The Texas Rig is most likely the first thing you threw when you learned to Bass Fish. I can remember a time when that was the only type of soft plastic rig that I threw. The Texas rig still works in the right situations. Let’s discover how and some secrets to help you catch more Bass with a Texas Rig. At the end of this article we have a video included just for you to show you how to rig a Texas rig and some secret options to ad to help you out.
Largemouth Bass
First of all, the species I am going to primarily target when I am fishing a Texas Rig is largemouth bass. Smallmouth and Spotted bass will eat it also but you can catch them a little better on tubes, ned rigs, and shaky heads. When I fish for Largemouth Bass I prefer to use a Texas rigged worm a little better when finesse fishing.
Largemouth Bass like to hide out in tight cover like grass, lily pads, and wood so the Texas rig works a little better because it is a little bit more weedless. Largemouth like a little bigger presentation sometimes so the Texas rig rigged with a 4/0 or 5/0 hook can sometimes do the trick.
Spawning Bass have a love/hate relationship with the Texas Rig.
Do not worry guys. They HATE when that darn Texas rig gets in or near their bed. They LOVE to bite it and carry it away from their bed. Let’s say are dragging a big Lizard rigged on a Texas rig over a spawning flat. We have all had that bite where we don’t feel anything but we see our line going sideways. That is a classic Spawning bite where the bass is moving the worm out of their bed. They are not looking to eat they are looking to defend their eggs.
I love the Texas rig as a search bait moved over a spawning flat. Make long casts and work an area you know that has beds that you cannot see.
TEXAS RIG SECRET NUMBER 1
Use a glass rattle in your soft plastic bait to attract and irritate the bass a little more. I like to insert mine right behind the hook.
When to Fish a Texas Rig
There is always a time for a Texas rig when targeting largemouth bass. You just have to decide if it is the most viable option for that time. If it is Pre spawn and the wind is blowing and you have overcast skies then a Texas rig is not going to be the best option for you. Moving baits like spinnerbaits, jerk baits, and crankbaits would serve a little better in those scenarios.
I love it especially in little to no wind conditions during the springtime. I also love it when ledge fishing like you would in Kentucky lake or Guntersville. Another great option is when you are fishing offshore brush piles. It is very weedless and you can bring it right through a brush pile a lot of times and not get snagged.
TEXAS RIG SECRET NUMBER 2
Always match your soft plastic to your tungsten weight. The key here is tungsten. I want the most weight and the smallest size I can get. I also want it to look natural. If I am using a green pumpkin colored worm than I want to have a weight like this to match it perfectly.
If I am using June Bug colored worm like I would use in Florida than I want to have a weight like this.
What Should you Texas Rig?
You can Texas rig any soft plastic bait that you want. Water clarity, cover you are targeting and time of year are all going to play a factor in what you should choose. However, I will give you my top 5 and where I like to use them and why and maybe you will like one and decide to use them yourself.
Hook’d on Bassin’s TOP 5 Texas Rig Soft Plastics
1. June Bug
If I am fishing any muddy water or in Florida, I love the color of June Bug. I like to Texas Rig this with a light 1/8 oz and fish it around grass or lily pads. With the lighter weight, it will still have a little slower fall especially if you use a seven-inch worm.
2. Brush Hog
A brush hog is a great spring time lure to work around spawning flats. I love this particular creature bait for a place like Lake Guntersville. It is obnoxious and will irritate those spawning bass and make them react. One little tip is that I like to dip the back tails with a Chartreuse color which irritates them and appeals to their smelling senses. That garlic smell is difference maker and will increase yours strikes.
4. Magnum Worm
A Magnum Red worm is something that shines on a Texas Rig. I love this bait for dark-colored water. It works great when targeting brush piles or ledges. The red color looks like what a worm looks like in the water. I think that is why it is such a popular color. This would not be the size I would use if I was targeting smaller bass.
5. Rage Tail Craw
I would be remised if I did not include the Rage Tail craw. Bass love crawfish. It is always a great idea to rig something that imitates a crawfish in some way. The way these little legs/claws flutter on the way down is awesome. This is also a great bait for pitching and Flippin.
SECRET TIP NUMBER 3
Try using a bobber stopper with your bait especially when pitching around grass and lily pads. Helps it to punch through to the bottom keeping the bait more compact. It also helps it stay a little more weedless.
How to Work It
First of all, it is not rocket science when it comes to working the bait back to the boat. Cast it out and let it sink to the bottom. I prefer to let it sink on slack line without my reel engaged so the bait does not sink back towards me. I just want it to fall naturally.
I prefer to fish mine with a bait caster since I am usually targeting a little bigger fish and using some bigger baits. I like to use a 6.6:1 Enigma because it is a little slower and forces me to slow down with my texas rig. I am flipping or fishing around heavy cover I would want a higher gear ratio to get those fish out of the cover fast.
I like to pair it with a 7 foot 3 inch Enigma heavy action rod with a fast tip.
I like to drag mine on the bottom. I have always preferred the drag drag pause method. I think it gets their attention a little better. Two quick little drags followed by a pause. I may hop it and keep my rod tip a little higher if I am fishing around vegetation.
If the water is super dark or muddy than you can get away with using straight braided line. If you are fishing around super heavy cover or flipping than I would use 50lb braided line. If you are working some flat stuff or ledges than I would go with something like 20lb braided line with a fluorocarbon leader of like 15lb. My two lines choices are always going to be the same. I love these because I do not have issues with them.
SECRET TIP NUMBER 4
When tying on a Texas rig of any kind and using fluorocarbon use this knot in the video below. It is a very strong knot and just flat out doesn’t break.
As far as hooks go it all depends. I personally use the wide gap unless I am flipping. The size depends on the bait. However, if you buy a 3/0 wide gap it will work for almost anything you are going to throw.
SECRET TIP NUMBER 5
Use a small red bead in between your weight and your hook. This makes some clicking sounds in the water as you are working your bait. Sound always is good to draw a little more attention to your Texas Rig presentation.
Texas Rig Best Kept Secrets
In Conclusion
The Texas Rig is not dead. There are some great fish to be caught on it. You can greatly improve your chances if you use some of the Secret Tips that I included throughout this article. A Texas Rig used in the right scenarios is a great way to Catch Giant Largemouth Bass.
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Tight Lines
