Texas rig fishing is hands down the most versatile, consistent way to catch bass! From my first time fishing on Toledo Bend in 1986 until my last lake trip to Lake Waxahachie, it has caught more fish in 35 years than any other bass fishing setup. From beginner to expert anglers, there is no other technique that consistently lands more bass.
If you are looking for the basics of the rig, we have included a link that provides excellent beginner information. Our purpose is to discuss some of the keys to fishing the Texas rig proven and guaranteed to catch you more fish.
Texas Rig Set-up
I have fished every type of hook Texas rig style. Outside of using a wide-gap hook with bulkier baits, there really isn’t much of a difference in hook-up ratios for me. Nevertheless, there are some important features of the Texas rig that will increase your bites.
- Rig the bait so it hangs straight.
- Curly tails face up!
- Insure you have weight options.
- Don’t hesitate to go weightless.
- Purchase Peg-it weight stoppers for those special occasions.
Rig the Bait So It Hangs Straight
We have all been there. You are rigging up your soft plastic and it gets a little crooked. You don’t want to fool with it and it’s more important to have your bait in the water right? Usually, the answer is wrong. Throwing a bad rig will almost guarantee the fish won’t bite when you do rig it correctly. This is especially true of highly pressured waters.
One of the reasons bass don’t like it in our experience is it doesn’t run true. While the injured look is good, a spinning soft plastic almost never gets hit. Dart it up and down. Swim it side to side. Deadstick it on the bottom if you must but never let it spin. In our experience, it’s the kiss of death even for biting bass. Additionally, the bad rig will already have caused the little bass brain to click the off switch by the time you make it look realistic. Sometimes, it has seemed the HOA sent out notices to all the fish…”This ain’t real, don’t bite it.”
Curly Tails Face Up
Remember, the shank of your hook is the bottom of your Texas rig in the water. Therefore, be sure you bring your hook out of the worm pointing away from the inside of the curl. This means the shank of the hook will be away from the curl. Whether you are fishing a worm or a creature bait, I promise, this is one of the most basic keys to catching more fish. Not only will this help the soft plastic run true, but it also sends off better, more realistic vibrations to searching fish.
Texas Rig With a Variety of Weight Options
Generally speaking, the lighter the weight the better. However, a variety of weight options is a must if you want to get the most out of a Texas rig.
Lighter Weights – 1/16 to 1/4 ounce
Use these lighter weights in rip-rap or shallow water with limited vegetation. Heavier weights will have you caught in the rocks. These lighter weights will typically give you the advantage of giving the bait more time in the strike zone in the fall. Lighter weights require light winds to fish properly.
Medium Weights – 3/8 to 3/4 ounces
Medium weights are great in shallow or sparse vegetation. Typically, the bass will hold in the shade provided by grass. A little more weight will allow your bait to get down to where bass are waiting in ambush.
Medium weights are also great when the bass are hanging on the outside edge of a weed line in 3-8 feet of water. There are two advantages to going ‘in between’ in this scenario. First, these moderate weights will allow you to search for fish more quickly and efficiently than lighter weights. Second, you will maintain a slower fall rate. At times, you need a faster fall rate, go with a worm. If you need to keep that soft plastic in the strike zone just a second more, fish a creature bait like the Zoom Brush Hog.
Heavy Weights – Anything over 3/4 ounce
These weights are going to be used in deep water, over 12 feet, and in thick vegetation. Because of their fast fall rate, they will often draw reaction strikes. In thicker vegetation, they can be used to ‘punch’ through the surface grass. While this can get a reaction strike, some of our biggest fish have been caught shaking soft plastics underneath the grass. This is a great time to insert a rattle!
Don’t Hesitate to Go Weightless
There are two situations when a weightless presentation can be huge!
Bank Fishing
Fishing from deep to shallow comes with its hang-ups! One of the advantages of fishing Texas rigs is their ability to come through cover cleanly. However, fishing from deep to shallow can make it tough to avoid hang-ups. A weightless Texas rig is great for beginners, in rip-rap, or in a situation where you need to fish the outside edge of a weed line from the bank.
Fishing Holes in the Grass
When the wind is light and the grass is right this presentation is tough to beat. Letting a straight-tail worm or stick bait gently drift into a hole in the vegetation and then shaking it can fool the oldest, smartest bass. Hold on to the rod and turn her head or you will never see her!
Purchase Peg it Weight Stoppers for Those Special Occasioins
Peg Worthy Moments
- Punching Mats
- Flipping bushes
- Swimming the Texas Rig
- Quick Conversion to Carolina Rig – Muddy or gravel banks
Texas Rig Bass Fishing – One Last Cast
The versatility and fish-ability of the Texas rig have made it a go-to bait for anglers for over half a century. If you are starting out these tips will help you find and catch more fish. Here is a well-done video by Shakespeare for the basic setup.
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time, tight lines and fin times. We hope to see you out there on the water as we all pursue thePerfectCombo.
For another great fishing technique check out the drop shot rig here!
