Like any type of fishing, realistic lure presentation is crucial to bass fishing success. These four of our favorite rigs, the Texas Rig, Carolina Rig, Dropshot Rig and Wacky Rig are sure to help you catch more fish than the next guy. We detail each type of rig below along with the necessary tackle you’ll need for each one and how to them.
Texas Rig
REQUIRED TACKLE: Offset hook also called Worm hooks, bullet weight and a plastic worm with a ribbon tail
The Texas rig is the one of the most popular plastic worm rigs for bass. This rig is typically the first one fishermen learn when starting to use plastic worms. The way it is prepared allows the plastic worm to bounce off the bottom, with its tail waving to bass in the area. As an added bonus, when it is properly done, the Texas rig prevents snags and weeds.
To begin, drive the hook barb through the plastic worm head, and a quarter inch down the side. Then pull the hook all the way through the worm up to the eyelet.
Next, rotate the hook and push the barb back into the worm body, ensuring the plastic worm is straight on the hook. Add a bullet weight on your line, and finish the process by tying on your Texas rigged plastic worm.
Carolina Rig
The Carolina rig splits up the weight from the worm, which allows the worm to stay off the bottom of your fishing hole. The tackle configuration makes the plastic worm move horizontally behind the weight, making a wiggling action that bass just can’t resist.
REQUIRED TACKLE: Offset/Worm hook, bullet weight, barrel swivel, finesse weights, a bead, extra fishing line and a plastic worm.
First, put the bullet weight on the line and add a bead. Tie a swivel to the end of the fishing line while holding the weight and bead in place.
Fasten a 12 to 30 inch leader line to the swivel and tie the hook on the other side of the line.
Then proceed to hook the plastic worm in the same manner as the Texas rig.
Dropshot Rig
The Dropshot rig is similar to the Carolina rig, but positions the weight on the bottom while the worm is as far away from the weight as you want. This configuration allows for superior vertical fishing in nearly any depth of water.
REQUIRED TACKLE: Dropshot hook, drop weight and a plastic worm
Pull the tag end through the hook eyelet. This will make the barb of the hook to point up.
Fasten the weight to the tag end of the line. Attach your plastic worm Texas rig style, or just hook it through the head.
Wacky Rig
This rig isn’t exactly wacky other than it is hooked in the middle of the worm. In fact, this may be the most lifelike of the bass rigs discussed. The name wacky comes from the name of the weight that can be used. The wacky rig lets the horizontal plastic worm to slowly drift down, unless it is weighted with a wacky weight to pull it down faster.
REQUIRED TACKLE: J-Circle hook and a plastic worm. “Wacky” rig weight is optional.
Tie the circle hook onto your fishing line, and put the hook through the middle of the plastic worm. In addition, you can attach a wacky weight to make it sink faster and deeper in the water.
Use one of these top four plastic worm rigs for your next bass outing and you’re sure to catch a monster!
