“ When putting a Carolina rig together , I start by threading a round , red 5mm glass bead onto the line . Next is the sinker , followed by a red 8mm bead and then the swivel . Not many anglers start with a bead , but I think the 5mm bead helps to protect the hole in the lead sinker .”
in all kinds of waters and at every depth . In fact , the only time I wouldn ’ t recommend a Carolina rig is when you ’ re targeting fish that are suspended well off the bottom .
where
I ’ ll throw a Carolina rig in a foot of water or 35 feet of water . I throw it in vegetation , in brush , around rocks , on points , on flats – anywhere I think there are bass . But if I had
ILLUSTRATION BY JOE MAHLER to pick one type of structure where the Carolina rig is at its best , I ’ d say it ’ s on ledges and drops . I like to work the rig up to the edge of ledges and drops and then “ kill ” it . The bait will settle slowly next to the structure or any cover that ’ s there , and you can bet bass are looking at it . They can hear that big weight dragging across the bottom , and then they see the lure . It ’ s usually too much for them to resist .
tackle
I like a really long rod for my Carolina rigging : a 7-foot-11 “ Ball and Chain ” extra-heavy-action casting model from Muddy River Rods . They ’ re made by my friend Jeff McLain , who fishes the Toyota Series , and the Ball and Chain has a fast tip to help increase casting distance . I pair it with a Shimano Curado ( 6.2:1 ) spooled with 15-pound-test Berkley Big Game monofilament . My leader is 12- to 15-pound Big Game most of the time , but if the water is extremely clear , I ’ ll use fluorocarbon .
You might be surprised to hear that I like to use mono for my Carolina rigging , but there ’ s a reason for that . Mono sinks slower than fluorocarbon , and that gives my baits a better action and keeps them in front of the fish longer .
My sinker selection is pretty basic . I use two weights and two styles . About 99 percent of the time , I ’ m using a 1-ounce sinker . If the bite is extremely finicky , I ’ ll drop down to 3 / 4- ounce , but the weight of the sinker usually isn ’ t critical since it ’ s not in direct contact with the lure . No matter the weight , I use lead sinkers – not tungsten or brass or anything else . I ’ ve been using lead for so long that I have a feel for it , and if I were to change now , I ’ d have to re-learn that feel .
In grass , I like a bullet-shaped sinker because it comes through the vegetation better , but for most of my Carolina rigging , I use egg-style sinkers . For me , the egg sinker comes through rock and brush better than the traditional bullet sinker .
When putting a Carolina rig together , I start by threading a round , red 5mm glass bead onto the line . Next is the sinker , followed by a red 8mm bead and then the swivel . Not many anglers start with a bead , but I think the 5mm bead helps to protect the hole in the lead sinker . Without the bead , if the sinker is banging around on rocks , the hole can close up and damage your line . Also , the bead in front of the sinker helps to make a little extra noise .
My hook is a Gamakatsu offset round-bend model . I like a 2 / 0 for the small creature baits I use , and a 4 / 0 for the bigger creatures and big worms . I ’ m not too picky about my swivels – most are more than strong enough for this kind of fishing – but I do like a black swivel .
One of the most important considerations in Carolina rigging is leader length – the length of line between the swivel and the hook . I generally like a long leader . My average leader is about 3 feet , but I ’ ll go twice that long sometimes when fishing ledges or drops or when I need an extremely slow presentation . And I ’ ll shorten my leader to just a foot or two in current . When there ’ s current , it can cause your lure to swing a lot and put you in an awkward position for setting the hook . A shorter leader keeps me more in control of my presentation in current .
AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2022 | MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM 57