I wanted to know if anyone has experimented with additional beads, clackers or anything unique like that.
Has anyone noticed any differences between using a swivel vs a carolina keeper? Im sure with a swivel more noise is generated however the downside is another knot to tie or another potential point of failure. Im guessing that could be remedied with two beads below the sinker. Just wanted to get thoughts and opinions.
The Carolina rig is one of my favorite ways to fish. I did A LOT of it when I was in my clubs. It's a great technique. I use bullet weights for weeds and egg weights for gravel and rock
Unlike a lot of guys, I use a spinning set up, not a baitcaster. I have a couple 6' 6" HEAVY spinning rods. Falcon made one and so did BPS in the bionic blade series. Depending on the depth or weight I am using I will either use a 14lb mono main line or a 10lb mono main line. The 14lb is used for 1/2 oz to 1 oz. weights and used to fish deeper in the 15-30' zone and on really windy days. The 10lb test is used with 1/4 to 3/8 oz weights and is usually fished in the 5-10' zone. I use a 10lb floro leader on both set ups. I have reciently gone to the Mustad grip pin hooks in 3/0 for smaller 4-5" baits and the 4/0 for 6"+ baits. I don't care what anyone says. DO NOT use braid as a main line over rocks. You are essentially dragging the braid right over the rocks at the point where the weight meets the braid. In weeds you might be able to get away with it.The grip pin keeps the bait from fowling when trying to make long casts or when working it through weeds or on hooksets. The cleaner the bottom the shorter the leader. My "go to" leader lenth is about 3'. If I can put my hook on the bottom eye of my rod and reel up tight and the weight is within a couple inches of the top eye.... thats the lenth I use most. I will go to as short as a 1' leader over gravel and rock or as long as a 4-5' leader in deeper water or thicker weeds. The thicker the weeds, the lighter the weight. My ideal set up for weeds is a 1/4 oz weight with a 4' leader and some sort of creature bait. I ALWAYS use a swivel and 2....2...2 glass beads for added noise. If you are using tungsten you definily want to invest in some plastic beads from the hobby isle at walmart and use it between the weight and glass beads. The tungsten is so hard it can fracture the glass beads on repeted casts and that inturn can nic your line. I always use a plastic bead when I use tungsten weights. So weight, plastic bead then two 10mm glass beads the swivel then leader and bait. This is just my 2 cents. It has worked well for me in the past and continues to do so. Hope it was of some help
. Bobby,
The Carolina rig is one of my favorite ways to fish. I did A LOT of it when I was in my clubs. It's a great technique. I use bullet weights for weeds and egg weights for gravel and rock
Unlike a lot of guys, I use a spinning set up, not a baitcaster. I have a couple 6' 6" HEAVY spinning rods. Falcon made one and so did BPS in the bionic blade series. Depending on the depth or weight I am using I will either use a 14lb mono main line or a 10lb mono main line. The 14lb is used for 1/2 oz to 1 oz. weights and used to fish deeper in the 15-30' zone and on really windy days. The 10lb test is used with 1/4 to 3/8 oz weights and is usually fished in the 5-10' zone. I use a 10lb floro leader on both set ups. I have reciently gone to the Mustad grip pin hooks in 3/0 for smaller 4-5" baits and the 4/0 for 6"+ baits. I don't care what anyone says. DO NOT use braid as a main line over rocks. You are essentially dragging the braid right over the rocks at the point where the weight meets the braid. In weeds you might be able to get away with it.The grip pin keeps the bait from fowling when trying to make long casts or when working it through weeds or on hooksets. The cleaner the bottom the shorter the leader. My "go to" leader lenth is about 3'. If I can put my hook on the bottom eye of my rod and reel up tight and the weight is within a couple inches of the top eye.... thats the lenth I use most. I will go to as short as a 1' leader over gravel and rock or as long as a 4-5' leader in deeper water or thicker weeds. The thicker the weeds, the lighter the weight. My ideal set up for weeds is a 1/4 oz weight with a 4' leader and some sort of creature bait. I ALWAYS use a swivel and 2....2...2 glass beads for added noise. If you are using tungsten you definily want to invest in some plastic beads from the hobby isle at walmart and use it between the weight and glass beads. The tungsten is so hard it can fracture the glass beads on repeted casts and that inturn can nic your line. I always use a plastic bead when I use tungsten weights. So weight, plastic bead then two 10mm glass beads the swivel then leader and bait. This is just my 2 cents. It has worked well for me in the past and continues to do so. Hope it was of some help
Rich as always thank you for your input. From everything Ive looked into most people prefer a longer rod for casts and deep hook sets, how come you deviated?
