Forums59
Topics1,038,940
Posts13,955,935
Members144,183
|
Most Online39,925 Dec 30th, 2023
|
|
Carolina Rig Leader Length
#11408106
02/11/16 08:53 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,402
Skeeterbrain
OP
Extreme Angler
|
OP
Extreme Angler
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,402 |
How do you determine what leader length to use with your C Rigs? I usually go with about 36". Is this to long or short? I use either a 1oz or 3/4 oz weight. If I go really deep I will use a 1 1/2 oz weight and make the leader about 48". I really like C rig fishing so I am trying to get as much info as I can to hopefully make me a better C rig fisherman. Thanks
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11408111
02/11/16 08:54 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38,564
Frank the Tank
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 38,564 |
2-3 foot usually, but I can easily adjust it if they are not biting a longer or shorter leader
Jesus loves all of us
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11408136
02/11/16 09:21 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,218
B.Hollingshead
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,218 |
All depends on the lake some lakes they won't touch it short or other way around, other lakes they like them really long. Most the time I use Carolina keeper and I can adjust up or down.
Branden Hollingshead
38-DD's and counting
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11408156
02/11/16 09:31 PM
|
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 352
SK1
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 352 |
Let the fish tell you the way they want it . Doesn't matter what we say. When you're fishing the right length you will be doing more catching than fishing.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11409518
02/12/16 02:23 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,046
Fast Lane
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,046 |
Heavier cover shorter leader, more bait action due to being closer to the weight = short leader, spring time stained water around the spawn short leader.
Tough bite longer leader bait action is more subtle. Fishing grass long leader, clear water long leader, cold stained to clear water..longer leader..ect
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11409617
02/12/16 03:07 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,062
TroyKing
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,062 |
I always used about a 18" leader. But I had a older fellow take me fishing and he used a 4foot or longer leader. He would catch fish like I've never seen.
The driving force and secret desire of every bass fisherman, is to one day be a crappie fisherman............Could it be that the good Lord just smilies and looks the other way when a fisherman tells a lie?
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11409711
02/12/16 03:39 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 57
5basslimit
Outdoorsman
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 57 |
I usually see on my electronics how far the fish are suspended off the bottom then rig my leader accordingly
Everyone has a plan till they get hit in the mouth
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11409824
02/12/16 04:22 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,712
Bass Buster1
Extreme Angler
|
Extreme Angler
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,712 |
4 to 6 feet! like fishing a weightless plastic without having to count it down! Use a long rod when you do this!
See you on the lake and have a great day!
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11410064
02/12/16 06:12 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,111
reeltexan
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,111 |
My basic rule of thumb is short if the fish are close to the bottom, longer if suspending.
"..The pleasantist angling is to see the fish Cut with her golden oars the silver stream, And greedily devour the treacherous bait. Bill Shakespeare
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11410445
02/12/16 09:37 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 613
Texascajun69
Pro Angler
|
Pro Angler
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 613 |
Years ago (70's or early 80's) the winner of the BASS Sam Rayburn Invitational fished a 7-8 ft. leader on his Carolina rig. He was fishing a floating lizard,. He said the grass was growing 6-7 ft. off of the bottom and he wanted to have the lizard floating just above the grass. When he caught a fish he would reel up until the weight was against the eye of his rod and then back up dragging the fish over the gunnel. Moral- Use your electronics and be flexible.
John K Fontenot Diapers and Politicians need to be changed often; and for the same reason.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11410614
02/12/16 11:06 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 163
droemt
Outdoorsman
|
Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 163 |
Good information. I am trying to get into throwing a Carolina rig more frequently and was wondering the same thing.
2011 Nitro Z7 Mercury 150 Optimax Dual Power Poles
David O 214-686-0539
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11411554
02/13/16 02:43 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,859
ezbassin
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,859 |
Paul Elias is the King of the C-rig and he said that he did a lot of experimenting with long and short leaders on various lakes and he came up with this. He reels the weight up to the tip of the rod and has the bait hang somewhere between the last two guides on the rod. That is what I do and it has always worked for me also. I have tried shorter leaders after I broke off and they just don't seem to work as well as a longer one for me so not If I break off, I tie on a new long leader.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11411569
02/13/16 02:51 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,516
Ken A.
Groovy
|
Groovy
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 13,516 |
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11411721
02/13/16 04:34 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 260
Strictly Biznuss
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 260 |
My C-rig length is determined by water clarity. The dirtier the water, the shorter the leader... the clearer the water, the longer the leader. My reasoning behind this is the fact that in dirtier water, I want my bait closer to the weight/bead that is clacking and making noise as I drag it on the bottom. Often times I feel like fish are drawn into the area from the noise of the weight/bead dragging bottom, and then they see the lure. General guide... Water less than 2 ft visibility, I use around an 18-24" leader. When you get clear water greater than 6 ft visibility, I use a 4 ft leader. Water visibility somewhere in between 2-6 ft... I use a leader somewhere between 2-4 ft. I never use a leader longer than about 4 ft. I know some guys that like to use a 6+ ft leader on a C-rig, and they definitely catch fish on it. I've tried it and haven't found any advantage to that versus a 4 ft leader that is a heck of a lot easier to cast than that 6+ ft deal. Maybe that's just me.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length
[Re: Skeeterbrain]
#11413764
02/14/16 08:44 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 272
Burgerboy
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 272 |
I asked two Hall of Famers yesterday and they said 36", and one of them said he may start at 24" in shallow water.
|
|
Moderated by banker-always fishing, chickenman, Derek 🐝, Duck_Hunter, Fish Killer, J-2, Jacob, Jons3825, JustWingem, Nocona Brian, Toon-Troller, Uncle Zeek, Weekender1
|