A Pro’s Guide: Fishing a Carolina Rig for Bass
The Carolina Rig is a classic bass fishing rig that every bass angler should know how to put together and use correctly. This unique rig excels at catching bass because it can target deep-holding fish with a subtle presentation.
If you’re struggling to get a bite in the heat of summer, or you just don’t know where to begin on a new body of water, fishing a Carolina Rig for bass is a great option.
What Is the Carolina Rig?
The Carolina Rig goes back many years. It’s a unique bottom fishing technique that can cover a wide area and consistently catch fish, even on tough days.
As a bottom fishing technique, Carolina Rig bass fishing is best suited for the summertime when the weather is hot. During peak summer, bass move deeper in search of cooler water temperatures.
How It Works
The Carolina Rig is fished by dragging or lifting it up and down along the bottom, creating a distinctive “clacking” sound that entices bass to investigate. The presentation and action of a soft plastic lure on a Carolina Rig closely mimics the natural movement of a crayfish, making it highly appealing to bass.
This rig shines when you need to cover a vast area of water, and you’re not exactly sure where the bass are hiding.
Components
The Carolina Rig is made up of seven components:
- Mainline – Use braided or fluorocarbon, depending on your preference.
- A bullet, cylinder, or egg weight/sinker – A 3/8 – 1 oz weight can be used. The size of the weight will depend on several factors explained later.
- 1-2 beads (plastic, glass, or metal) – Fishing beads protect the knot from being damaged by the weight.
- Barrel swivel – The swivel facilitates an easy connection between the mainline and the leader while preventing the weight from sliding further down the line.
- Leader – Fluorocarbon or monofilament will work best.
- Worm hook – An offset worm hook with a standard or extra wide gap is ideal for the Carolina Rig.
- Soft plastic lure – A wide variety of soft plastic lures in different styles and sizes can be effectively used with the Carolina Rig.
Carolina Rig tackle, from left to right: bullet weight, bead, barrel swivel, offset worm hook, soft plastic lure
Hook Recommendations
The best hooks to use in a Carolina Rig are offset worm hooks. These are purpose-built for soft plastic lures and allow you to rig them weedless. Most of the time, light wire hooks are the way to go, as they do a solid job of hooking the fish. This is especially true if you have a lot of line out.
A sturdier hook may be necessary for larger-bodied soft plastics or if you’re fishing in an area with a lot of aquatic vegetation.
Weight/Sinker Recommendations
When the Carolina Rig was first devised, egg sinkers were used. While these weights will still do the job, it’s important to note that they come with limitations in terms of size options, as egg sinkers are primarily intended for species such as carp and catfish.
Nowadays, cylindrical and bullet weights made with bass fishing in mind are widely available and more suited to the task. These weights have sleek designs and are available in sizes more suitable for bass fishing.
Tungsten weights are favored over lead, not only for their non-toxicity but also for their enhanced sensitivity, allowing for more accurate detection of the bottom and bites.
A selection of offset worm hooks – perfect for a Carolina Rig
The Carolina Rig is usable with weights ranging from 3/8 to 1 ounce. A heavier weight may be necessary to reach the bottom in certain fishing scenarios, such as in strong currents or when using a long or thick leader. If conditions are calm and you’re using light tackle, you can get away with less weight.
Using a heavier weight can also help you make longer casts, which is beneficial for covering a larger area, thereby increasing your chances of getting a bite.
The Carolina Rig excels at targeting bass down deep
Carolina Rig Benefits
There are many benefits that come with learning how to fish a Carolina Rig for bass.
Firstly, it allows you to easily present the soft plastic lure in a weightless manner, while the weight at the end of the leader sits on the bottom. The result is a natural presentation that’s hard for aggressive bass to resist.
The Carolina Rig is also incredibly versatile because of the seemingly endless variations of soft plastic baits that can be tied on. You can reach for large lures to attract big bass or use small finesse styles when bites are tricky.
Cover a vast area
Carolina Rig vs. Texas Rig
You may ask yourself, ‘Why use a Carolina Rig over a Texas Rig?’. The Texas Rig is undoubtedly very useful, but the Carolina Rig beats it to the punch in certain situations.
