full details4.5 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: Gamakatsu Deep Throat Wide Gap Worm Hook has a very long point and a wide gap creating a deeper throat or retention area. Offset has a m...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: The Keitech Mad Wag Slim is exactly what it sounds like: a slimmer version of the Keitech Mad Wag. Same great fish catching action as th...
View full details4.33 / 5.0
3 Reviews
These P-Line Ball Bearing Swivels feature smooth no-twist ball-bearing operation with strong welded rings. Constructed of black anodized brass, th...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
The Curly Tail features a short, tightly-segmented body paired with a ribbon-style tail that flutters and waves with the slightest provocation, pro...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: Gamakatsu EWG Offset Monster Worm Hook is a heavy duty, extra wide gap hook designed for soft plastic baits. The perfect match for heavy...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
Features: The Big Bite Baits Battle Bug is a 5 inch soft plastic creature bait. First signature shape developed by Pro Staff member Mike McClelland...
View full detailsFeatures: The Strike King Rage Lizard is a 6 inch soft plastic lizard with Strike King's patented "Rage Tail" flange on the end of its appendages. ...
View full details4.5 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: The Mega Bite Worm Offset Shank Hook is designed for soft large plastic worms and other soft baits. Opti-Angle Needle Point and 4.3 Ultr...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
6 Reviews
Features: The YUM Thump'n Dinger Soft Plastic Cut Tail Worm is a soft plastic cut-tail style worm. U-shaped tail. Specially designed tail adds a p...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Keitech Shad Impact is a 5 inch soft jerkbait that imitates a wounded bait fish. Top section of the bait is a no salt, lightweight p...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: The Big Bite Baits Flying Squirrel is a 5 inch soft plastic creature bait designed by Pro Staff member Jeff Kriet. End sections of the Kr...
View full detailsThe Mini Lizard is a finesse option that packs a big punch, putting the worst enemy of a territorial fish in a compact package. Fish it on a downsi...
View full details4.71 / 5.0
7 Reviews
Features: The Big Bite Baits Creature Bait is a classic Brush Hog-style soft plastic creature bait. Deadly flipping and punching bait. Tails, arms...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
These P-Line Black & Gold Single Rolling Barrel Swivels feature smooth no-twist rolling barrel operation, brass bells. Constructed of black an...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: The Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Carolina Riggin' Weights are tungsten weights specially designed for Carolina rigs. Barrel-shaped wei...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
3 Reviews
Features: The Mustad 38105 Ultra Lock is a wide gap soft bait hook that features Mustad's Z-Bend offset that securely anchors a wide range of bait...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
5 Reviews
Features: The Lazer TroKar TK100 Heavy Duty Worm Hook is a heavy-duty round bend hook perfect for rigging worms and soft plastics. TroKar's Surgic...
View full detailsFeatures: Bayou Rattler SoNar BallZZ are small spherical fishing rattles that can be threaded onto your line and used with nearly any lure or rig....
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Gambler Flappy Daddy is an extremely versatile 4 1/4 inch soft craw/worm hybrid. Solid body that accommodates a large hook for casti...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: The Chasebaits Flip Flop is a 4 1/2 inch soft plastic creature bait with unique squid-like fin the wraps around the body of the bait. In...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
2 Reviews
Features: The Gambler Super Stud is a 5 inch Fluke-style soft jerkbait with a shad profile body and a thin, forked tail. Super-flat back allows th...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
1 Review
Features: The Strike King Rage Thumper Worm is their unique take on cut-tail style worm that combines a Speed Worm-inspired design with their Rage...
View full detailsFeatures: The Lunkerhunt Descend Minnow is a 5 inch soft plastic curl tail worm/salamander hybrid made with a unique multi-port salt injection syst...
View full details5.0 / 5.0
4 Reviews
Features: The Strike King Rage Tail Anaconda is an oversized ribbontail worm. Big and bulky large swirl tail is part body extension, part ribbon fi...
View full details3.75 seems like the perfect choice for jigs. Good action and durable.
Very fun lure to use. It’s a little early for the topwater bite right now but I can’t wait to use these more in the coming months. They skip super easy up under trees and brush. Love these lures!
Best jigs I ever used. I out fish everyone. The secret is they Glow!