what type of tackle do you throw with this rig what baits line and what structure do you throw it around

A Carolina Rig can be used any time of the year. I like to use it on submerged points when bait fish are present. Deep or shallow grass when it's hot or cold. Around rocks and it's deadly on humps when bass are schooling. Usually the bigger bass will be under the schooling bass, that's my belief anyways. I use 15lb floro as the main line because you can really feel the bottom. I generally use a 1/2 oz weight if I'm fishing deep and a 3/8 oz in shallow water. I always use a 27in leader. I like to use 15lb triple fish mono because I think it helps the bait to float better. I like to use a Zoom trick worm but if the fish are picky, I'll switch to a Zoom Mag Finese worm on a 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook. A EWG hook is a must on the mag finese worm, trust me, I learned that the hard way. A regular off set hook is fine for the trick worm. Always.....always use Spike It on the tail. I use a 7ft heavy action rod with a fast tip. A 6 or 7 to 1 reel is a must. This is the set up I like to use and I am very confident in it.

I use 30lb PP main line with a flouro leader. I use carolina keepers instead of the swivel because I think you get better feel of the bait. You can use any plastics or even square bill crankbaits. I use a 7'1" MHF rod. If you want to really have some fun tie on a 1/0 EWG and a 4" lizard. It's not a big bass bait but you'll catch some good numbers. I mainly fish them on rocky points and deep brush piles.

Tyler, a Carolina rig can produce good fish, especially in the pre and post spawn times of the year in your area.

It works all year, too, so keep on chucking it.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Use a one-ounce Mojo weight. This cylindar weight can scoot around and over many underwater obstacles.

2. Use the lightest weight hook you can based on your bait so that your bait will float up from the bottom as you move the rig.

3. If you are not proficient in tieing a Palamor Knot consider using a Carolina Keeper. You can see them on Woo Daves' web page. This eliminates two weak points on your rig above and below the swivel. Only problem is that the weight can move the keeper so you will have to constantaly move it back into place.

4. Use a 2 to 3 foot flourocarbon leader.

5. Lizards and all types of plastic worms do well. Lizards for the pre and post spawn times of the year and throughout all of the remaining seasons.

6. Since you will be throwing this rig into structure don't get upset WHEN you lose some rigs. It is part of fishing a Carolina rig.

7. You may want to have some leaders with your EWG hook attached ready to go. Use the grey pipe insulation foam to wrap your leaders and put the hook into the material to hold them in place. Makes replacing the leader easier and faster.

8. Always check your line for knicks, cuts and scrapes and retie. You are fishing in structure and your line will get knicked.

9. If you are using braid be sure to put regular mono or flouracarbon on the reel as a backing so the braid will not slip.

10. If the Carolina rig is not producing change to a football head jig and pig.

11. The longer the rod the longer the casts but don't outcast your hooking power.

12. Have your pliers handy to unhook the fish.

13. You can use plastic beads but I suggest cut glass. You can get them at JoAnn's Fabrics, Hanover Fabrics, BPS, Cabela's and a bead shop. Cut glass gives off a clicking sound when they strike each other as you move the bait. Clear or red are the favorite colors.

Creature baits, like the lizard, work great. So try your baby brush hogs, Fat Ikas and other creature baits of your choice.

And one last tip: When fishing creature baits you can run the hook from one side to the other to give the bait a totally different look. Just be sure that the EWG hook is strong enough to penetrate the pastic and into the bass' mouth when you set the hook hard over your head.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

Happy New Year!

The rigging options are unlimited, but this is something else to consider:

For "back-seaters" try simply trolling the C-rig with a Rage Tail Eeliminator.

You will have a VERY good shot at out-fishing your partner!

If I am fishing less than 10' or so I will use a lighter weight. I'll go 3/4 ounce or more when I am fishing in deep water.

The rigging options are unlimited, but this is something else to consider:

For "back-seaters" try simply trolling the C-rig with a Rage Tail Eeliminator.

You will have a VERY good shot at out-fishing your partner!

Spot on with the Eliminator! I will add the smok'n rooster and spacey monkey make great c-rig baits as well.

The rigging options are unlimited, but this is something else to consider:

For "back-seaters" try simply trolling the C-rig with a Rage Tail Eeliminator.

You will have a VERY good shot at out-fishing your partner!

I will keep this in mind when I'm trying to take some of my entry fees back this coming March!

In reguards to c-rigging tackle, I have used all sorts of those "easy" rig systems, and never liked any of them. You just can't beat the good old fashioned way of doing it with a slip sinker, bead, swivel, leader and hook. Over the years my most productive set up has been a 3/4 oz weight, 30lb power pro braid as the main line and a 3'-4' leader of 15 lb flurocarbon. Nothing really fancy for baits either, a simple worm like a Zoom trick worm has probably produced more fish for me on a c-rig than any other baits combined. I often just drag it along the deep outside weedline in 10-12 fow, or I will move out deeper and cast to the weed line and drag it back to the boat pausing it when I bump into a rock, stump, clump of deep grass, etc....

I like a 7' MH fast action rod, fast ratio reel, 20lb Fireline, a 12 lb mono leader, and a 3/4 oz weight. IMO, there's no reason to use a lighter weight because you want the rig to get to the bottom asap and stay there during the retrieve. Fast ratio reel because you pull the rig along the bottom with your rod, then take up the slack with the reel. I fish a C-rig in 10-25ft of water. Shallower, I use a Texas rigged plastic.