The Texas Rig is excellent for casting and pitching into specific and understood locations such as docks, laydowns, and brush piles. However, the Carolina Rig surpasses it in its ability to cover large areas, thanks to the long casts it enables and the option to drag or bounce the rig along the bottom.
In addition, the Carolina Rig can double up as a finesse technique in the peak of summer when bass can be incredibly shrewd.
Finally, on a Carolina Rig setup, the weight is positioned far away from the lure. This results in bass holding onto the lure for longer, facilitating a powerful hookset. This isn’t the case with the Texas Rig, where bass are known to detect the weight and spit out the lure quickly.
For a complete breakdown of the Texas Rig, check out our in-depth analysis.
A completed Carolina Rig with braided mainline and a monofilament leader
How to Rig up the Carolina Rig
Rigging a Carolina Rig isn’t complicated, but it does take a few minutes. Save yourself time on the water by rigging it ahead of your session. Even better, I always like to have a dedicated rod rigged with a Carolina Rig, so it’s always ready to go.
To rig up a Carolina Rig:
Step 1
Thread the mainline through the eye of the weight.
Step 2
Thread the mainline through the eye of the bead(s).
Step 3
Tie the mainline to the swivel with a strong fishing knot (improved clinch or Palomar knot).
Step 4
Take at least 16-18 inches of fluorocarbon leader and tie it to the opposite end of the swivel with a strong fishing knot (improved clinch or Palomar knot).
Step 5
Tie the other end of the leader to an offset worm hook with a strong fishing knot (improved clinch or Palomar knot).
Step 6
Rig your soft plastic lure on the hook (creature bait, ribbon tail worm, or flat tail worm)
Carolina Rig Tackle
The equipment you use plays a significant role, as it will optimize your effectiveness when fishing a Carolina Rig for bass. If you’re a regular bass angler, you will most likely have all the necessary equipment, as there’s nothing out of the ordinary here.
Rod
I recommend using a 7’6” casting rod with medium-heavy power and a fast action. This rod from 13 Fishing is a great option due to its quality and affordability. It will help you make long casts and provides the rig with the necessary action to entice bites.
Ensure the rod you go for has the length and backbone needed for long casts and strong hooksets when fishing a Carolina Rig.
A baitcasting rod and reel combination works best with the Carolina Rig
Reel
A baitcasting reel with a high gear ratio is ideal. You can’t go wrong with a Daiwa Tatula because of its dependability. While it is expensive, the extra speed will help you reel in line faster, which is extremely helpful when you have a fish on and a lot of line out. It also means you can reel in and recast faster, optimizing the amount of time the rig is in the water.
Line
The Carolina Rig calls for two sections of line, one for the mainline and one for the leader. The line material you choose can be the same or different, depending on your preference and situation.
A braided line within the 20-30 lb range is recommended when setting up your mainline for Carolina Rig bass fishing. A product like the Power Pro Braid offers excellent sensitivity and resistance to abrasion. Alternatively, a high-quality 12–15 lb fluorocarbon line, like the Berkley Vanish, can also work well. However, avoid monofilament lines, as their elasticity can make reliable hooksets challenging with long casts.
You need to decide
The length of the leader can impact your casting ability and the rig’s appearance. Longer leaders can be more challenging to cast but give the lure a more natural appearance in the water. A 16-18 inch leader usually strikes a good balance.
If you’re looking for a finesse presentation, a longer leader gives the soft plastic more room to suspend naturally. On the other hand, a short leader too close to the weight will seem less natural and potentially spook the fish.
I recommend using a braided mainline with an 18” 12–15 lb fluorocarbon leader. This combination will keep you highly sensitive to subtle bites.
The Best Carolina Rig Lures
Below are the lures that I have found work exceptionally well on a Carolina Rig.
My Favorite Creature Style Bait: Strike King Rage Tail Structure Bug
This creature bait is an excellent choice for the Carolina Rig because of its realistic action that closely mimics the profile of a crayfish. While it’s effective in various environments, it particularly shines in rocky areas where bass are naturally on the hunt for crayfish.
