*I've always been curious about C-Rig leader length and what determines how long you make your leader ? Is it water temperature , activity level of the bass or some other reason(s) ? Thanks in advance !

This is subjective on my part, but vegetation levels. 

The length from the middle of my chest to my finger tips is what determines mine. 

8 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

The length from the middle of my chest to my finger tips is what determines mine. 

There ya go. This provides a specific length, based on science and keeps it simple at tyhe same time.

 

Now if we can get @J Francho to comment on this, I'm sure he could help. It's his favorite way to fish...?

Really, this all depends on your altitude.  Time zone comes into play as well, though not as much.  If you are two Mickey from the nearest waypoint, then I'd consider two beard-seconds for a leader.  You will need a three donkey-power reel loaded with at least 100 wiffle of 15 pood line.  I recommend one of the newer manymers from Polynesia. (PDM).  For a sinker, unobtainium is the ticket.  I've heard all the protests about it, but it's just a banana-equivalent dose of radioactivity, so suck it up and fish.  Do all this, and you will be off the scale MegaFonzie.  

 

Oh, last step - I almost forgot: cut your line off before the swivel, and go fish a Texas Rig.

I typically let the fish dictate. The more they suspend off the bottom, the longer the leader I use. 30" is my go to length typically, but I have thrown leaders up to twice as long. Bottom contour and vegetation play into that as well as the presentation of the plastic on the hook as sometimes I throw plastics that float.

 

I've identified things in the past by mistake. I have broken off my hook on a 3' leader and tied back on with 16-18" just to expediently get back in the water and bites increased.

 

Nothing hard and fast. I typically start with 30" and change according to what I see on my electronics.

 

In the summer, I do well with big 12" worms on big 5/0 hooks and short 12" leaders down deep.

Unless one is fishing it in  vegetation or a floating bait which I do not , I dont see where a long leader is needed . It just makes it harder to detect strikes and set the hook . I use a one to two foot leader always .

Inshore anglers use 7' leaders with good success.  I will generally start at about 3' using a precise measuring instrument like @TnRiver46.  If it doesn't get hung up, or worse, fish nibbling in the sinker/beads/swivel, I leave that length.  If either of these things happens, I shorten the leader, I'd imagine to 18", but again no ruler or anything.  I know some people that really catch them on Carolina rigs that go to the trouble of measuring them, though.

I have always used around 24 inches never had a problem . I like to throw it around crawdad beds. 

33 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

I have always used around 24 inches never had a problem . I like to throw it around crawdad beds. 

Like, mud? Under a rock? In a rice patty?

12 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Like, mud? Under a rock? In a rice patty?

23 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Like, mud? Under a rock? In a rice patty?

Gravel and some rock. I use a Berkley chigger craw or a Rage Craw trailer. It works really good on our Rivers here in southwest Missouri 

3 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

Gravel and some rock. I use a Berkley chigger craw or a Rage Craw trailer. It works really good on our Rivers here in southwest Missouri 

I love the c rig, I think it works everywhere. I had just never heard of a “crawfish bed.” I always understood that the female swims around with the eggs attached to her belly 

10 hours ago, ChrisD46 said:

*I've always been curious about C-Rig leader length and what determines how long you make your leader ? Is it water temperature , activity level of the bass or some other reason(s) ? Thanks in advance !

Rate of fall is usually the deciding factor for me.

A longer leader allows for a slower rate of fall after the sinker hits.

This varies on what type of plastic you stick on the back as well.

 

I fished against a couple of brothers that used them all the time

But they casted them out and slowly reeled them along the bottom and always used less than a foot

They were very successful too

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

The length from the middle of my chest to my finger tips is what determines mine. 

 

Just great now I have to drive to Tn. to see how long my set up has to be. This technical stuff is killing me.

20 minutes ago, GaryH said:

 

Just great now I have to drive to Tn. to see how long my set up has to be. This technical stuff is killing me.

Ha! And you have to come back everytime you break your line to re measure 

I always start with about 2 foot and by time I retie a few times it gets down to about 14 lol. 

7 hours ago, J Francho said:

Really, this all depends on your altitude.  Time zone comes into play as well, though not as much.  If you are two Mickey from the nearest waypoint, then I'd consider two beard-seconds for a leader.  You will need a three donkey-power reel loaded with at least 100 wiffle of 15 pood line.  I recommend one of the newer manymers from Polynesia. (PDM).  For a sinker, unobtainium is the ticket.  I've heard all the protests about it, but it's just a banana-equivalent dose of radioactivity, so suck it up and fish.  Do all this, and you will be off the scale MegaFonzie.  

 

Oh, last step - I almost forgot: cut your line off before the swivel, and go fish a Texas Rig.

Too funny ! 

7 hours ago, J Francho said:

Really, this all depends on your altitude.  Time zone comes into play as well, though not as much.  If you are two Mickey from the nearest waypoint, then I'd consider two beard-seconds for a leader.  You will need a three donkey-power reel loaded with at least 100 wiffle of 15 pood line.  I recommend one of the newer manymers from Polynesia. (PDM).  For a sinker, unobtainium is the ticket.  I've heard all the protests about it, but it's just a banana-equivalent dose of radioactivity, so suck it up and fish.  Do all this, and you will be off the scale MegaFonzie.  

 

Oh, last step - I almost forgot: cut your line off before the swivel, and go fish a Texas Rig.

Too funny ! ... My Elite Pro pal Mark Menendez just weighed in on the question - he says :15 inches to 7 foot C-Rig leader lengths  ... It just depends . Well there you have it - I just gotta work out that "depends" part and then I'm good !

25 minutes ago, ChrisD46 said:

Too funny ! 

Too funny ! ... My Elite Pro pal Mark Menendez just weighed in on the question - he says :15 inches to 7 foot C-Rig leader lengths  ... It just depends . Well there you have it - I just gotta work out that "depends" part and then I'm good !

7ft? Um no... just a hassle to cast.  I'll do 3 or 4 if I'm using a floating worm in places that have some vegetation..but 7...heck no

I would need a whole new casting convention for a 7 foot leader, most people would find it to be more trouble (potentially painful as well) than it's worth to fool about with a leader that long, typically I like to start somewhere in the 18-24 inch range, if I have to go much longer than that I usually switch to something else that gets me higher in the water column, like a dropshot, and much shorter than that we are getting into Texas rig territory. 

 

What Determines C-Rig Leader Length?

I do

 

 

Roger

 

8 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I love the c rig, I think it works everywhere. I had just never heard of a “crawfish bed.” I always understood that the female swims around with the eggs attached to her belly 

There large flats were they hang in the summer Don’t know if bed was the right term but when there in there . The bass are too

2 minutes ago, bowhunter63 said:

There large flats were they hang in the summer Don’t know if bed was the right term but when there in there . The bass are too

Sounds pretty fun, I’m going to try to find some similar areas .