Carolina Rig Question

[MNFishMan]

What length leader and ounce weight do you guys use for carolina rigs?? Also should I change the length for different depths?? Thanks.

[BigBassin144]

MN, Leader length varies more by what cover you're fishing than depth. If you're fishing weeds that come 4 feet of the bottom, you'll want you leader to be long enough to keep the bait above the weeds. Obviously, in situations such as these, you can only make your leader so long before it becomes impossible to throw. In that case, I'd just fish something else. That said, about 3-3.5' is good general length for your leader unless cover dictates a longer or shorter leader.

As for weight, I much prefer lighter weights than most guys, however, I don't fish c-rigs much. I like to use a 1/2 tungsten weight with a tru tungsten force bead (instead of brass n glass). Or I'll use two 1/4 oz tungsten weights with a force bead between the last one and the knot. Most guys prefer to use 1/2-1 oz weight though. I guess it really depends on how deep you're fishing to get the lure down to the bottom quicker.

Hope this helps,

BB

[CamG]

I always use a 4' leader. Weight depends on depth - but usually 3/4 - 1 oz.

If there is heavy cover, I don't use a Carolina rig.

[Jrob78]

I normally use a Tungsten weight in the 1/2-1oz range. I usually use glass beads and a brass clacker/knot protector although I did pick up some TT force beads that I'm gonna try out next time, I will probably still use those with the brass knot protector/clacker thing though.

As far as leader length I honestly just peel off some line and tie it on at about a arms length. So...I would say in the 24"-42" range. I'm not one that thinks leader length is terribly critical, however, the longer your leader the harder it will be to cast. I use 50Lb Power Pro as my main line and I keep a small spool 17Lb Sufix Elite in my bag that I use to make leaders.

I'm pretty sure this is a topic has come up often and recently, sometimes a little searching can yield more info, people don't always like to repeat themselves.

[carolina-rig-01]

it depends on water depth and water clarity. the deeper the water the heavier the weight, and the muddier the water the shorter the leader.

[screwballl]

I tend to run a bit lighter on my weights, usually 1/4 to 1/2 oz at most. Considering many of these worms are 1/8 to 1/4 oz already, plus if you have a stopper up the line, you are looking at 1/2 oz or better already.

To get into the much heavier grasses then the 1/2 oz or heavier may be needed.... but the way I learned is that if the grass is that heavy, the fish won't be inside that heavy grass either, so the lighter weights allow it to run along the top until it does thin out. Once it thins out, then that means there are wider gaps and better chance for bass to be in there.

[Cavs1123]

I agree with what everyone else has said.

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by carolina-rig-01

it depends on water depth and water clarity. the deeper the water the heavier the weight, and the muddier the water the shorter the leader.

That's a great point about the water clarity and leader length. I wouldn't have thought about that, but it makes sense. In muddier water, the clacking noise is what draws the fish in, and if your bait is four feet away from the clacking noise, there's a good chance the fish will just completely miss it.

BB

[Rebbasser]

I usually use a 3-4 foot leader with a 3/4 oz weight. However, I use a different weight than most. I fish a lot of rocky lakes which tend to eat a lot of weights. I started using a Lindsay Rattlin' No-Snagg sinker. It is a banana shaped weight that comes through rocks extremely well-it does not hang up but still gets the job done.

[Bob Smith]

I use my "outstretched arms" (4' +) measure for my C-rig leaders. Typically 14 lb Trilene XT mono. I almost always use a 3/4 oz egg sinker in the rocks and 3/4 oz Brass Pro Jo sinker on cleaner bottoms (mud, sand and shellbeds). The only time I may go to a shorter leader is if I break my hook off and still have a substantial amount of leader left.
I have experimented with the varying leader lengths and line test, I find that it really doesn't matter much (at least not for me). So I try to keep my set up as consistent as possible and make as many as 5-6 leaders up in advance of the tournament to keep down time to a minimum. C-rigging is one my "Go Tos" almost year round.