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Carolina Rig Leader Length #11408106 02/11/16 08:53 PM
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Skeeterbrain Offline OP
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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
nuts

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length [Re: Skeeterbrain] #11408111 02/11/16 08:54 PM
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Frank the Tank Online Content
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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
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B.Hollingshead Offline
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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
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SK1 Offline
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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
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Fast Lane Offline
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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
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TroyKing Offline
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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
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5basslimit Offline
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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
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Bass Buster1 Online Content
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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
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reeltexan Online Happy
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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





[Linked Image]
Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length [Re: Skeeterbrain] #11410445 02/12/16 09:37 PM
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Texascajun69 Offline
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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
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droemt Offline
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Good information. I am trying to get into throwing a Carolina rig more frequently and was wondering the same thing.


2011 Nitro Z7
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Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length [Re: Skeeterbrain] #11411554 02/13/16 02:43 PM
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ezbassin Offline
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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
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Ken A. Online Content
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three to 5 feet



Re: Carolina Rig Leader Length [Re: Skeeterbrain] #11411721 02/13/16 04:34 PM
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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. cool 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
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Burgerboy Offline
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I asked two Hall of Famers yesterday and they said 36", and one of them said he may start at 24" in shallow water.

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