Texas Rig
Today, let’s look at an alternative to the Carolina rig called the Texas rig. Let’s start with how to tie it and we’ll go over why you would want to use this specific technique. And by the way, keep those questions coming! At MVF, we really enjoy answering them and giving other folks, who may have the same questions, an answer that they have been looking for but were unable to find or just needed some clarification.
The Texas rig, or t-rig is tied by threading a weight up the main line and then, without anything in between, tying your hook immediately below the sinker. Thread your lure of choice onto your hook and you’re ready to go. You can use a variety of weights or baits depending on what, where and how deep you are going to fish.
You also have the option of allowing your sinker to slide up and down the line or pegging it to the line so that it doesn’t move. Both of these alternatives have a purpose.
Usually, if I am fishing either deep, around the spawn or on shallow flats, I will go with the t-rig. More often than not, I do not peg my weight to the line because I want to allow my bait that little extra freedom of movement as I’m retrieving my lure. With today’s soft plastics, being able to take advantage of the fact that many of them are either neutrally buoyant, having floating tails or appendages, you can get more action from them by letting your weight slide freely on your line.
I do peg my weight when I am fishing in a lot of slop. For this application, I want to stay in contact with my bait at all times as some of
Texas Rig Without The Peg
the strikes can be very subtle. I think I get a better hook-up to strike ratio in the muck when my sinker is pegged. It also facilitates penetrating thick vegetation and getting your lure down to the fish easier.
I always use tungsten weights when I am fishing the t-rig. They are less bulky for the same weight than their lead counterparts and are more environmentally friendly. Yes, they do cost a bit more but, in my opinion, the disparity between is hardly worth fretting about.
Back in the old days, we used to use wooden toothpicks for pegging. These days, I like to use rubber pegs. They are easy to thread down through the top of the weight and trim to fit. They are much less likely to nick your line than a toothpick and do a very good job of holding the sinker in place.
That’s it, all there is to it.
Once again, I hope that this clarifies any questions that you have about the Texas Rig, and we’re more than happy to go into more detail if that is what is needed.
See ya on the water…