A Geography Lesson

Today’s fishing in the moment is as much a geography lesson as much as it is a plastic worm seminar.  Through out each bass fishing region of this country  the plastic worm is fished with its own flare, each rig specialized to its own particular geographic characteristics.  In each instance, it is not necessarily the worm that matters, but how the worm is rigged that really counts.  Now these techniques work out side of the region they were originally developed in but it is interesting to look at each, and understand why it was developed.

Texas Rig-

Probably the best known way to rig a plastic worm is the Texas Rig.  A Texas Rigged worm involves the hook point being imbedded into the plastic so as to remain “weedless.”  The weight used in a Texas Rig is a sliding “bullet shaped” sinker.  Since the sinker falls faster than the worm, the Texas Rigged worm crawls and falls slowly and can be fished around heavy cover because of it’s weedless nature.  Can you guess why this technique developed here?  That’s right.  Texas bass fishing waters are known for their aquatic vegetation and heavy forested environments.  The Texas Rig, one region’s answer to it’s bass fishing riddles.

Carolina Rig-

Never distinguished between North or South, The Carolina Rig offers insight into this region’s bass fishing.  Facing numerous impoundments with off shore high points, islands and long points, folks in this part of the country developed a weightless method for delivering plastic baits to bass that weren’t necessarily interested in other aggressive styled presentations.  The Carolina Rig involves a weight and bead tied on above a swivel, which is tied to a long leader.  Carolina Rigs are known for leaders that are from 18 inches to 36 inches in length.  Typically, a heavier weight, between one half ounce and one ounce is used and the technique is effective as the heavy weight stirs up the bottom, which grabs a fish’s attention.  Then, the subtle, weightless plastic bait comes by which becomes an easy meal.

Florida Rig-

The folks in our Southern most state are plagued by a bass fishing situation that calls for a unique presentation.  Florida bass waters are choked with heavy thick grass.  And under this grass lives some of the biggest bass in the world.  Getting these bruisers out becomes the real challenge and is the factor that has resulted in the development of the Florida Rig.  A Florida Rig usually involves a larger plastic bait, with a heavy pegged sinker.  Sinkers weighing up to one ounce are common and necessary, as the bait must penetrate very thick grass to reach the fish below.  The Florida Rig, very much like the Texas rig, except that it involves a heavier weight that is pegged so it doesn’t slide, is really the only way to reach bass under such heavy vegetation.

California Rig-

The California Rig is sometimes referred to as “doddling.” It is a light line finesse technique that features a skinny finesse type worm, rigged weedless with a thin wire hook, fished on eight or six pound test line.  The technique is a structure specific technique, designed to be used on the steep, drop offs found in Western Impoundments.  The technique is also effective when shakin  through schools of inactive, suspended fish.  Conditions which Western anglers face every day.

Alabama Rig-

The Alabama Rig has almost nothing to do with the actual worm involved in the fishing.  Instead, the Alabama Rig involves a light, ball head jig, featuring an extended hook.  Different from most lead heads, the longer hook of the Alabama Rig allows the jig to be rigged weedless, which allows this presentation to be fished in deeper clearer water that has lots of brush and trees.  The technique was developed to catch Spotted bass along the Coosa River Chain of lakes, bass that are known for their strong fight and for their habit of short striking typical lead head jigs, nipping only the tail and missing the business end of the jig.