| The Carolina rig is one of the most versatile and | | | | long rod combined with a flipping switch on a bait |
| fun ways of getting Bass on the end of our lines. | | | | casting reel is warranted. The longer rod gives us |
| And it's not just limited to Largemouth. | | | | more lineal footage so that when a Bass takes |
| Smallmouth are just as willing to take a bait | | | | the bait one simply has to drop the rod for that |
| Carolina rigged! | | | | added slack. The flipping switch on bait casting |
| By versatile, I mean many different fishing | | | | reels such as Quantum's Accurist PT or Shimano's |
| situations can be fished Carolina style. From shore, | | | | Castaic 200 SF have easy spool disengaging |
| for example, a Bass angler could use it to cover a | | | | capabilities. Every little thing helps in putting fish in |
| lot of real estate in deep or shallow structured | | | | the well. |
| water. As a matter of fact, deep water is a | | | | The technique that goes with Carolina rigging is as |
| Carolina Rig forte! Weights of 1\4 oz. up to and | | | | basic as the rig itself. Cast it out as far as you |
| over 1oz. can be used to get the offering out | | | | can and with the spool still disengaged, let the rig |
| there and down deep. So obviously, a longer rod | | | | fall vertically to the bottom. Once it reaches its |
| and a heavier weight can give a shore angler quite | | | | end, engage the spool and start to work the bait |
| an advantage. | | | | home ever so slowly dragging it in and around |
| As a young shore Bass angler the Carolina rig put | | | | structure. We should be able to feel every single |
| many Bass in my 'bucket well'. And I still use it | | | | piece of debris in the baits travel including, the |
| today whether on shore or on the boat. It is | | | | slightest nudge from a Bass. When you feel the |
| simple tactics all packed into one basic rig. All we | | | | Bass, give it slack with either the rod or the reel |
| do with it is rig our weights and hook sizes | | | | and then set the hook hard. Smallmouth is the |
| according to conditions and baits used. | | | | aggressive one of the two species so sometimes |
| The Carolina rig is made up of 3 components, the | | | | there is no time for slack. When you feel the pull |
| main line, weight and a fluorocarbon leader. The | | | | set the hook hard and fast. |
| main line is threaded through an egg sinker then | | | | The best part of Carolina rigging is the fact that |
| through a bead and tied to a swivel. The bead | | | | there is virtually no plastic out there that can't be |
| ensures the swivel and weight doesn't bind for | | | | fished this way. Also, structure of any type can |
| smooth flowing line; not to mention noise which | | | | be fished with total confidence in knowing hang |
| can be tuned with many different ideas to get | | | | ups are very minimal by rigging the bait Texas. |
| the fish's attention. The fluorocarbon is then tied | | | | The other advantage is the use of fluorocarbon |
| to the swivel with the hook completing the rig. | | | | leaders which is practically invisible to the fish. To |
| When a Bass takes the bait it shouldn't feel | | | | the Bass, no strings attached means an easy |
| resistance because of the line traveling through | | | | meal especially when it happens to crawl in front |
| the weight as opposed to a stationary weight. | | | | of its face. |
| This works especially well with fussy Bass. A | | | | Carolina rigging in general is a good all around |
| full-bellied Bass can't resist an easy meal, but if | | | | technique for versatile shore or boat angling. |
| that easy meal comes with restrictions, they will | | | | Spooked Bass, finicky Bass, cold front Bass or |
| let it go quickly. | | | | just leisure Bass will take it. It is the 'cats meow' |
| In order to achieve no restriction for the Bass a | | | | of Bass catching methods. |