Carolina Rig, a quick guide

Carl Guffey · Jun 18, 2010

One of the premier ways to fish open water is with a Carolina Rig. It is a very simple way to explore and find fish. It is often overlooked. The rod should be a long firm rod with back bone and a slight tip. The tip is needed to add some distance on each cast. The more ground that you are able to cover on each cast will be an advantage. I prefer a Castaway 8 foot Flipping Stick paired with a high speed Shimano Calcutta reel. The high speed reel gives a great advantage if a fish hits and swims toward you or towards deep water. The size of line you implore will depend on the type of tie off for the rig that is used and the water clarity. But the main line will be between 10 and 20 lbs. usually. 

Once you have decided on a rod, reel, and line size the next decision will be on the amount of weight that is used. Generally anglers will use from a ½ oz. to one full ounce. There again, it will depend on the type of water, current, and depth required. I generally prefer a bullet weight because it will slide easily over larger rocks and limbs where a round weight will not. Next, if you are using a conventional tying method, will come the barrel swivel, especially if you are using a heavier line for your main line. This will be the connection between you and your leader, so be sure to choose a reputable company. Upon adding the swivel, make sure that a bead is inserted between the swivel and the lead weight. This will keep the weight from coming or sliding back and cutting the knot that is connecting your main line to the swivel. 

Hook choice: this will be one of the most important decisions that you will make when fishing a rig. Often times a strike will occur when the rig bait is at its furthermost distance from you and a quality hook may decide if you land the fish. It will also be very important to choose the hook based on bait size. One of the easiest things to do is place a bait on a smaller hook, as the fish bites the bait, it will slide up and block the hook penetration resulting in a lost fish. In smaller baits I prefer a 1/0 light wire hook, as the bait size increases I move up to a 3/0 and will go to a 5/0 for Brush Hogs or 10 inch worms. Hopefully this will get you started. You can only be held back by your imagination. I am adding a few pictures so that you can see a couple of varying ways to include a rig in your repartee.

JDK · Jun 18, 2010

good read once you go tungsten you wont go back..
my favorite is a baby brush hog dipped in jjs magic

elwestb · Jun 18, 2010

... tungsten absolutely makes a world of difference, especially with a good fluorocarbon line! It's expensive, and I don't use it except on the C rig, but it's well worth it in that application!

BackOnTheWater · Jun 21, 2010

elwestb - 6/18/2010 7:22 PM ... tungsten absolutely makes a world of difference, especially with a good fluorocarbon line! It's expensive, and I don't use it except on the C rig, but it's well worth it in that application!

Absotively! emoThumbsup 7-1/2' MH rod/ 14# fluoro/ 12# mono leader/ 1/2 oz tungsten/ glass bead/ brass ticker/ 4/0 hook with a 4" craw is my normal deep (6'+) rig. I also use a smaller setup for shallow water. But you SURE DO hate to lose one...several bucks a pop!emoMad

cast4bass · Jun 21, 2010

Thanks Carl for the post. I learned a few things and I have been using the rig for a couple of years.

churly · Jul 27, 2010

When I used to fish a c-rig a lot I always used 30-50lb. braid for my main line. It can take the punishment of the heavy tungsten and you may only have to change lines a few times a year. Also, I would advise using a good monofilament as a leader, the flouro tends to sink, and mono floats, and I want my bait to be up off the bottom. here's another tip use the crig to find the structure or fish, if they are there throw a big ugly bait like a heavy jig in there to catch the bigger one's...ever since rob started making these bad azz jigs I dont throw a crig much.

BassERT · Jul 28, 2010

Carl, how long a leader do you use?
Is it based on weight or bait size or do always use just one length for all? emoCool emoScratch

AThornton · Jul 28, 2010

churly - 7/27/2010 9:23 PM

When I used to fish a c-rig a lot I always used 30-50lb. braid for my main line. It can take the punishment of the heavy tungsten and you may only have to change lines a few times a year. Also, I would advise using a good monofilament as a leader, the flouro tends to sink, and mono floats, and I want my bait to be up off the bottom. here's another tip use the crig to find the structure or fish, if they are there throw a big ugly bait like a heavy jig in there to catch the bigger one's...ever since rob started making these bad azz jigs I dont throw a crig much.

I agree Churly. I've always said "Find em with a rig, catch em with a jig"! Using Mono as your leader is also a very good tip. Just like you mentioned, that Mono may get your bait another foot or so off the bottom as opposed to flouro, resulting in more strikes!

Carl Guffey · Jul 28, 2010

BassERT - 7/28/2010 6:58 PM Carl, how long a leader do you use? Is it based on weight or bait size or do always use just one length for all? emoCool emoScratch

Generally I let the conditions dictate my leader length. Specifically water clarity. The clearer the water, the longer my leader will generally be. I have caught fish ona six inch leader and I use up to a seven foot leader when I fish Fontana in the daytime. Depending on where I am fishing, I will start with a 3 ft. leader and let the fish tell me what length to throw. That is one of the reasons I throw a Carolina Keeper. It is very easy to adjust leader length without having to retie. The other reason is that there is just one knot between me and the fish, instead of three.

Carolina Rig, a quick guide

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