What would the ideal rig for fishing with a Texas rig look like--rod, reel, line, hook, etc.? I'm using primarily Senko worms, craws and also brush hogs.

What’s a typical depth, clarity and cover situation for the lakes you fish?

I fish small to midsized ponds in neighborhoods and county parks. So not very deep and not very big. Largest is maybe 5 acres and 25 feet deep. But the average is probably less than an acre and like ten feet deep (I'm guessing). Most are semi-muddy to muddy. The cover situation varies from totally clean to very grassy to covered in weeds and pads.

You asked for “ideal” which means a lot of things to a lot of people. If someone were going to give me a gift and asked for the ideal Texas rig set up I’d ask for this:

Dobyns Xtasy DRX 753C
Shimano Antares HG 7.4:1
Seaguar 20lb InvisX
3/8 oz tungsten
4/0 Gammy offset round bend worm hook
Bobber stoppers

And I’d be really happy.

For my ideal t-rig rod:

Megabass Levante Diablo Spec-R
Diawa Steez 103HA
Sunline Sniper 14 lb
3/8 oz tungsten worm weight
3/0 Roboworm rebarb medium weight hook


(Stoppers only in weeds / trees)

FIFY

7'4-7'6 heavy, 20lb fluorocarbon, 1/2oz weight 5/0 hook

Dang! Slow down there Speed! He said “ideal”, not worlds most expensivest. The costs of those items makes them less than ideal. Haha. But......I have the same setup, minus the Megabass. I use a Steez Rod and sometimes a Cara.


Never mind. Saw the Lavante. That’s a reasonably priced Chinese version of the Diablo. Haha.

Pretty similar to what I use with a couple tweaks.

Dobyns Xtasy DRX 755C
Shimano Curado K XG 8.5:1
Seaguar 20lb InvisX
3/8 oz tungsten
4/0 Gammy offset round bend worm hook
Bobber stoppers

Dobyns and “ideal”, “best”, should never be used in the same sentence.

G-loomis and Power Tackle maybe.

Get you a Power Tackle “one” 04 and a Metanium if money is no object!

7’ medium action rod, 6.3 bait casting reel, 15lb big game line, 1/4 to 3/8 oz weight. 3/0 hook, zoom trick worm, or what ever looks good but keep it simple. Brush hogs are awesome too. Black grape is a good start. Black, or June bug, 100bucks at academy and you could get the whole setup,

I'll give Dobyns credit for marketing, they have a heck of a following especially on Facebook. Have to say though for bottom contact they lack sensitivity. I have 2 Champion Extreme HP's. Fit / finish is excellent, balance is amazing, but compared to my Loomis IMX-Pro's which are priced comparably the sensitivity just isn't there. Fishing partner has an Extasy which is priced on par with the NRX. Not even a comparison.

That's not at all the most expensive...he said Ideal...in my eyes that's what I can afford and feel most comfortable with. Also, I don't think you've priced any of these out recently as I didn't say I was buying these new.

I have around 4 Steez reels, never bought new, always used, I then clean them up and make them mine. I don't think I've paid anything over $225 for any of my Steez reels. So all in, I bet my combo above is max...$500. If I were to buy new, that would easily be around $800.

Do some research my friends, you don't need new to get the best.

Agree completely with tmd on his Dobyns comments. I have recently purchased several Dobyns Champion Extremes.....one for squarebills, one for chatterbaits and one for Texas rigs. The rods for the moving baits are excellent. But per the OP's question about texas rigging, I am a little disappointed in Dobyns. Nice rod, balanced, and light. But my Cumara and my ALX are both more sensitive for bottom hopping baits.

Zebco 33, 6 foot medium heavy 2 piece rod, 8 lb Zebco Omniflex, 1/2 oz lead weight, Blue Fleck Powerbait worm.

That'll make the female bass' panties drop every time.