Texas Rig
Encyclopedia
The Texas rig is a technique used for fishing
with soft plastic lures. It involves a bullet-shaped weight being threaded onto the fishing line
first followed by an optional glass or plastic bead, and then the line is secured to a hook
, usually an offset worm hook.
The hook is then inserted into the head region of the worm and exits the worm about 1/4 of an inch down the worm. The worm is then moved up the hook towards the shank and then rotated so that the worm is now 'locked' on the shank. The point of the hook is then thread back into the body of the worm to make the rig weedless.
The bead is fully optional. Some anglers find that the added noise or color a bead can provide gives them an advantage in stained or muddied water, because the clicking imitates a crayfish crawling over rocks and debris, while some anglers think that the bead detracts from a realistic presentation considering that most worms will not click.
When fishing in open water without much cover to snag on, the Texpose Rig is a better choice than a Texas Rig because it increases the number of fish you will hook. In a Texpose rig, you set it up the same way you would a Texas rig, except you push the hook point all the way through the body of the worm so it is slightly exposed. In a Texas rig, you will hook less fish than a Texpose because the hook point is not exposed, but you won't hang up like you will sometimes in a Texpose. The Texpose does not increase bites, but you will hook fish easier due to the exposed point.
The Texas Rig is not a search rig like a spinnerbait
or a crankbait. It is usually fished by throwing the soft plastic as close to cover as possible with the goal of placing the worm as close to a bass
as possible. Try to let the lure enter the water with as little noise as possible and keep some controlled slack in the line as bass will commonly attack the lure while it is sinking to the bottom.
If the bass does not hit on the fall, let the worm rest on the bottom for a brief period and then begin to retrieve the lure in a very slow, jerk and pause motion. Be careful to always keep a little tension on the line because learning this technique is a lot about learning to differentiate between the feel of the bottom and the feel of a fish. This rig is a very effective way to catch largemouth bass in many conditions. A lighter color should be used in darker water and darker and brighter colors in clearer water.
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
with soft plastic lures. It involves a bullet-shaped weight being threaded onto the fishing line
Fishing line
A fishing line is a cord used or made for angling. Important parameters of a fishing line are its length, material, and weight...
first followed by an optional glass or plastic bead, and then the line is secured to a hook
Fish hook
A fish hook is a device for catching fish either by impaling them in the mouth or, more rarely, by snagging the body of the fish. Fish hooks have been employed for centuries by fishermen to catch fresh and saltwater fish. In 2005, the fish hook was chosen by Forbes as one of the top twenty tools...
, usually an offset worm hook.
The hook is then inserted into the head region of the worm and exits the worm about 1/4 of an inch down the worm. The worm is then moved up the hook towards the shank and then rotated so that the worm is now 'locked' on the shank. The point of the hook is then thread back into the body of the worm to make the rig weedless.
The bead is fully optional. Some anglers find that the added noise or color a bead can provide gives them an advantage in stained or muddied water, because the clicking imitates a crayfish crawling over rocks and debris, while some anglers think that the bead detracts from a realistic presentation considering that most worms will not click.
When fishing in open water without much cover to snag on, the Texpose Rig is a better choice than a Texas Rig because it increases the number of fish you will hook. In a Texpose rig, you set it up the same way you would a Texas rig, except you push the hook point all the way through the body of the worm so it is slightly exposed. In a Texas rig, you will hook less fish than a Texpose because the hook point is not exposed, but you won't hang up like you will sometimes in a Texpose. The Texpose does not increase bites, but you will hook fish easier due to the exposed point.
The Texas Rig is not a search rig like a spinnerbait
Spinnerbait
A Spinnerbait refers to any one of a family of fishing lures that get their name from one or more metal blades shaped so as to spin like a propeller when the lure is in motion, creating varying degrees of flash and vibration that mimics small fish or other prey...
or a crankbait. It is usually fished by throwing the soft plastic as close to cover as possible with the goal of placing the worm as close to a bass
Black bass
Micropterus , is a genus of freshwater fish in the sunfish family of order Perciformes. The type species is M. dolomieu, the smallmouth bass...
as possible. Try to let the lure enter the water with as little noise as possible and keep some controlled slack in the line as bass will commonly attack the lure while it is sinking to the bottom.
If the bass does not hit on the fall, let the worm rest on the bottom for a brief period and then begin to retrieve the lure in a very slow, jerk and pause motion. Be careful to always keep a little tension on the line because learning this technique is a lot about learning to differentiate between the feel of the bottom and the feel of a fish. This rig is a very effective way to catch largemouth bass in many conditions. A lighter color should be used in darker water and darker and brighter colors in clearer water.