Forums59
Topics1,058,081
Posts14,295,871
Members144,617
|
Most Online39,925 Dec 30th, 2023
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: K.D.]
#14883053
10/31/23 01:55 PM
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 9,491
avid_basser
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 9,491 |
I spent a day on the water with James Biggs a few years back and one of the simplest ways he increased my catch ratio on C-rigs was by me changing my hook. Buy a pack of Gammie Offset Worm hooks and skip the EWG. Look at an EWG hook and the point is parallel to the eye. Look at an Offset Worm hook and 50% of the bend and point is above a line parallel from the eye. This small change can greatly improve your hook up ratios. Give it a shot and see what you think Truth here! Have a c-rig terminal box and these are the majority of the hooks in there. The rest are some freebies I got from Trokar.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: jvc58dke]
#14883457
10/31/23 09:43 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 895
Bill Durham
Pro Angler
|
Pro Angler
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 895 |
I'm not the most experienced CRig guy, but my experience is that most of my strikes have been more of the fish running with the bait and not a bump like a jig or TX rig. I typically use a creature bait or baby rattlesnake and fish usually go after those pretty good. Mark Davis has a video on Crig and he uses a 3/0 Worm hook. I like to use a mono leader because in theory it floats where flouro sinks. Good luck!
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: jvc58dke]
#14883530
10/31/23 10:47 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 335
LakeTylerMan
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 335 |
I used to fish a Carolina Rig often back in the days when there was hydrilla in Fork. I fished it shallow and deep. I tended to set the hook with the sideways sweep that most talk about here. But I have set it like a Texas rigged worm but that always seemed awkward to me. If you aren't setting the hook then set the hook harder. And I say this knowing at times regardless of what you do, the hook doesn't get set which can be frustrating. I've had times where the fish allowed me to reel it most of the way in and then it realized the food it was eating was too much trouble. And then the fish just opened its' mouth and let the bait go.
2024 Skeeter FXR-L, Yamy 250 SHO
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: K.D.]
#14883535
10/31/23 10:53 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,992
ezbassin
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,992 |
I spent a day on the water with James Biggs a few years back and one of the simplest ways he increased my catch ratio on C-rigs was by me changing my hook. Buy a pack of Gammie Offset Worm hooks and skip the EWG. Look at an EWG hook and the point is parallel to the eye. Look at an Offset Worm hook and 50% of the bend and point is above a line parallel from the eye. This small change can greatly improve your hook up ratios. Give it a shot and see what you think I Txpose a 3/0 or 4/0 Owner rigging hook and it works just fine. It is weedless and since it is Txposed it has very little plastic to go through. Great hook up ratio.
Last edited by ezbassin; 10/31/23 10:57 PM.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: Bill Durham]
#14883545
10/31/23 11:01 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,992
ezbassin
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,992 |
I'm not the most experienced CRig guy, but my experience is that most of my strikes have been more of the fish running with the bait and not a bump like a jig or TX rig. I typically use a creature bait or baby rattlesnake and fish usually go after those pretty good. Mark Davis has a video on Crig and he uses a 3/0 Worm hook. I like to use a mono leader because in theory it floats where flouro sinks. Good luck!
Next time you are out toss your C-rig into shallow water where you can see the bait and see if the "floating" mono has your bait suspended off the bottom. I would be willing to bet your bait is sitting on bottom unless you are using a floating bait.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: jvc58dke]
#14883933
11/01/23 09:17 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,363
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
|
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,363 |
It is a sweeping motion with some force. If you are using a thicker hook, you'll need even more force to drive the hook in. You are having to move a lot of line thru the water before the hook sets. Not gentle like with a crank bait. I still use the same simple gear that I did decades ago. Mono, swivel, brass weight and bead with lighter mono leader and hook. No bobber stops or any other stuff. Most of my bites I can feel the thump thump before setting the hook. I rarely lose a fish. It is one of my favorite ways to fish.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: ezbassin]
#14883961
11/01/23 11:28 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 407
NateRich5797
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: Aug 2020
Posts: 407 |
I'm not the most experienced CRig guy, but my experience is that most of my strikes have been more of the fish running with the bait and not a bump like a jig or TX rig. I typically use a creature bait or baby rattlesnake and fish usually go after those pretty good. Mark Davis has a video on Crig and he uses a 3/0 Worm hook. I like to use a mono leader because in theory it floats where flouro sinks. Good luck!
