We’ve all been there. Throwing out your line only to return weeds and frustration. There is a method of rigging that can help you land more fish and less salad. The Texas Rig is designed to prevent snags and weeds while looking and reacting more like real bait. The method differs from region to region but is generally the same wherever you fish. In this article, we will show you how to fish a Texas rig.
What is a Texas Rig?
The Texas rig is a method of application for your bait onto your hook. The method allows enough hook tip to latch onto the fish while also having a low profile to prevent catching weeds and vegetation.
How it’s done
- Thread your worm onto the hook through the head of the bait then slide the bait up to the neck of the hook. Some hooks have bait barbs at the neck of the hook so if you want to have less damage to your bait, try using a barbless neck.
- Once the head has been attached simply twist the bait around to connect the tail to the hook again.
- After you have done these steps, you bait should look like a bridge across the hook spanning from hook tip to neck of the hook.
Source: Fix.com
Different Variations of the Texas Rig
There are a few different ways to perform the Texas Rig and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. One way is to leave a little more hook tip exposed. This will make setting the hook much easier and you will not have to use a high pound test. Sometimes depending on the weight of the bait that you are fishing with, you may want to add a small weight to the head of the hook. This will not affect the performance of the lure and will let you reach those spots that are out of reach.
What are the benefits?
When fishing or bass, for example, they love to sit in covered areas that can cause snags and weed troubles. The benefit of using a Texas Rig is that it will drop the chances of losing your lure or bringing in weeds. Furthermore, the Texas Rig setup is very sturdy which will last for many trips if left on the line at the end of the day.
What about the hardware?
As far as what gear to buy and what to use is dependent on where and how you fish. We’ll go over the basic recommended equipment.
Rod
When fishing a Texas rig, a medium action rod is recommended. This type of rod offers a fast tip to be able to sense when you get a bite and a strong backbone to allow you to set the hook through the bait and into the fish’s mouth.
Weights
Bullet weights are the most common weights to use on a Texas rig. Their bullet-like shape allows you to pull them through vegetation smoothly without getting caught or snagged. When considering how much weight to use, we need to consider a few things.
- Depth – We need to consider how deep the water is where we are fishing and at what level the fish are at. Obviously, if we are fishing in shallow water we don’t want to put a whole lot of weight on our line. You want your bait to drop slowly but be heavy enough to get through vegetation.
- Rod – Depending on the type of rod you are using, you may want to adjust your weights to allow you to feel the fish bite and cast smoothly. Having too much weight on a rod than it can handle is never good.
- Line – The type of fishing line you use will also determine how much weight it will support. The 3 most popular types of line to use with the Texas rig are monofilament, fluorocarbon, and braided. Monofilament floats well and is good to use around rocks and other sharp obstacles. Fluorocarbon line is nearly invisible and is good to use in clear water where there is not much vegetation or objects to get snagged on. Braided line is strong and can be cast very far. Braided line is very visible so you may want to use a leader made of mono or fluoro line so the fish don’t suspect anything. There’s nothing worse than when you catch a big one only to see your line snap and the fish get away from you.
Hook
For the Texas Rig, it has always been the norm to use a straight shank hook. Generally, the smallest hook possible without compromising strength will work best. The hook should be as hidden as possible. The size of hook you need will depend on various conditions:
- Size 2/0-4/0 hooks work great for most clear and open-water fishing
- Size 4/0 or 5/0 will work better if there may be some obstacles
- Size 5/0 or 6/0 are for fishing in heavy vegetation
Bait
The Texas rig uses a lengthy plastic or artificial bait. The most common bait to use with the Texas tig is an artificial worm. Senko, crawfish, or other lengthy artificial creature bait will work as well. The distance between the hook tip and the shank is important regarding the size of the bait you are using.
Methods of Use
There are 3 basic methods to use the Texas Rig. Crawl or Drag, Lift and Drop, and Swimming.
Source: Fix.com
Conclusion
There is nothing more frustrating than weeds and snags. To get to those fish seeking cover in the areas with coverage consider using this technique. It has been used for a very long time and has been proven to work. Adjust the Texas Rig as needed to fit your local fishing trends as needed as well. There are many good uses for fishing with this type of setup and after enough practice, you will find the style that best suits your fishing needs.
Well, time to get to fishing! Especially now that you know how to fish a Texas rig!