Texas rigs are particularly popular for largemouth bass fishing, along with other species of game fish, including smallmouth bass, walleyes and perch. The fact that the Texas rig is weedless makes it particularly good for fishing heavy cover. The rig has a weight that slides freely when a fish strikes, reducing the resistance on the line and tricking the fish into holding the bait for a few extra, precious seconds that can allow you to set the hook.
Tackle
The tackle required for a Texas rig includes a specially designed worm hook that has a bend in the shank, just below the eye, and a soft plastic bait, which can include worms, grubs and lizards. A bullet weight with a sharply-pointed front end and a concave back end fits over the eye of the hook and the head of the soft plastic lure.
Rig Setup
To set up a Texas fishing rig, thread your main fishing line through the pointed end of the bullet weight. Use a Palomar knot to tie the fishing line to the eye of the hook. Insert the point of the hook into the head end of the soft plastic bait, then through the side of the bait. Slide the head of the bait up to the bend in the hook, just below the eye. Turn the point of the hook inward toward the bait body and insert the point into the side of the lure.
Gear
The Texas rig is well suited to a technique called flipping. Using a medium to heavy, 6- to 7-foot baitcasting rod and reel, anglers can use quick, sidearm casts to accurately place the rig in cover or a structure, such as weed beds or sunken trees. Fishing lines ranging from 12- to 20-lb. weight will accommodate a Texas rig well.
Technique
Anglers typically use Texas rigs when working grass beds, rock piles, dock pilings and sunken trees. Cast the rig, then allow it to sink to the bottom. Several different retrieve methods work with the Texas rig. Typically, anglers will twitch the rig to impart action to the soft plastic bait to entice a strike, then retrieve a little and repeat the twitching. Another technique is to simply retrieve the rig slowly, bouncing it along the bottom or over structure. Faster retrieving may trigger reaction strikes when other methods fail.
Setting the Hook
When fishing with a Texas rig, learn to tell the difference between a simple bump on the bottom and a fish strike, which can offer more resistance and line pull, when the fish moves off with the bait. When setting the hook, pull hard enough for the hook to penetrate the side of the soft plastic bait and the mouth of the fish. If you miss a strike, hold your tip up and reel quickly to get the rig away from any obstructions to avoid snagging the rig. Cast to the same location again for another try.
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