Thread: Texas Rig For Bluegill?

Not sure about Texas rig, but a Carolina rig is a great search method for probing large areas with relatively clean bottoms. I generally prefer bobber fishing in shallow water and drop shotting in deeper water (I just use a heavy split shot for the weight). I have had good luck finding and catching brim by dragging live bait on the bottom behind a slip sinker Carolina rig style. I bet a small grub or twister tail, or perhaps a fly, would work good that way. Not so sure about having the bait right up against the weight though, I haven't tried that.

Originally Posted by no luck

Has any body tried it? how well did it work
/

If you're talking about burying the hook point into the bait to make it weedless/snagless (Texas rigging), then no ... I haven't tried it, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work. I haven't caught any Bluegill on Texas Rigged plastic baits, but I have caught many Green Sunfish & Warmouth when using them for Bass. You might have to go to a very small hook & bait size, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

And like "Cricketcage" ... I have used a slip sinker/hook/live bait for catching Bluegill & Shellcracker. There is only a minor distinction between Texas Rigging & Carolina Rigging .... which is mostly in the way the bait is retrieved. CR'ing is mostly "dragging" the bait along the bottom, whereas TR'ing is mostly lifting/dropping or hopping the bait along the bottom. TR'ing slip sinkers are usually free to slip on the line & come in contact with the hook ... CR'ing slip sinkers are usually held away from the hook/bait by a length of leader line, attached to a clip or swivel.

... cp

I prefer a drop shot with the bait 12-20" up the line from the sinker, even when casting. Works best if you can have a 2-3" dropper to tie the hook to, so it has seperation from the main line.

I use the drop shot with my 12' jig pole often to fish trees and stumps, light wire #6 or #8 hook and either a cricket or worm.

When the water warms up and the fish are in 8' or so deep along the edge of the weeds I fish a 1/16 oz jig head with curly tail grub and a mea worm on the hook. Let t sink and bounce it on the bottom just like when fishing a plastic worm for bass, catch a few catfish using this set up also