Carolina Rig

Carolina Rigs are bottom contact lures known as a natural presentation created by dragging a fairly heavy weight across the bottom with a soft plastic that follows some distance behind on slack line leader allowing the soft plastic to jump and dart around nearby not on the bottom. Carolina Rigs can be fished at varying speeds, varying depths with a wide variety of soft plastics.

Anatomy: Carolina Rig lures are soft bait lures which feature a soft plastic that is typically texas-rigged with a leader (typically 18 inches to 3 feet) to sliding weight that is connected to the leader via a swivel. Generally there are one or more beads between the swivel and weight that produce noise and protect the swivel. 

Variants & Other Names: 

  • Split Shot Rig: Similar to the Carolina Rig except use a split shot weight which is fixed on line using pliers. Some add a swivel, like a Carolina Rig, and place the split shot weight on the main line. The split shot weight does not move like a Carolina Rig and as it does not move it does not make noise. Generally, a Split Shot Rig uses smaller hooks, smaller soft plastics and lighter weight as compared to the Carolina Rig, and thus fished shallow.
  • Mojo Rig: Mojo Rig uses pegs to locate the weight on the line as compared to a Carolina Rig using swivels and beads. This allows the leader length to be easily adjusted albeit it only works with light weights. Some would consider this a more finesse presentation that can be used shallow. There are no beads for noise.
  • Ball and Chain: A nickname. 

Lure Action. Jumps and dart around nearby not on the bottom

Search Bait: Not common, albeit it can be fished reasonably fast. Some suggest carolina rig while using forward facing sonar as the carolina rig to excite bass and pull them off the bottom making them visible and  making them active.  Once identified, use a follow-up bait. 

Pros’ Choice: Less common. 

When to Fish Carolina RIg

Carolina Rig are bottom contact lures typically selected when:   

  • Targeted Depth is:
    • Shallow: Less common and with a shorter leader.
    • Deep(Offshore): Common up to 20 or 25 ft. 
  • Fishing Speed is: Some suggest carolina rig is in-between fishing fast and fishing slow.
    • Slow: Common to fish slow allowing the soft plastic to creep across the bottom.  
    • Fast: Less common, but with a heavier weight it can be dragged at a reasonably rapid pace.     
  • Lure Visibility is:
    • High Lure Visibility: Common, as it is typically considered a natural presentation.
    • Low Lure Visibility: Not common, if stained some suggest multiple beads to increase noise and a creature or lizard with multiple appendages to create vibration.
  • Targeting Cover: Some suggest all lures are good near cover where carolina rig lures are used when contacting:
    • Grass: Common for light submerged grass and grass lines but not common for thick grass as the weight will get snagged. Some suggest a longer leader to get the soft plastic away from the weight as the weight can get partially snagged. 
      • Weedless: The lure itself is generally weedless texas-rigged but the weight can get caught up in thicker grass. 
    • Rock: Common, potentially with a lighter weight, especially for rip rap and planes of small rocks. Some suggest a smaller leader in rock as they suggest you want the noise of the weight near the soft plastic. 
    • Wood: Less common with a very light weight to avoid getting snagged on the wood.  
    • Dock:  Not common 
    • Off Cover: Common and some consider it a bottom lure search bait. 
  • Soft Bottom vs Hard Bottom:
    • Soft Bottom: Common, as the weight is in the mucky/silky bottom creating a disturbance while the soft bait is above the bottom. Longer leader with buoyant small soft bait can help keep the soft bait out of the muck/silt. Some suggest a light weight
    • Hard Bottom: Common, as the weight is banging on the hard bottom creating noise to get the attention of the bass.
Specific Carolina Rig Lure Selection

Selecting the Carolina Rig Lure Type, as a soft bait lure type,  there are the following key decisions:

  • Lure Color: As lure color selection is mostly tied to the lure visibility download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic.
Download the Acute Lure Color Breakdown™ Infographic
Rigging Decisions

As a soft bait lure type, the common rigging considerations includes:

  • Hook:
  • Weights:
    • Options and Attributes:
      • Cylindrical Sinker: Some suggest cylindrical sinkers – egg sinker is better to provide a feel of the bottom.
      • Bullet Weight: Some suggest bullet weights are better for getting through cover.
      • Weight’s Weight:  Enough weight to keep the lure on the bottom and thus more weight is required in current and potentially windy conditions.
        • Light: Shallow water lighter weight (1/4 oz) which is less likely to get snagged. Also for soft bottom.
        • Common: 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz
        • Heavy: Deep water and/or heavy wind might need 1 oz weight to keep it on the bottom.
  • Bead(s): Glass, ceramic, plastic, metal bead(s) or a magnetic bead or if using a tungsten weight protects the knot from the weight hitting it and creates a sound when the weight hits it.
  • Swivel or Carolina Keepers: Swivel, large enough to block the bead generally between #10 to #6, or Carolina Keepers. Carolina Keepers have the advantage of reducing the knots and thus potential failure points plus it may help eliminate break offs when the weight gets snagged and it is easy to adjust the leader length for example when there is a change in depth or cover. For heavier weights two Carolina Keepers may be required. With Carolina Keepers the beads are optional.
  • Main Line: Some suggest fluorocarbon and some suggest braid.
    • Light: Less than 20 lb test
    • Common: 20 lb test 
    • Heavy: 20 lb test and over.
  • Leader: Fluorocarbon and some suggest monofilament as it floats helping keep the soft plastic off the bottom.
    • Short -14 to 24 inches. A short length leader is easier to feel fish on and better control and castability and some suggest when fishing shallow and/or grass.
    • Longer 3 to 4 feet: Provides more action to the soft plastic and the fish is less likely to feel the weight when they bite.
  • Rod:
Download Rod Infographic
Carolina Rig Presentations

Presentations for carolina rig are commonly considered a horizontal presentation and a tight line presentation with the following considerations:

  • Cast Techniques: 
    • Common: 
      • Sidearm Cast: Side arm cast or overhead cast but with a roll, some suggest it is more of a lob motion, due to the weight and long leader.  
  • Initial Lure Action: Slack line as the weight will go directly to the bottom and the soft plastic will follow based on how it is rigged. Some suggest a pause to allow the soft plastic to get to the bottom allowing bass to strike during the fall.
  • Retrieve Techniques: 
  • Secondary Action: Some suggest pauses.  
  • Hook Set: Feeling fish on can be somewhat a unique feeling. Some call it when it “feels soft”. The feeling is a result of the weight no longer being in touch with the bottom as the fish swimming off with the soft bait. Some suggest a hard pull/sweep hook set to remove the slack line in the leader after identifying fish on followed by landing the bass.
  • Repetition at Spots: Not common.
Additional Considerations
MLF Videos and Articles by Experts
Major League Fishing (MLF) produces videos and articles including:
Videos by Experts
Articles by Experts
error: Content is protected !!