Carolina Rigs are a method that everyone from the seasoned Pro to the weekend angler or even the guides with inexperienced clients can use to catch bass. The Carolina rig is known for its ability to catch a limit of bass quickly, and if you were to modify the lure on the business end of the rig, lets say to a 10 inch worm or lizard it has been known to put some lunkers in the livewell. This is also a lure that works well in rough conditions. It’s much easier to cast into the wind and because of the heavier weight it keeps you in contact with the bottom.

Although Carolina rigging has been mainly reserved for the summertime, it can be used throughout the season starting with the pre-spawn and ending in the fall. There are different lures that may work better in certain situations. When you find the bass are not real aggressive, use the Carolina Rig and watch your catch rate go up, sometimes as much as 3 to 1.

Pre-spawn tactics: In colder waters use it in places such as the first drop-off next to a spawning flat. In the migration routes, including ditches and creek channels leading to spawning locations, try using a smaller lure like a 4" lizard or a 4" grub with a long leader.

Post-spawn: Best used on the tips of long points, sides of humps, or any other open water structure that has deep water close by. Use slightly larger baits like a 6" or 7" straight tail worm or french fry, tube, or 5"grub.

Summer: Fish the creek channels, main lake humps, and ledges. Use basically the same baits as in the post-spawn.

Fall: This is when most of the bass will be chasing baitfish and feeding up for the winter. The lakes are usually clearer this time of year, try using smaller lures that have natural baitfish colors in them as well as lighter leaders or use a fluorocarbon line. This is also the time to experiment with other lures as well. Who said Carolina rigging is only for soft plastics? Try using a floating jerkbait. When the sun is out use chrome or gold to get the maximum flash. Cloudy days, switch to white, gray, or even chartreuse.

The tackle I prefer to use for my Carolina rigging can be altered to fit your needs but this is what I use: Rod: 7’ medium action rod. This enables me to make longer casts and gives me the ability to take up a lot of slack on the hook set in a hurry using a sweeping set. Reels: I tend to use a slower speed reel so I’m not working the bait to fast. It only takes a couple of inches of movement to activate the worm or lizard on the hook, to get that bass to bite. Weights: Use anywhere from a ½ oz. to 1oz. weight. Use the lighter weight, ½ oz. to 5/8 oz., in the shallow water applications with a short leader of about 18." Line: I prefer to use 20 lb. to 25 lb. test for the main line and 12 lb. to 14 lb. test fluorocarbon line for the leaders. Hooks: I prefer to use a 4/0 Gamakatsu extra wide gap worm hook, it’s lightweight and will allow the lure to have a lifelike action. It also allows the hook point to clear the ball of wadded up plastic when the bass takes your lure.

There are two different types of retrieves that can be used. The first method of retrieve is the sweeping method. This is done by moving the rod tip on a horizontal plane, just enough to move the bait only a couple inches. The hook set will also follow the same plane with a rotation in the body allowing you to take up a lot of slack from the line and getting a solid hook set. This is primarily used in a weedy situation allowing the lure and weight to move through the weeds without getting hung up as much. With this method, make the leader long enough so that the lure is just under the tops of the weeds.

The second method of retrieve is the hop. The hop is obtained by raising the rod a couple inches and reeling up the slack as the weight hits the bottom. This method is used mainly where the bottom has a lot of wood and rocks. You will get hung up less with this type of retrieve. On the hook set, wait a little longer to make sure the fish has the lure then reel down on the rod tip and set the hook with force.

Here are some tips for saving some time in your tournament day. Some lure manufactures make a pre-rigged Carolina rig; they are quicker and easier to replace should your line break. You could also take pre-tied leaders and wrap them around something stiff, like a piece of cardboard or foam to shorten the time. We all know time is of the essence in tournament fishing.