I want to try this, this year. I have plastics, hooks, and just bought 1/4 sinkers. Where/when are we deploying this over other options? Aside from the combo of fast —> slow, suspending drop, why throw it over a skirted jig, Texas rig, large Drop Shot, or even Carolina/split shot? Right now I think of it as something to throw at structure away from the bank…but maybe there’s an application near the bank, too.
 

I have a vague sense it should be a good producer for me when pre-spawn happens. Maybe even before. But I don’t really have a grasp of where to throw it—and I did watch Glenn’s video awhile back (at least I could swear he made one) and liked the action on it. It’s just my TVA (SE Tennessee, usually from a boat) and Army Corps (NW Georgia, usually from the bank) lakes seem to be a bit different than the ones out West.

Here's my video:

 

 

And here Shin Fukae talking about using it for spring:

 

After shooting that video, he and I fished for awhile and caught several nice ones!

 

How is that different from a Texas rig?

6 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

How is that different from a Texas rig?

My thoughts exactly the first time I saw something on it. An unpegged Texas rig will accomplish the same thing. It is possible with the ring on the weight it might let the weight slide a little faster than a Texas rig would letting the weigh separate from the bait just slightly more. I'd have to take a look at it in an aquarium to see if that distance is significant or not. 

Before Texas rig with a sliding bullet weight we used Water Gremlin Dipsey sinkers ( a tear drop shape weight with a brass center post and ring eye).

The 1st soft plastic worms were Nick Creme Crawler rigged with 2 hooks, a small propeller on a 6” leader.

 We used a snap swivel to clip on the worm rig leader and a dipsey sinker attached to the clip or sliding above the clip on the main line....50’s era.

Todays Free Rig is the same as the 50’s era sliding dipsey sinker rig.

Texas bass anglers rigged the bulk Creme worms weedless hooked and created the bullet weight (dipsey without the brass post) to slide on the line.

The term Texas rig comes from the weedless hooked worm and some of us old timers include the sliding bullet weight as the Texas rig.

The free rig uses a cylinder weight in lieu of the bullet weight and slides freely on the main line without a weight stopped.

If you bed fish the Free rig is good.

Tom

23 minutes ago, WRB said:

Before Texas rig with a sliding bullet weight we used Water Gremlin Dipsey sinkers ( a tear drop shape weight with a brass center post and ring eye).

The 1st soft plastic worms were Nick Creme Crawler rigged with 2 hooks, a small propeller on a 6” leader.

 We used a snap swivel to clip on the worm rig leader and a dipsey sinker attached to the clip or sliding above the clip on the main line....50’s era.

Todays Free Rig is the same as the 50’s era sliding dipsey sinker rig.

Texas bass anglers rigged the bulk Creme worms weedless hooked and created the bullet weight (dipsey without the brass post) to slide on the line.

The term Texas rig comes from the weedless hooked worm and some of us old timers include the sliding bullet weight as the Texas rig.

The free rig uses a cylinder weight in lieu of the bullet weight and slides freely on the main line without a weight stopped.

If you bed fish the Free rigs good good. 

Tom

I still fish my Texas rig with an unpegged bullet weight. So the only real difference is the style of the weight?

The big difference is line friction going thru the bullet weight vs no friction with the line sliding thru the wire eye.

Tom

I vote for NY-Rig for LMB fish finder rig (C-rigged free rig) since we've been using that in the salt since I don't know when... You are welcome for the umbrella.

I guess I’m hopeful that the free rig will be a better way to deploy a beaver style bait. Bigger plastics, generally. Might try it with an Ole Monster Worm, as well.
 

Always looking for another way to fish Trick Worms and stick baits, too.

 

I just don’t like how bullet weights heavier than 3/16oz slide. By the time you work up to a 1/2oz lead bullet weight, it looks horrible and flashy. And I don’t feel like shelling out $$ for tungsten unless it’s for punching weights.

The bottom line to me is this; if the soft plastic floats off the bottom the the free rig should work OK.

