Spring Bass with the Carolina Rig

Posted On April 13, 2012

  The very best time to fish for bass is when they move to shallow water in the spring. Both pre-spawn and post spawn bass tend to occasionally get locked jaw when cold fronts move in. Other factors that can make the bite tough is from high fishing pressure by anglers trying to catch bass off the bed and just from being older and wiser. When the going gets tough, one old faithful go to presentation for spring bass is the Carolina rig.  

 The Carolina rig is possibly one of the two most popular rigs used for bass fishing and can be a great rig for introducing new anglers to the sport at the best time of the year to catch bass. A Carolina rig is fairly simple to make. By using slip sinkers, swivels, beads, and a leader, anglers can fashion one quickly or by using a pre-rigged Carolina rig like the one shown above. A ¾ oz. sinker and a red bead are possibly the most popular components to rigging the device. The most common variance is the length of the leader with some anglers rigging as little and six inches and others choosing as much as a thirty six inch leader or more for structure such as steep ledges. An advantage of a longer leader is to allow the bait to be presented slowly.    


 The application of a Carolina rig allows anglers to feel the composition of the bottom. Searching for changes from gravel to clay or mud is a great wait to find the bass. The attributes of the bottom, known as structure can tell an angler much if he concentrates of feeling the lure. The transition areas where a change is between composition is often a hang out for bass. After a cast it is important to watch and feel for your line to move as the bait is falling, many fish bite on the initial fall, and often they will strike with a very subtle inhale of the bait.. One the bait sinks and you feel the bottom, reel in the slack very slowly and pause often twitching the rod and continue taking up the slack.    

 
  Some popular soft plastics for spring Carolina rigs include lizards, flukes, creatures and worms. Changing to different baits and size profiles can make all of the difference on any given day.  Natural colors of green pumpkin or watermelon, June bug in clearer water and shades of blue and black in stained water often produce bass with the Carolina rig.  

 Always fish for the conditions first and then determine the temperament of the bass. Vary retrieve speeds, but always allow the bait to pause until the bass let you know what they want. Some anglers report that dragging the bait with the sinker on the bottom works best and others say that occasionally popping the sinker up off the bottom gets results as the bait rises and then falls like a weightless rig. Many bites however do occur when the Carolina rig is snapped through grass and other vegetation which causes the bait to shudder and then fall mimicking injured bait.

Happy Fishing!

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About

Mark Bilbrey
Mark Bilbrey
Crossville, TN
Joined July 6, 2010

Growing up on Dale Hollow Lake, in Tennessee, fishing with his family in the shadow of legendary bass angler, the late Billy Westmorland, gave young Mark Bilbrey a solid foundation in the sport of fishing. Mark became an Eagle Scout through conservation projects on Dale Hollow lake and other area parks. He received a skipper certification through the USCG at the age of eighteen navigating and fishing Dale Hollow Lake. Now, after many years as a businessman, Bilbrey has completed professional fishing guide training at Foley/Belsaw in preparation for a future in the industry. A registered Master Angler in Tennessee, and an Ambassador to the World Fishing Network he shares his tips, techniques and stories in hopes to help teach new anglers how to locate and catch fish. His articles have been featured on the web sites of the North American Fishing Club, Monticello Big Bass, and Catfishing Journals. Mark was recently on ESPN Radio's "Set the Hook!" with Pat Rose talking about, what else? Fishing!. Bilbrey holds memberships in several fishing organizations including Pro Staff Positions with lure manufacturing companies and is a member of B.A.S.S., NAFC, and FLW. His passion for sport fishing has been recognized in a promotional video on the World Fishing Network and he was recently selected as "Ambassador of the Year" by WFN. Also a member of The B.A.S.S. Council an exclusive online community made up of bass anglers from across the U.S. who are interested in sharing their opinions. As a member of the B.A.S.S. Council he has the opportunity to tell B.A.S.S. what he thinks about ideas, and provide valuable input through surveys. He credits his passion for fishing to his wife Donna and his childhood fishing with his father, Billy Bilbrey, his three older brothers and to his cousin Jack Huddelston, owner of Dale Hollows, Horse Creek Dock. Visit my web site at http:/markbilbrey.com

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