Think the Free Rig is just like the Texas Rig? Think again! This eye-opening video breaks down why the Free Rig offers a unique advantage you won't get with a Texas Rig.

 

 

I had no idea there was even such a thing as a free rig sinker. So, thanks, Glenn!

Thanks Glen, as always excellant teaching tool.

Fine! I'll fish the Free Rig. 😁

I fished the free rig a little in March.  It seems to work well in the wind,

The bronco bug is designed to wave it's claws on a slow fall. the free rig is the perfect method for it.

I really need to try this. I usually fish a 3/8oz tungsten t-rig, what weights should I start with for a free rig?

Well I've got just the video for that!

 

 

I liked the video, and please don't take offense to my question, but it would be nice to see you do the same demonstration with an unpegged bullet sinker of the same weight, using the same lure, on a T rig. The separation may or may not be the same, it would be interesting to know.  You didn't prove your point because you only showed what a free rig will do.

How does that do in heavy wood cover? My gut says it might hang up on submerged limbs, but I'm curious to try it. 

It's not really bad in rock or wood as long as the wood isn't super heavy, but it's really pretty incredibly awful in any kind of vegetation LOL.

 

To me it's not really a replacement for the Texas rig. It's really more like a lazy Carolina rig kind of thing. I don't dislike fishing it on pretty clean, bottom and structure but in general the Texas rig is still King for me.

 

The Texas rig is also very good at being a lazy Carolina rig. If you use a peg it on either side of the sinker like I do 😏

How does a free rig do in vegetation? What are some good brands of weights to start with? 
 

I normally use a flipping hook for T-rigs, should I use a different hook for the free rig?

1 hour ago, woolleyfooley said:

How does a free rig do in vegetation? What are some good brands of weights to start with? 
 

I normally use a flipping hook for T-rigs, should I use a different hook for the free rig?

It’s does well for me as long as I use the cylinder type. It seems to come through grass a lot better than the tear drop ones. 
 

 

I think you can use either IMO. I use an Owner Haymaker which is a EWG/Flipping hook hybrid and It’s done the job so far. 

Not to be contrarian, but wouldn’t a tungsten bullet weight with a peg behind the weight create the same action as a free rig?

 

It seems the main draw of the free rig is having the bait fall to the bottom on slack line. Is there another reason to use a sliding weight vs a weight pegged 12-18 inches up the line? 
 

Just something I was thinking about. 

On 5/10/2025 at 6:46 PM, woolleyfooley said:

Not to be contrarian, but wouldn’t a tungsten bullet weight with a peg behind the weight create the same action as a free rig?

 

It seems the main draw of the free rig is having the bait fall to the bottom on slack line. Is there another reason to use a sliding weight vs a weight pegged 12-18 inches up the line? 
 

Just something I was thinking about. 

 

Yeah basically a finesse Carolina Rig, aka the Petey Rig.

On 5/6/2025 at 11:26 AM, Pat Brown said:

It's not really bad in rock or wood as long as the wood isn't super heavy, but it's really pretty incredibly awful in any kind of vegetation LOL.

 

To me it's not really a replacement for the Texas rig. It's really more like a lazy Carolina rig kind of thing. I don't dislike fishing it on pretty clean, bottom and structure but in general the Texas rig is still King for me.

 

The Texas rig is also very good at being a lazy Carolina rig. If you use a peg it on either side of the sinker like I do 😏

 

I tried it too. I bought the nice correct weights and everything. Even tried it with a Geecrack Bellows Gill which is supposed to be free rig staple. I fish lots of weedy bottoms. So it performs just ok. I wouldn't bother using it in less that 5 feet of water.  Texas Rig is still king for me.  When I get up to the Northeast this summer and fish some deeper rock lakes I will give it another go.

 

I actually used those little black bobber stops behind and ahead of bullet sinker so I can switch from Carolina to Texas without a toothpick. 

 

 

7 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

 

Yeah basically a finesse Carolina Rig, aka the Petey Rig.

I’d really like to see underwater footage of the free rig compared to a T-rig with the weight pegged 12-18 inches up the line.

5 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

 

I tried it too. I bought the nice correct weights and everything. Even tried it with a Geecrack Bellows Gill which is supposed to be free rig staple. I fish lots of weedy bottoms. So it performs just ok. I wouldn't bother using it in less that 5 feet of water.  Texas Rig is still king for me.  When I get up to the Northeast this summer and fish some deeper rock lakes I will give it another go.

 

I actually used those little black bobber stops behind and ahead of bullet sinker so I can switch from Carolina to Texas without a toothpick. 

 

 

Sounds like a bad pick for a bank angler then. I’m wondering if it’s worth trying given the fact there’s so much vegetation in the waters I fish.

On 5/10/2025 at 6:46 PM, woolleyfooley said:

Is there another reason to use a sliding weight vs a weight pegged 12-18 inches up the line? 
 

 

By far no expert but I'd much rather cast with a sliding weight vs a weight pegged a foot and a half up.

6 hours ago, HawkeyeSmallie said:

 

By far no expert but I'd much rather cast with a sliding weight vs a weight pegged a foot and a half up.

Yeah, that’s a good point.