Tom

Ya, a LOT of people think it's gimmicky...thinking just using a bullet weight is the same thing.

 

Nope!  Not at all.   Bullet weights can get hung up, plus the free rig weights slide VERY easily on the line - that's a huge difference because it impacts how long the bait falls weightless, which is key to this technique.  I get the best results in 4-10 feet, where the weight has a more pronounced separation from the bait.

 

The Ragebug is a favorite bait for me using this technique, but it's also worked well with brush hogs, worms, and lizards.  I don't use floating baits because it's that slow fall that triggers bites.

Y'all told me for years I needed to peg my weights...now y'all telling me no!

 

Think about!

 

The distance between your unpegged weight or "free" weight & your lure when it hits bottom ain't gonna be that far. Once you take up slack to work/move your lure that distance closes almost permanently.

 

The friction ain't caused by the bullet weight sliding on the line. It's caused by the "V" formed in the line & by the weight being at the bottom of the "V". The heavier the weight the tighter the "V" the less separation.

With all due respect Catt, you sound like somebody who hasn't tried the Free Rig, because I was thinking along similar lines, until I tried it.  

2 hours ago, Catt said:

 

The distance between your unpegged weight or "free" weight & your lure when it hits bottom ain't gonna be that far. Once you take up slack to work/move your lure that distance closes almost permanently.

 

The friction ain't caused by the bullet weight sliding on the line. It's caused by the "V" formed in the line & by the weight being at the bottom of the "V". The heavier the weight the tighter the "V" the less separation.

Bullet weight slides almost sideways because it’s shape makes a kink in the line.. There’s less “pitch” in the line, if you will. Especially with larger bullet weights. At least that’s my impression.

 

But your point makes me realize I need to be cautious about how I take up slack with this method, and Texas rigs for that matter. Need to mess around in shallow water where the lure is visible, till I like what I see when re-establishing contact.

I agree with Catt had to say. I think  you let it fall to the bait hits the bottom let it sit for a minute, reel it in & cast it again. The idea is to have fish hit it on the fall. I don't think this is much good in shallow water. Most likely in 8 to 20 ft.

Does anyone know where to get the weights to use?

With all due respect @Glenn I have tried it, more than just casually.

 

I just don't see a big enough advantage to make me shelf hundreds dollars worth of bullet weights.

1 hour ago, scbassin said:

I agree with Catt had to say. I think  you let it fall to the bait hits the bottom let it sit for a minute, reel it in & cast it again. The idea is to have fish hit it on the fall. I don't think this is much good in shallow water. Most likely in 8 to 20 ft.

Does anyone know where to get the weights to use?

I got some 1/4oz from Wal-Mart for $1 a pack. They put them next to the egg sinkers.

On 2/7/2023 at 8:23 AM, Jig Man said:

How is that different from a Texas rig?

It allows for bait to fall through water slower. It also comes through rock better, because of the weight shape.

Big difference between a lead bullet weight and brass or tungsten with a larger ID hole that allows the weight to slide on the easier. The free rig weight has nearly zero line friction.

Floating hand pour soft plastics may fall a little slower with a hook then a sinking soft plastic but both weighted down and pulled down to the weight when moving the lure.

A floater can be worked in place up and down without moving the weight. Creature baits with flapping claws fall slower then soft places without appendages regardless if T-rig bullet weight or free rigged.

Definitely worth giving it try.

Tom

Texas Rig - Free Rig?

 

I pick Texas Rig ?

17 minutes ago, Catt said:

Texas Rig - Free Rig?

 

I pick Texas Rig ?

Now wait a minute.  I thought you were one of those guy that believe that a Texas rig is a soft plastic with the hook buried in it to make it weedless and that it has nothing to do with the weight.  If so can’t a Free Rig also be a Texas Rig?

 

I think you’re secretly one of us that believe a Texas Rig has to have a bullet weight.  ?

LMB guys think tying on a hook is a rig, I think that's just wacky...

8 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

LMB guys think tying on a hook is a rig

Are you talking about the Bare Rig?  ?