What is the fishing retrieve for this rig and what is the best cover for this method? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Retrieve = drag along the bottom with your rod by lifting it up slowly or pulling it to the side, then real down(or back toward the bait) to remove the slack line.

As for cover, I usually use it in water greater than 5 feet, but there are exceptions.

Well as far as presentation I sweep the rod from lke the 2oclock position to the 3oclock position and to set the hook reel to where your rod tip is pointing at the fish then sweep the rod and you can fish the C RIG anywhere srumpfeilds or deep vegitation but is a great to fish any type of cover this is all IMO I hope it helps

Thank you guys. Helps a lot. I'm guessing the preferred bait is like a Lizzard??

It can be anything, worms, flukes, creature baits, lizard, snakes, you get the picture.

I use to hate the c-rig, me and my partner could both be using it and he would smoke me with it everytime. This year I really dedicated myself to learning how to use it and to catch fish with it. My confidence in it is at the top right now.

I use a side to side motion on my retreive dragging the bait along the bottom. I twist at the waist letting a full twist be how far my drags are then reel in the slack and repeat. I also make sure that I set the hook with a sweeping motion. Baits for me have been GB rattlesnakes, baby brush hogs, flukes, and whatever else I think might catch fish. As far as cover I throw it everywhere.

& trick worms and 10" worms

[quote=longhorn3454
I use a side to side motion on my retreive dragging the bait along the bottom. I twist at the waist letting a full twist be how far my drags are then reel in the slack and repeat. I also make sure that I set the hook with a sweeping motion. Baits for me have been GB rattlesnakes, baby brush hogs, flukes, and whatever else I think might catch fish. As far as cover I throw it everywhere. [/quote]

Exactly what I do. I have been C-rigging for years. Very good fish catching technique.

Good tips...

do the above method when it's calm. When windy, just drift as slow as possible and leave it out there. I'll drift with the wind for 5 minutes, then go against the wind with the trolling motor, without re-casting. Do this several times. I've also caught them directly beneath the boat in deep water just jigging the C-rig like you would with a jigging spoon. Dead-sticking works well when you know they're there, you see them on the fish finder, but can't get them to bite.

I like to retrieve my c-rig by two or three sideways snaps. Kind of like a snap you would do when working a jerk bait only longer, that way it makes the beads make alot noise.

Awesome advice. Thanks a lot.

Lots of good info.

Also, you can tailor your leader length to match conditions or cover. For example, if your using it to drag over the top of vegetation, use a lighter weight and a longer, maybe up to 5 feet though that's ridiculous most of the time, leader so when your weight is in the grass, your bug is still above it and visible.

Also, if the bite is slow, sometimes having a longer leader helps you get bit. If they're really down on the bottom relating to the structure, you can get away with a short, like one foot, leader and have a much easier time casting.

One thing that really helped me out when I started is to SLOW DOWN. I had a guy teach me how to fish this thing about 14 years ago. I had tried and tried but caught very few fish. One day the guy told me exactly where to go and throw it. I did and caught 2 fish in 2 hours. I went back by his house and told him how I did. He said come on lets go. We went back to the same spot with the same bait and smoked em for about an hour. My whole problem was I was fishing it way to fast.

The best time for me to fish one is during the hottest part of the day when fish are the most inactive. (usually) If fish are actively feeding then a moving bait will probably out fish it anyway. If they are not active, then slow that thing down to where you can count every single rock, stick, and log on the bottom. I have found that the bait is not nearly as important as the location where it is thrown and how it is retieved.

Good luck.

Another good tip is to use a heavy weight like a 1 oz bullet or egg sinker. The heavy weight kicks up the silt on the bottom and bangs around which attracts the bass' attention better than a smaller weight would.

You will get twice as many bites in deep water (over 10') using a 1 oz weight than using a 1/2 oz weight. Proven it many times.

The only time I use a smaller lighter weight is when fishing in the middle of heavy grass and I want my bait to stay suspended above it. Also don't use a heavy wire giant hook. It kills the action of your bait. Use a regular wire hook as small as you can get by with for the bait you are using.

I've seen guys rig up with a 5/0 Wide Gap Heavy Wire Super Line hook for a Zoom Centipede before and wonder why they weren't getting bit... Duh!