Carolina Rig Tips?

[DJD]

Ok, until about 3 weeks ago, I'd never caught one fish on a C-Rig. Never had much use for it. But I bought some Carolina keepers about a month ago and it's been the only rig that's worked lately. I've been throwing jigs and t-rigs, but not until I've switched to a C-Rig have I caught anything. I just want to get some pointers from some of you guys that have been fishing it for a while. Should I use the keepers or go to a standard swivel setup? How many beads? What type of weights? Retrieves? Lures? As you can see, I'm trying to learn as much as possible. Thanks...

Are you talking about the little red plastic peices that you open up and slip your line through? If so I still use them above the swivel and my glass and sinker hit that instead of my knot. Makes more sense to me than having the glass or sinker hitting the knot. JMO

[Todd2]

Are you talking about the little red plastic peices that you open up and slip your line through? If so I still use them above the swivel and my glass and sinker hit that instead of my knot. Makes more sense to me than having the glass or sinker hitting the knot. JMO

Yeah that's them, mine are actually clear instead of red. They sure make rigging up alot easier, tying one knot versus three is nice. The down fall I guess is that my leader is the same as my main line and since I use fluoro I guess my lure is not floating up behind the rig like it should.

[DJD]

The flouro as a leader is a desired thing so your ok anyway. I think if the way your doing it works stay with it. It gets kinda hard with the 3/4 oz and 1oz lead because the weight culd slide the keeper down.
Most lures don't float high they glide or they sink. Maybe a high floating worm works that way? Not sure.
Pre-tying leaders and wrapping/sticking them on a piece of foam might work for you. You can tie different lengths for different times of the year and keep them so when your ready all you have to do is tie one knot. Just keep them protected so you don't damaged them while in storage.

[Todd2]

The flouro as a leader is a desired thing so your ok anyway. I think if the way your doing it works stay with it. It gets kinda hard with the 3/4 oz and 1oz lead because the weight culd slide the keeper down.
Most lures don't float high they glide or they sink. Maybe a high floating worm works that way? Not sure.
Pre-tying leaders and wrapping/sticking them on a piece of foam might work for you. You can tie different lengths for different times of the year and keep them so when your ready all you have to do is tie one knot. Just keep them protected so you don't damaged them while in storage.

Your dead on about the heavier weights. What I figured out was that by placing two keepers back to back it seems to help. Very little if any slippage. I do like the idea of pre-tying the rigs, I'll tie some up and have em ready for the next time out.

As far as retrieve, what works best. I've been doing long slow drags with very short pauses. Thanks again

[DJD]

Sounds like your doing it perfect. The retrieve can vary and trying different ones until you find one that works that day is kinds how it goes. I have been out there and found that the slow almost dead retrieve works and then other times that fast retrieve works but I have found that 99% of the time I'm really hunting for something on the bottom when I'm dragging the weight around. So when you feel that rock pile or wood or drop just get ready because that's usually the sweet spot.

[Cobra190]

Most of the components for the c-rig are personal preference. The one thing i do is pre rig. I keep a bunch of rigs with a barrel swivel on each end, 1/2 and 3/4 ounce egg weights, bead on each side of the sinker to protect both knots. Total length about 7-8 inches. Then when I'm in a situation to throw it, I tie one end onto my line, tie onto the second swivel for my leader and adjust my leader length as I tie onto the hook and I'm ready. I like to use flukes, floating worms, creature baits, but my favorite would have to be a 4" watermelon candy Zoom lizard.

[R.BRUGH]

I use a 7' MH rod with 12-14lb mono or Braid and 8-12lb flourocarbon leader bearing swivel Tru-Tungsten flippin or xcliber barrel shaped tungsten weights anywhere from 3/16 to 1oz depending on water cond. depth size of bait etc and Tru-tungsten 6 and 8mm beads with Gamakatsu or Mustad hooks Has anyone ever tried crankbaits on a carolina rig ?

[DJD]

I use a 7' MH rod with 12-14lb mono or Braid and 8-12lb flourocarbon leader bearing swivel Tru-Tungsten flippin or xcliber barrel shaped tungsten weights anywhere from 3/16 to 1oz depending on water cond. depth size of bait etc and Tru-tungsten 6 and 8mm beads with Gamakatsu or Mustad hooks Has anyone ever tried crankbaits on a carolina rig ?

Are you talking about those force beads? Do you stack them to get more noise?
Yeah I tried the crankbait thing years ago until I lost one but several guys loved it. We were fishing in some current and it makes alot of sense if you think about it. Have you tried it?

[Trophyhunter8]

Dave
don't give all the secrets away. and to everybody else, he is not kidding about the big smallmouth taking a rod away. The day after I went with Dave back in may. I almost put a rod in the drink but somehow caught it again right before falling in myself. I am hooked on c-rig now

[Trophyhunter8]

I didn't fall in but it was close