My Favorite Ten-Inch Worm: Berkley 10” PowerBait Worm
The Berkley 10” PowerBait Worm features a ribbon tail that produces a captivating action sure to draw in bass. The PowerBait scent these soft plastics wield is a bonus that further attracts bass and persuades them to hold on for longer.
Ten-inch worms work well on Carolina Rigs and can be rigged weedless, making them excellent in areas with intermittent weeds. Ten-inch worms are known to draw in colossal bass, so use these lures when you’re next out chasing a personal best.
My Favorite Straight Tail Worm: Zoom Trick Worm
The Zoom Trick Worm is a straight tail worm loved by many bass anglers across the US.
The variety of available colors and small size make the Trick Worm a great finesse bait. Use it when bass are finicky to bite, in areas with high fishing pressure, and especially when targeting smallmouth bass.
For more top rated lures, check out our favorites here.
How to Fish the Carolina Rig
Once you get the hang of it, the Carolina Rig is a very simple technique. If you rig it correctly and use it in the right situations, it can dramatically increase your bass catches, particularly in the summer months.
Seasons
The optimal season for the Carolina Rig is, without a doubt, summertime. When the weather is hot, and water temperatures rise, bass will seek out deeper areas and hold close to the bottom. This is precisely where the Carolina Rig operates.
In the spring, covering shallow spawning flats with a Carolina Rig can also result in a productive day on the water.
You’ll most likely have to take your boat offshore to use the Carolina Rig effectively
Areas
Ideal locations for the Carolina Rig include:
- Rocky drop offs
- Spawning flats
- Deep water parallel to the bank
- Points
- Offshore structures
Fishing a Carolina Rig for bass in these locations is sure to result in a few bites, but avoid stump fields and brush piles. These locations will lead to frequent snags and hang-ups involving the weight, leader, and potentially the hook if it detaches from the soft plastic.
Feeling the Bite and Setting the Hook
Feeling bites and making strong hooksets is one of the trickier aspects of the Carolina Rig.
Avoid as much slack line as possible when working this rig. When you feel a subtle thump or some resistance at the end of the line, make a low sweeping hookset with your rod horizontal to the water’s surface.
Traditionally setting the hook by lifting the rod over your shoulder will result in you pulling the bait right out of the fish’s mouth.
Casting a Carolina Rig
To cast a Carolina Rig, use a slow, sweeping motion. Avoid making quick, over-the-shoulder casts, as these can cause backlash in your line and limit the casting distance you will achieve.
Reminiscent of a lasso toss
Short Leader vs. Long Leader
If you’re just now learning how to fish a Carolina Rig for bass, starting with a shorter leader of about 12-14 inches will simplify the casting process. The technique for casting a Carolina Rig can be pretty different from what you’re used to, so start with a shorter leader to keep things manageable.
Once you move on to a longer leader, you’ll enjoy the benefits of a more natural presentation that fish will bite more readily at. Also, because the weight is further from the lure, bass will hold on longer before they feel any resistance, allowing you more time to set the hook.
Carolina Rig Retrieves
There are two main ways to go about retrieving a Carolina Rig. These include:
Bottom Dragging Method
For the bottom dragging method, make a low sweeping motion with your rod after you make your cast and allow the rig to sink.
Keep the rod close to the water’s surface and move it slowly from front to back. Once you’ve made a sweeping motion, reel down the slack and repeat. This method will allow the rig to maintain contact with the bottom, which is ideal in rocky areas.
Lift and Drop Method
With the lift and drop method, lift your rod tip vertically, wait a few moments for the rig to sink, reel down the slack, and repeat.
The lift and drop method will bring the bait up above the bottom, then back down as you work it. This technique mimics a crayfish swimming or that of an injured baitfish. This method is excellent for grassy bottoms where you want to bring the bait just off the bottom to ensure it’s seen.
Conclusion
The Carolina Rig is a time-tested classic, and it’s been around for this long because it’s excellent at catching bass when the weather is hot or when the bass are picky.
If you love bass fishing and you’re looking for a new technique to add to your arsenal, look no further than the Carolina Rig. Once you get the hang of putting it together and fishing it, it’s an incredibly easy, enjoyable, and effective technique for catching fish anywhere.
