Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 04/20/2010:  Dragging the Carolina Rig

The Carolina rig is one of the most effective rigs for deep water bass fishing. How to rig it is shown here: How to Tie the Carolina Rig . The best way to fish it from my experience is to drag it along the bottom.

Cast the rig as far as possible towards your underwater structure then hand feed the line as the lure descends. This gives your lure maximum exposure along the lake bottom on every retrieve as the lure will drop straighter rather than arcing toward the boat.

Start your retrieve by lowering your rod until it is nearly horizontal i.e. parallel to the waters surface. Slowly pull the line sideways with your rod until your rod has moved approx. 45 degrees from your original starting point. Then start to reel in the line and move your rod towards the starting point. This reeling action is not to move the lure but to remove the slack in your line as you prepare for another dragging motion.

During the dragging motion pay special attention to any sudden loading of the rod or even the classic thump. Usually the bite is a load on the rod or a side wards motion of your line. If either of these occur reel in the slack and set the hook hard with a set in the opposite direction of the pull.

My favorite lures to drag are the Zoom trickworm in Junebug, the Zoom Lizard and the Producto worm in black blue glitter. The Producto can be very effective for bass slightly above the bottom since it tends to float.

The Carolina drag only works if you are on fish. River channel drops and humps are great locations especially if timber or shellbeds are nearby. Don't be shy and try to bump into that structure as most fish will be on or near the cover.

So the next time you are fishing deep water structure, tie on a Carolina rig and start the ole Carolina rig drag.

Until Next Week, Tight Lines!

The Largemouth Herald