6 hours ago, 10,000 lakes Bassin said:

What brand free rig weights do you use?

To me there are two types of free rig weights.......shorter and fatter teardrops, and then longer and skinner teardrops.     Personally, I really like the weight as compact as possible, so I always use the shorter/fatter teardrops.

 

Lots of companies make essentially the same thing so I shop around for the best price.    The majority of the time I buy the Flat Out tungsten ones below.    

 

Flat Out Tungsten Tear Drop Drop Shot Weights | Tackle Warehouse

For me - 7/16 oz tungsten weight pegged with a 4/0 offset worm hook and a 10" ribbon tail if I could only have one forever.

 

Thankfully I can have a mag speed worm, mag speed craw and my D bomb and nobody will judge me!  I use those a lot too.

 

I also sometimes like heavier or lighter sinkers but for me I fish a t rig a lot through wood and in heavy cover and I like that pegged 7/16, 4/0 and 10" worm doing that.  Big fish bait.

Hard to pick one. I'll take a Roboworm 1/8 oz weight and 1/0 hook for 4" worm or 2/0 hook for 6" worm. Colors are mm111,  Folkstead Special, or Oxblood red/ flake.

I have a light and heavy version but since we can only go with one it would have to be the heavy combo. Both are Free Rigs

 

Rod: St Croix Victory 7’3 HXF

Reel: Daiwa Zillion 8.5

Line: Tatsu 15lb

Hook: Owner Haymaker 4/0

Weight:3/8 or 1/2oz Woo! tungsten cylinder

Bait: Reaction Innovation sweet beaver

3 hours ago, WRB said:

I fish Texas rig with a bead and sliding bullet weight. Worms anywhere from 6” to 13” straight, curl and ribbon tails. Most common weight is 3/16 oz for worms 6” to 7 1/2”, 1/4 & 3/8 for larger worms.

Hooks prefer straight shank 3/0, 4/0 & 5/0.

Tom

Isn't that called a Free Rig?

A Free Rig requires a different weight than the bullet one like the Texas Rig uses.   The Free Rig weight is the only thing that differentiates it from a Texas Rig.   It must have a swiveling open loop eyelet, that allows it too freely slide up and down your line.  

 

It also doesn't make usage of a glass or plastic bead.     

6 minutes ago, Tackleholic said:

Isn't that called a Free Rig?

A free rig uses a weight like this and if has a bead looks like this...

 

 

 

 

Just now, softwateronly said:

A free rig uses a weight like this and if has a bead looks like this...

 

 

 

 

I have not tried it yet, but I read where a regular old bell sinker works too.  I plan to give this method a shot later this year, right now the fish are too deep.

That's the first time I've ever seen a bead with a Free Rig.   I can't really understand the thought process behind it.......the actual weight doesn't contact the bead to generate sound.    At the risk of sounding stupid, what's the rational for the bead? 

 

When I was growing up, many of the older guys who were hammers used the glass bead in between the bullet weight and hook.    In my early Bass fishing years I did as well.   It's still a standard Texas Rig to me, just a rigging method that has gone out of style.   

5 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

That's the first time I've ever seen a bead with a Free Rig.   I can't really understand the thought process behind it.......the actual weight doesn't contact the bead to generate sound.    At the risk of sounding stupid, what's the rational for the bead? 

 

When I was growing up, many of the older guys who were hammers used the glass bead in between the bullet weight and hook.    In my early Bass fishing years I did as well.   It's still a standard Texas Rig to me, just a rigging method that has gone out of style.   

I could be wrong but I think the bead is there to prevent the eyelet from catching or bumping the knot. 
 

 

I have a bobber stopper that I use with the free rig

21 minutes ago, Tackleholic said:

I have not tried it yet, but I read where a regular old bell sinker works too.  I plan to give this method a shot later this year, right now the fish are too deep.

I've done that and it was very effective at catching fish and twisting the ever living life out of my line.  Keep an eye on it so as not to be disappointed.  The higher quality swivels in the weight are worth the cost imo.

 

20 minutes ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

That's the first time I've ever seen a bead with a Free Rig.   I can't really understand the thought process behind it.......the actual weight doesn't contact the bead to generate sound.    At the risk of sounding stupid, what's the rational for the bead? 

 

When I was growing up, many of the older guys who were hammers used the glass bead in between the bullet weight and hook.    In my early Bass fishing years I did as well.    This is still a standard Texas Rig, just a rigging method that has gone out of style.   

 

I think it's for clicking and flash mostly.  I've done it when pitching some heavier weights that were closer to bell sinkers.  The bead prevented the ring from getting hung up on the hook eye.  The bead is also a decent idea, if you alternate between dragging and popping.

