So how do you guys like to fish the c-rig, where do you usually fish and what do like to use? Lizard? Or worm? Or even something else!
-Austin

Make a long cast over or across a piece of structure and let it fall straight down on slack line. Usually I'll start out by just dragging it a foot or so and take up the slack and repeat. Feel for timber, brush, shell bed, rock, vegetation or anything different. When I feel anything different I try to leave it in place for a little bit and shake it some. If the bottom is featureless I generally just drag and pause. The length of pause depends on the mood of the fish. Sometimes you have to leave it in place for a while and at times you can almost just slow roll it keeping bottom contact. In water over 10' I like a leader of of 3' - 5 1/2' long usually on the longer side. I always use at least a 1 oz. weight unless it fishing less than 5' which is rare for me. I used lizards, LFT ring fries, and stud fries for years with a lot of success but in the last few years I generally use creature baits instead like the LFT creature. There are times still when I find they like the ring fries and LFT Hyper-Sticks better. On the hook set don't rare or jerk your rod up like on a Texas ring but point your rod toward the the water, reel up the slack and make a side sweeping hook set. Your generally going to have more line out and you will need to take up a bunch of slack and combat against line stretch even if you use quality fluorocarbon like Segaur. Also a long rod and a fast reel will help.

How do you cast any kind of distance with a 5 1/2' leader? I know from experience that a longer leader usually works better for some reason. And I know leader length all depends on depth you are fishing and the cover you are fishing. But for me I have always had trouble getting distance out of anything longer than a 3' leader. Any tips? Also, I usually use a mono leader, what are your thoughts on this compared to flouro or a copoly?

Also one other thing that I think can help on your C-rig is using braid as a main line. It increases sensitivity and if your bait it caught you can save the weight (which is nice if you are fishing with tungsten) as the leader will most likely break.

I use a long leader from time to time too and prefer a lizard. To answer the question of the casting, I think the key is a long rod, the heavy weight, and ROOM IN THE BOAT!! It's not a two on the front deck approach.

I'd get a good pair of cutters to cut the hook for deeply hooked fish. After an afternoon of gullet hooking too many fish on a c-rig I broke down and got a pair of these

http://www.lowes.com/pd_284332-16878-50235_0__?productId=1240709&Ntt=bolt+cutters&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Dbolt%2Bcutters&facetInfo=

I agree on the cutters. Wish I could avoid so many swallowed hooks on c rigs.

Cast it like you throw the hammer in track and field. Lol.

Seriously tho, any leader over 3 feet is a pain to cast. You really need a specialized LONG C-Rig rod.

+1

Bsouth401 gives a fairly good explanation, but from years of fishing with a c-rig I can tell you the longe leader (for me) usually only does good in weeds and heavy timber or water deeper than 20 foot, I throw a 18 to 19 inch leader year round and will catch fish just as good or better than someone with a longer leader, a Lizzard or baby brush hog is hard to beet anytime of year. Long points, humps and ledges are good in the winter and summer, in sping shallow water lizzards are hard to beet on the c-rig. Fall its best to utilize something that imitates a shad, the c-rig will still catch fish just not as good as a moving bait will. good luck

I been doing good on the grande bass rattlesnake (Trophy Hunter). I dnt mind giving my secrets. I like to see folks succeed in the best hobby in the world

Agree with this!

When it's real calm, I will throw a Crig w/ a 7'+ leader w/1oz weight and have no issues casting it. But I use a 7'6" heavy rod.

I c-rig a fluke a lot (but also do lizards and big worms) and change the leader distance to conditions im fishing for example if im shallower (3-7 ft) maybe 1 ft leader and if im deeper (25 +) ill use a 5-7 ft leader I honestly use a c-rig year round for the most part and it always produces

Good luck with the C-rig. I pour to throw it around rocks. Tube, fluke,speed craw. It's hard to beat a good c-rig day.

I never throw it...