I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT BEFORE BUT WAS NEVER REALY SURE HOW TO DO IT

Check here:

http://www.fishin.com/articles/georgewelcome/C-rigarticle/carolinarig.htm
http://www.officiallakeforktrophybass.com/3.4.html

These are for bass, but it is the same thing with just a hook on the bottom.

your retarded

wtf lol ^^^

What is the purpose of the bead on the rig?

The bead is supposed to prevent the knot from getting beat up by the weight. I also read and heard that is provides extra noise that attracts bass. Supposedly!

When I was a boy a long time ago before that got a fancy bass fishing name, we called it a "Catfish Rig". Put an egg sinker on the line, tied a hook on the bottom and a split shot about 12 or 18 inches up from the hook.

Avid Angler, Welcome to the forum . Fish Ninja gives a great example of the Carolina Rig with his pic. A rig commonly used for catfishing is a Santee-cooper rig. The only difference is you place a small float/bobber between the hook and swivel. I usually place mine about 6" above the hook. This helps keep you from getting snagged on the bottom so much. I also use a glass bead above the swivel for the reason "infamous" mentioned. Another tip I use, when you start to reel in your line without a fish on, reel in the slack, then raise your rod tip up high and start reeling in fast. This also helps prevent hanging up on submerged objects. Many people use the barrel sinkers, I prefer the bass casting sinkers, basically pearshapped with a brass loop on top to feed the line through. My theory is it would cause less wear and tear on the line when the weight slides up and down the line. Hope this helps.

You retard..That should say You're retarded.

I too use the bead but I am now using the wooden beads that you can buy from a craft store since you can get a bag of thousands of them for a buck.

DONT LISTEN TO COLONEL BANGERS HES A DUMBA** RETARD IDIOT

So the glass or plastic bead is softer than the lead when it slides down and hits the knot?

I actually learned this the hard way... Fishing a river for catfish I decided to try a Carolina rig and didn't use a bead. After a few casts I started losing the whole rig. What I can figure is the swivel would cause the 2oz sinker to get a little jagged and slowly cut on the 50lb braid. Started adding beads and it never happened again.

great now every one thinks im serious koda