 

scott

 

 

Makes sense, thanks guys.    I've never had a problem with that though.    That's one of many reasons why I prefer the Free Rig is that bullet weight mass isn't slamming back and forth on the knot.   

 

Now I wonder if the old school bead b/t bullet weight and hook was for sound like a C Rig, or for knot protection like this example with a Free Rig

 

eta:  @Texas Flood I've been meaning to use some bobber stops on my Free Rigs and create a little C Rig of sorts.   You ever use them like that, or just for knot protection?

 

I'm hijacking the heck out of this thread, sorry @FishTax....this is your sign to switch over to a Free Rig 😁

1 hour ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

eta:  @Texas Flood I've been meaning to use some bobber stops on my Free Rigs and create a little C Rig of sorts.   You ever use them like that, or just for knot protection?

 

I mainly used it for knot protection but I wanna try that c-rig style this season

Definitely I never peg the weights anymore.  
 

 

Well shallow water is the condition for the question so I could go with a 7.5 Culprit grape worm  1/8-1/4 tungsten bullet weight 3/0 Owner worm hook. Mostly not pegged unless heavy vegetation then a peg and a 3/8 weight to start out with. There are so many different baits to be used according to what the area looks like that there will always be room to negotiate. I guess you got to start somewhere.

17 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

I hate to give an opinion other than the thing you're specifically asking about, but nothing has been more game changing for me in the bottom contact realm than a Free Rig.

 

By the numbers, the Free Rig accounts easily for my most fish over 5lbs.   

 

Once I discovered the Free Rig, I'd say I almost never throw a T Rig anymore.  

 

 

😎

I agree with all of this. 

 

The only difference for me is the baits that I use.

 

Oh, and I always used a bead. Widely used in Japanese Free Rig. The primary reason was to protect the knot from the fine-wire of the Free Rig weights.

 

In lieu of a bead most now use a rubber/silicone "cushion". My 2 favorites are below.

 

 

 

Just one? 
 

Ok, if I had to pick just one TR, it’d like be a Rage Craw in green pumpkin, a 3/16 oz. tungsten bullet weight and a Gamakatsu 3/0 EWG. 
 

But I’m not going to pick just one lol. 

A junebug Creme Scoundrel in 8'', but maybe a 6'' if the lake has stunted fish. With the 8'', a 3/0 wide gap worm hook of your preferred brand. The vmc redline are good. I just tried those last week. Just make sure the hook you choose is scary sharp! A 1/4 oz tungsten bullet weight to finish it off. I have some junebug colored tungsten weights I like. 

Zoom green pumpkin Ultra Vibe Speed Craw with a 3/0 EWG hook.  For fishing around the bank I use between a 1/8 and 1/4 ounce weight depending on the wind.  The line will be 15 lb Big Game.

Interesting replies. I'm not sure if I should imitate them or do the opposite on my pressured bodies of water 😎

23 hours ago, AlabamaSpothunter said:

To me there are two types of free rig weights.......shorter and fatter teardrops, and then longer and skinner teardrops.     Personally, I really like the weight as compact as possible, so I always use the shorter/fatter teardrops.

 

Lots of companies make essentially the same thing so I shop around for the best price.    The majority of the time I buy the Flat Out tungsten ones below.    

 

Flat Out Tungsten Tear Drop Drop Shot Weights | Tackle Warehouse

What does a free rig do better than a Texas rig? How well do those weights come through thick grass/vegetation? @AlabamaSpothunter

On 2/2/2025 at 4:08 PM, woolleyfooley said:

I find it interesting that most suggest an ewg, even with beaver style baits. I was starting to question my choice of straight shank until I saw that @WRB uses straight shanks as well. 🙂

Don't forget Catt!  I, myself also prefer a 3/0 straight shank Gamakatsu round bend for 5-7" worms.  9" and above worms get 5/0or 6/0 hook.  7'2" MH/F, Metanium 7:1 w/18# Diawa Samurai.  I am very interested in fishing the Nano coated too.

The Owner Haymaker is kind of a hybrid of EWG and straight shank. Its been great for me so far but I only started using them at the end of last season.

 

I was a diehard user of Gamakatsu standard EWGs, and then the nano coated models due to their price and sharpness.   They're cheap enough that you can afford to just replace the hook vs. sharpening them.    I also think the lighter gauge wire translated to better bait movement.    

 

I found those Haymakers a couple years ago and still haven't found a hook that is anywhere close to them.    The gauge size, the sharpness, coating, and perhaps most importantly the hook point angle and bend is unbeatable I've found.  

 

Only problem is that the rest of the fishing world has found them as well, and they can be hard to get at times.  

3/16 oz bullet (unpegged) or free rig weight

2/0 G finesse heavy cover straight shank

Limited to one bait, it would be a biffle bug

15lb FC