Next time you are out toss your C-rig into shallow water where you can see the bait and see if the "floating" mono has your bait suspended off the bottom. I would be willing to bet your bait is sitting on bottom unless you are using a floating bait. This is very true. The weight of the soft plastic and hook will keep the lure on the bottom instead of floating in the water. Also keep in mind that if you're fishing shallow water that the fish will visibly be able to see the mono line in clear water.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: jvc58dke]
#14884172
11/01/23 02:41 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,278
Fishinfellow
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,278 |
If you realllllly want to increase your hook-up ratio then look no further: ![[Linked Image]](https://texasfishingforum.com/forums/pics/userpics/2023/11/full-46149-203327-hook.png) And I also buy into the mono floating deal. Might make no difference whatsoever but I think if your bait is already somewhat buoyant then it helps.
Last edited by Fishinfellow; 11/01/23 02:42 PM.
Thats my money fish ![[Linked Image]](https://i.imgur.com/vXEgQG1t.jpg) Kris Winhold
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: jvc58dke]
#14884195
11/01/23 02:57 PM
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 9,491
avid_basser
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 9,491 |
I use the Roboworm rebarbs for just about everything, c-rig is not one of them. Reason being, the rebarb hook is too light when setting the hook it flexes / bends. I've experienced this first hand. The 1/2+ weight, the swing hookset, etc. are just too much for it.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: avid_basser]
#14884219
11/01/23 03:01 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,278
Fishinfellow
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,278 |
I use the Roboworm rebarbs for just about everything, c-rig is not one of them. Reason being, the rebarb hook is too light when setting the hook it flexes / bends. I've experienced this first hand. The 1/2+ weight, the swing hookset, etc. are just too much for it. That's interesting. I can't remember who it was but I saw a video of a pro suggesting using a lighter wire hook for C-rigs because oftentimes you're making a really long cast and a thinner diameter hook will penetrate easier with less force. Plus I caught my first 10 lber on a C-rig using this hook so maybe to use it properly, you need a more medium action rod.
Thats my money fish ![[Linked Image]](https://i.imgur.com/vXEgQG1t.jpg) Kris Winhold
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: jvc58dke]
#14884274
11/01/23 04:00 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 183
jvc58dke
OP
Outdoorsman
|
OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 183 |
Ok.....going to change to the offset shank round bend 4/0 worm hook and a fluoro leader......and hit them harder with a sweep. Will report back! Thanks to everyone for their thoughts!
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: Fishinfellow]
#14884425
11/01/23 06:11 PM
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 9,491
avid_basser
TFF Celebrity
|
TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 9,491 |
I use the Roboworm rebarbs for just about everything, c-rig is not one of them. Reason being, the rebarb hook is too light when setting the hook it flexes / bends. I've experienced this first hand. The 1/2+ weight, the swing hookset, etc. are just too much for it. That's interesting. I can't remember who it was but I saw a video of a pro suggesting using a lighter wire hook for C-rigs because oftentimes you're making a really long cast and a thinner diameter hook will penetrate easier with less force. Plus I caught my first 10 lber on a C-rig using this hook so maybe to use it properly, you need a more medium action rod. Yeah, that's probably where I went wrong. My C-rig rod is more of a MH/H rod with a good taper. I do use rebarb hooks when I mojo rig (like a light weight c-rig) and a M rod.
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: jvc58dke]
#14884430
11/01/23 06:14 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,219
David Burton
TFF Team Angler
|
TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,219 |
Ok.....going to change to the offset shank round bend 4/0 worm hook and a fluoro leader......and hit them harder with a sweep. Will report back! Thanks to everyone for their thoughts! Your sweep should be from low to high. Move a lot of line and use the rod length to your best advantage. The point at the water and sweep is great,, but the sweep should be to your oposite shoulder!
David Burton 2015 Skeeter FX 21 +Ultrex +Helix 12 (x3) +Mega360 +MegaLive
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: jvc58dke]
#14884525
11/01/23 07:35 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 477
over the hill @PK
Angler
|
Angler
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 477 |
I for one use only a 3/16 oz bullet weight down to 30ft I use no beads only a swivel and I use hooks to suit the size bait I am throwing. I use a lite weight for one reason and that is to slow me down to keep contact with the bottom . It has worked for me for 40 + years and 6 double digit fish three of which came on c rigs
Butch Farmer
|
|
Re: Carolina Rig Hookset Question
[Re: avid_basser]
#14884704
11/01/23 10:21 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,992
ezbassin
TFF Guru
|
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 16,992 |
I reel down pointing my rod tip to the water. I then do a sweeping hookset to the side allowing the line to travel through the weight with no lift / resistance. This has worked for me over the many years that I sling the ball / chain.
+1 This is the way to do a hook set.
|
|
Moderated by banker-always fishing, chickenman, Derek 🐝, Duck_Hunter, Fish Killer, J-2, Jacob, Jons3825, JustWingem, Nocona Brian, Toon-Troller, Uncle Zeek, Weekender1
|