Texas rig
The Texas rig is a popular and widely used method of plastic worm fishing, as it can be used under most fishing conditions. A bullet-shaped slip-sinker is used with a standard worm hook. The hook is rigged inside the body of the worm to keep it weedless. This method is preferred when fishing ledges, drop-offs, brush mounds, underwater islands, stump rows, shorelines, stickups, boat docks, ditches and brush piles.
Eufaula rig
This is a modified version of the Carolina rig with a short line. Eight to 10 inches is left between the sinker and the worm. The short line gives better feel and bait control. The Eufaula rig is preferable on clean mounds, islands, ledges, drop-offs, roadbeds, points, moss beds and culverts and around standing timber and rock piles.
Weedless hook rig
This is a single worm hook rigged without a sinker that floats over grass. If longer casts are required over structure, use a worm that’s 8 inches or longer. Cast along shorelines and over weed beds, lily pads and moss beds.
Jighead rig
This rig is excellent for open water or clean areas and can be fished with very light line. It is extremely effective in gin-clear water and requires little effort to set the hook. Fish this rig over gravel points, road beds and around bridges.
Flipping rig
There are numerous flipping jig/plastic-worm rigs available today, and you’ll want to learn to utilize them when fish are holding tight to cover. Heavier line is required, along with a long, stiff rod. Flipping areas are found in treetops, blowdowns, roots and vines, steep banks, logjams, boat docks, brush piles, and other heavy cover or submerged vegetation.
Carolina rig
This worm rig has been around for a long time. It came into the limelight when it proved to be a useful tool for catching not only a quantity of bass but quality bass as well. It is considered one of the top bass-fishing setups of all time because as one wizard put it, “You can take it to a lake you haven’t fished in months and fish it effectively.” Construction is easy. Simply take your main line and run it through a 1/4- to 1-ounce bullet weight. Connect a swivel to the end of the line so the sinker can slide freely. Tie on a leader, varying the length from 18 inches to the length of the rod. Usually, the leader is a smaller test than the main line. This gives the bait more action. Attach a quality hook to the free end of the leader and bait with your favorite plastic worm. After casting, the weight will sink to the bottom of the leader with the bait tailing it. The more buoyant the worm, the higher it will float off the bottom. The motion of the bait mimics the fluttering action of a dying shad and the erratic movement of crawfish. The weight keeps the bait in the deepest of strike zones. As the bait puffs up mud and sediment on the bottom, it raises the curiosity of lethargic, suspended bass. This rig can be thrown almost anywhere any other plastic worm can be thrown. To be effective you have to stick with it.
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