Hello everyone I been reading this site for ages but just now registered. :-[

I just have a question that has been bothering me since getting my rear handed to me by my partner last weekend.

When you guys are fishing texas rigs do you prefer to drag your bait along untill you contact structure or cover then hop it or do you reel the bait along the bottom untill make contact then hop it?

Welcome aboard!

I fish most soft plastics by lifting the bait with a slow, short (6-12") horizontal sweep, letting the bait settle on slack line. With this motion I am trying to imitate a crawdad moving over a rock. With a lizard, I drag the bait slowly on the bottom. In grass I sometimes fish a Kreature like a jerkbait.

The point is, there are a number of ways to fish a T-rig, weighted or weightless.

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RW pretty much summed it up.

I haven't T-rigged for a number of years...weightless senko style bait took over.  That being said, I need to return to my roots.  As opposed to dragging or sweeping, I did well with "hopping" that bait (usually a worm, tequilla sunrise color).  Sometimes small, short, slow hops...sometimes large and fast, depending on what the fish seemed to respond to.  Once I hit cover I would slow down and work it.

Hello everyone I been reading this site for ages but just now registered. :-[

I just have a question that has been bothering me since getting my rear handed to me by my partner last weekend.

When you guys are fishing texas rigs do you prefer to drag your bait along untill you contact structure or cover then hop it or do you reel the bait along the bottom untill make contact then hop it?

Yes... and I dead stick it... and I swim it... and I slowly drag it and short hop it...  and what RW said.

B

Yes... and I dead stick it... and I swim it... and I slowly drag it and short hop it... and what RW said.

B

since we're on the topic, i've been hearing that the new thing is to NOT peg your bullet weight and let in slide free, I now do both and have about equal amount of luck both ways... :-/ comment...

since we're on the topic, i've been hearing that the new thing is to NOT peg your bullet weight and let in slide free, I now do both and have about equal amount of luck both ways... :-/ comment...

Its been my experience that if your weight to slide around you should do so in open water or light cover. I have found that if you dont peg your weight in heavy cover you can simply kiss your T-rig goodbye. My experience anyway...

since we're on the topic, i've been hearing that the new thing is to NOT peg your bullet weight and let in slide free, I now do both and have about equal amount of luck both ways... :-/ comment...

Its been my experience that if your weight to slide around you should do so in open water or light cover. I have found that if you dont peg your weight in heavy cover you can simply kiss your T-rig goodbye. My experience anyway...

In heavy cover you want to peg your weight so it doesn't slide up.  If not pegged, both the worm and the weight will provide separate opportunities to hang up.  

WELCOME!

All has been said.

First I never peg any weight period & I fish matted Hydrilla  

How I work a Texas Rig

1) Make a long cast

2) Strip 3 or 4 arms length of line, this will assure a vertical fall

3) Count the bait down, 15' of water count to 20 to make certain the bait is on the bottom, do it in your head if need be.

4) Pause a good 30 seconds after the bait reaches bottom

5) Lower your rod to the 3 o'clock position while reeling slack & feel for anything unusual

6) Move the rod from 3 o'clock to 11 o'clock in three separate motions

7) Pause 30 seconds & feel for anything unusual

8) Repeat 5, 6, & 7 all the way back to the boat

9) If at any time you feel a noticeable tap, tug, line tighten, heaviness, or see line movement.

10) Without hesitation drop the rod, reel the slack, and set the hook

I usally use the cast long let sit until line is at the bottom of the pond/lake/river pull up.........reel in slack .........do process over until you cant any more...........i caught many fish using that method last year

good luck with texas-riggin'

Sean

Also very important:  If you're getting your rear handed to you by your partner, swallow your pride and do what he is doing  

As with any situation, I let the fish tell me what they want.

Hopping, swimming, shaking, deadsticking, Whatever they will bite best.