Fishing rigs are specifically designed for the places fish live and the way they eat. A weighted bait may be designed for bottom-feeding fish, for fish that swim just off the bottom or for suspended fish. Rigs also are designed to increase the chance of a hookup based on what a fish eats and how it eats.
Blackfish Rigs
Blackfish rigs consist of a weight at the end of the line or on a loop with a hook or tandem hooks attached to the line and suspended above the weight. The hook floats next to or above the weight, depending on the exact depth the fish are holding.
Three-way Rig
Also known as drift fishing rigs, three-way rigs can be used for a variety of freshwater and saltwater fish. The three-way consists of a three-way swivel, leader line, weight and hook. Tie your main line to one ring of the swivel. Tie a line that runs to a weight on the second ring. Tie a leader line that runs to your hook to the third ring. Vary the length of the weight and bait lines until you find the combination the fish want.
Slip Sinker or Carolina Rig
A slip sinker rig, or Carolina rig, is a versatile rig consisting of a plastic bead, a two-way swivel and a line connected to the hook. Run a weight with holes in each end up your main line, followed by a plastic small bead or two. The bead serves as a noise maker and protects your knot. Tie your main line to the swivel. On the other end of the swivel, tie the line that runs to your hook. That leader line can be anywhere from 1 foot to 5 feet long, depending on the fish you are chasing and where those fish are holding in relation to the bottom.
Texas Rig
The Texas rig is one of the most popular setups for bass fishing. It is used on plastic baits, such as worms. Slide a slip sinker onto your main line. Some fishermen place an optional plastic bead on the line next. Tie your hook to the line. Run the tip of your hook through the plastic worm's nose and bring it out of the worm about a half-inch down the body. Turn the hook so the point is facing the worm. Insert the hook point into the worm. You can push the hook point all the way into the worm or snug it barely under the surface of the plastic, a technique called skin-hooking. Set the hook hard to drive the hook through the worm and the fish's mouth.
Bobber Rigs
A standard bobber rig and a popping bobber rig consist of a bobber, a weight and the hook. In the standard setup, pinch or slide a weight onto your line and tie a hook on the end. Use the hooks built into the bobber to clip the bobber to your line and set the depth of your bait. In the popping bobber option, run your line through the holes in the bobber. Below the bobber, slide or pinch a weight onto your line. Tie your hook to the end of the line. The line runs freely through the bobber as you fish.
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