Presentation is Everything: A Guide to Rigging Baits
I’ve said it before, but it’s the most important lesson in fishing: presentation is everything. You can have a perfect cast with the most expensive lure, but if that lure is rigged crooked, it will look unnatural and a smart fish won’t touch it. Learning to rig your soft plastics so they look subtle and alive is a critical skill. Tonight, we’ll cover three fundamental rigs that are easy to learn and incredibly effective.
Rig #1: The Wacky Rig – An Irresistible, Slow-Falling Presentation
There is no rig that is easier to assemble or has a more tantalizing action than a wacky rig. It is simply a stick-style soft plastic, like a Senko, hooked directly through the middle. This creates a subtle, shimmying action on the fall that bass find absolutely irresistible. It is the ultimate “do-nothing” bait for when the bite gets tough.
How to Rig a Wacky Rig Step-by-Step
- Select your hook: A size 1 or 1/0 wacky rig or octopus hook is perfect.
- Find the Middle: Take your soft plastic stick bait and find the center point (usually where the smooth “egg sack” is).
- Hook it: Simply pass the hook point directly through the center of the plastic. That’s it.
- Pro Tip – Use an O-Ring: To save your baits from getting torn up after one fish, slide a small rubber O-ring to the center of your plastic worm first, then slip your hook under the O-ring. This will dramatically increase the life of your baits.
Rig #2: The Jig Head – The Universal Lure Rig
A simple lead-head jig is the foundation for dozens of presentations. Learning to thread a soft plastic grub or swimbait onto one correctly is a core skill. The goal is to make the plastic perfectly straight on the hook shank.
How to Properly Thread a Swimbait or Grub
- Measure First: Lay the jig head next to your soft plastic. Make a mental note or a small mark on the plastic where the hook point should exit the back.
- Center the Point: Insert the hook point directly into the center of the nose of the plastic bait.
- Thread it On: Carefully push and thread the plastic up the hook shank, following the bend of the hook.
- Exit at Your Mark: Pop the hook point out the back of the plastic at the spot you previously marked.
- Check Your Work: The finished product should be perfectly straight. If it has a curve or a hump, it will spin unnaturally in the water. Pull it off and try again.
Rig #3: The Carolina Rig – The Bottom-Dragging Search Tool
When fish are spread out on deep flats, the Carolina Rig is the best tool to cover water and find them. It separates the weight from the bait, giving the lure a more subtle, free-floating action that looks very natural.
Components and Setup for a Carolina Rig
- Slide on Your Weight: Slide a heavy egg sinker (3/4 oz is standard) onto your main line.
- Add a Bead: Slide a small plastic or glass bead on the line after the sinker. This protects your knot and creates a “clacking” sound that attracts fish.
- Tie on a Swivel: Tie a barrel swivel to the end of your main line.
- Add a Leader: Tie a 18-to-24-inch piece of lighter monofilament or fluorocarbon line to the other end of the swivel.
- Tie on Your Hook: Attach your hook and soft plastic bait to the end of the leader.
The king of all rigs, of course, is the versatile and completely weedless Texas Rig, which we covered in its own guide. But by mastering these additional three, you will be prepared for a huge variety of situations on the water.
Rigging your baits correctly is a fundamental skill that we cover in our guide to Essential Fishing Skills.
-Captain Sal