Im also trying to make due with the gear I already have instead of investing in a whole new set up so it will either be a 6'8 MH Fast casting rod or a 6'2(previously 6'6 then broken and a new tip put on) spinning rod. The rod was a medium, but the tip isnt very quick on it so still debating on that but leaning towards the 6'8 casting rod.
. Bobby,
The Carolina rig is one of my favorite ways to fish. I did A LOT of it when I was in my clubs. It's a great technique. I use bullet weights for weeds and egg weights for gravel and rock
Unlike a lot of guys, I use a spinning set up, not a baitcaster. I have a couple 6' 6" HEAVY spinning rods. Falcon made one and so did BPS in the bionic blade series. Depending on the depth or weight I am using I will either use a 14lb mono main line or a 10lb mono main line. The 14lb is used for 1/2 oz to 1 oz. weights and used to fish deeper in the 15-30' zone and on really windy days. The 10lb test is used with 1/4 to 3/8 oz weights and is usually fished in the 5-10' zone. I use a 10lb floro leader on both set ups. I have reciently gone to the Mustad grip pin hooks in 3/0 for smaller 4-5" baits and the 4/0 for 6"+ baits. I don't care what anyone says. DO NOT use braid as a main line over rocks. You are essentially dragging the braid right over the rocks at the point where the weight meets the braid. In weeds you might be able to get away with it.The grip pin keeps the bait from fowling when trying to make long casts or when working it through weeds or on hooksets. The cleaner the bottom the shorter the leader. My "go to" leader lenth is about 3'. If I can put my hook on the bottom eye of my rod and reel up tight and the weight is within a couple inches of the top eye.... thats the lenth I use most. I will go to as short as a 1' leader over gravel and rock or as long as a 4-5' leader in deeper water or thicker weeds. The thicker the weeds, the lighter the weight. My ideal set up for weeds is a 1/4 oz weight with a 4' leader and some sort of creature bait. I ALWAYS use a swivel and 2....2...2 glass beads for added noise. If you are using tungsten you definily want to invest in some plastic beads from the hobby isle at walmart and use it between the weight and glass beads. The tungsten is so hard it can fracture the glass beads on repeted casts and that inturn can nic your line. I always use a plastic bead when I use tungsten weights. So weight, plastic bead then two 10mm glass beads the swivel then leader and bait. This is just my 2 cents. It has worked well for me in the past and continues to do so. Hope it was of some help
. Bobby,
The Carolina rig is one of my favorite ways to fish. I did A LOT of it when I was in my clubs. It's a great technique. I use bullet weights for weeds and egg weights for gravel and rock
Unlike a lot of guys, I use a spinning set up, not a baitcaster. I have a couple 6' 6" HEAVY spinning rods. Falcon made one and so did BPS in the bionic blade series. Depending on the depth or weight I am using I will either use a 14lb mono main line or a 10lb mono main line. The 14lb is used for 1/2 oz to 1 oz. weights and used to fish deeper in the 15-30' zone and on really windy days. The 10lb test is used with 1/4 to 3/8 oz weights and is usually fished in the 5-10' zone. I use a 10lb floro leader on both set ups. I have reciently gone to the Mustad grip pin hooks in 3/0 for smaller 4-5" baits and the 4/0 for 6"+ baits. I don't care what anyone says. DO NOT use braid as a main line over rocks. You are essentially dragging the braid right over the rocks at the point where the weight meets the braid. In weeds you might be able to get away with it.The grip pin keeps the bait from fowling when trying to make long casts or when working it through weeds or on hooksets. The cleaner the bottom the shorter the leader. My "go to" leader lenth is about 3'. If I can put my hook on the bottom eye of my rod and reel up tight and the weight is within a couple inches of the top eye.... thats the lenth I use most. I will go to as short as a 1' leader over gravel and rock or as long as a 4-5' leader in deeper water or thicker weeds. The thicker the weeds, the lighter the weight. My ideal set up for weeds is a 1/4 oz weight with a 4' leader and some sort of creature bait. I ALWAYS use a swivel and 2....2...2 glass beads for added noise. If you are using tungsten you definily want to invest in some plastic beads from the hobby isle at walmart and use it between the weight and glass beads. The tungsten is so hard it can fracture the glass beads on repeted casts and that inturn can nic your line. I always use a plastic bead when I use tungsten weights. So weight, plastic bead then two 10mm glass beads the swivel then leader and bait. This is just my 2 cents. It has worked well for me in the past and continues to do so. Hope it was of some help
Rich as always thank you for your input. From everything Ive looked into most people prefer a longer rod for casts and deep hook sets, how come you deviated?
