The Carolina Rig is one of the most popular rigs for fishing deeper water. You have so many options with this rig because you can use just about any lure and have success with a Carolina rig.
This rig consists of a main line with a heavy sinker, bead, then swivel. The swivel has a leader (1-6ft) to which the hook is tied. The bead helps to protect the knot.
Freshwater
In freshwater, anglers use the Carolina Rig for all types of soft plastics and live baits such as nightcrawlers, leeches and minnows.
Carolina Rig for Largemouth Bass
The Carolina Rig works well for catching largemouth bass. The rig is used mostly to fish deeper water around points, near weed edges, and on offshore structure. Some anglers will fish them shallower, especially in murky water, but for most anglers, it’s a deeper water presentation.
Learn more about the different baits that are used when fishing the Carolina Rig for Largemouth Bass.
Carolina Rig for Smallmouth Bass
The Carolina Rig is an effective rig for smallmouth bass. The rig is used mostly to fish deeper water around points, near weed edges, on offshore structure, along rocky shorelines and on reefs near deep water. You can use lighter weights for shallow water fishing, although, the Carolina rig isn’t as popular for shallow water. You can fish many different types of live bait and artificial lures with the Carolina rig.
Learn more about the different baits that are used when fishing the Carolina Rig for Smallmouth Bass.
Carolina Rig for Walleye
The Carolina Rig works great for walleye. Most walleye anglers will use their Carolina Rig with live bait such as nightcrawlers, minnows and leeches. Soft plastics such as grubs, finesse worms, curly tail worms and swimbaits will also work on a Carolina Rig. Some other lures that work on a Carolina Rig are spinners, shallow running crankbaits and spoons, although, using these lures are not as popular on a Carolina Rig.
Learn more about the different baits that are used when fishing the Carolina Rig for Walleye.
Saltwater
The Carolina Rig is more popular for fishing in freshwater than saltwater for most anglers, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a great rig for saltwater fishing too. You can rig just about any saltwater live bait, cut bait or natural bait to go along with a variety of saltwater soft plastics on this rig.