Im also trying to make due with the gear I already have instead of investing in a whole new set up so it will either be a 6'8 MH Fast casting rod or a 6'2(previously 6'6 then broken and a new tip put on) spinning rod. The rod was a medium, but the tip isnt very quick on it so still debating on that but leaning towards the 6'8 casting rod.
Bobby, when I 1st got into the Carolina rig there were no 6.3:1 baitcasting reels, nevermind 7.1:1 The fastest they made "back in the day" was 5.3:1, im talking late 80's early 90's. Shimano made the Symetre back then in the 4000 size. Line recovery per handle turn on that reel was the best out there. I liked it because at the end of a drag, if I felt a fish I coule move the rod forward, reel up the slack quick and drill the fish. With a baitcaster it would be 4 turns of the handle to reel up the slack from pointing the rod at the fish, with the symetre or stradic 4000 it was 2 turns of the handle. I'm sure it is less today with the 7.1:1 gear ratios out there but I am comfortable and confidant in the way I have been doing it for 25 years. I get a better, more solid hookset with the way I hold a spinning reel then with the way I hold a bait caster. It is what I frog with a spinning reel as well and if I am skipping baits under docks or into trees and bushes I use spinning as well. I feel stronger with my hand over the rod ( yes I said over the rod) then under the rod, if that makes sense.
If they had made a 7' heavy spinning rod I would have bought it. I can't find one. Medium heavy is the heaviest I have found in the 7' range for spinning rods. I bet I can cast just as far with my set ups as guys with baitcasters. In fact years back the guys in my 1st club did not agree with me and my spinning rod for carolina rigging. So one time at an out of state tourney when we were all staying together, I think it was Champlain. We had a casting compitition. I outcast 4-5 guys who were using baitcasters. This was 20+ years ago and I am sure reel performance has gotten way better so it may not hold true today.
I DO use braid as a main line..one it gives you better sensitivity! There was allot of deep hooked fish years ago up north when crigging,some you couldnt do anything..they just ate it! And as soon as you felt them ,it was in their belly..but we(partner in team tournies back then) found we had allot less gut hooked fish with braid
I won my share of money on Winni years ago crigging BIG 8" lizards with dyed legs and tail when that was the go to..even found some 10" lizards
Anyway, dont be afraid to try different setups and baits to try when criggin...most times I would use a 3' leader
FYI - Yes, Flouro would be better around rocks, but I still use braid and a 10-15lb flouro leader...just re-tie more often and if you find you are braking off..put a palstic bead or even 2 infront of the sinker
Try and see if you like braid or flouro better...you may like and have better success with one or the other
Allot of great advice from Rich and others..best of luck with it and remember ...i started saying many years ago....hooksets are free..if you feel something different or even thought you did...SET THE HOOK
i use it a lot in the summer and in deep water even though it's boring.
i like a baitcast setup for sensitivity and for picking up line faster with a sweeping hookset. it's also easier to use heavier fluoro IMO.
i go with a 7'3" or 7'4" heavy to extra heavy rod with anything from 1/2 oz to 1 1/4 oz sinkers depending on conditions, water depth, wind etc. i really haven't found a difference using a bead or no bead. i do have some tungsten beads though. i like using a BPS carolina keeper and 12 lb. test for grass bottoms. no swivel. it's just really easy to rig and you don't need to tie 3 knots and mess around. you can adjust on the fly too.
i'll adjust the leader depending on where the fish are - bottom or suspending a little. you can drag anything from worms to creatures to floating plastics. it all works.
the bite definitely feels different at times. sometimes they're pulling it and sometimes it feels like something tugging on the line repeatedly.
rich, here's a 7' H / F spinning rod.
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Pinnacle_Perfecta_DHC5_Spinning_Rods/descpage-PPDSR.html
Last edited by samf on Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:47 pm; edited 1 time in total