The Ultimate Guide to Texas Rig Fishing for Bass

If you have ever fished with plastic worms or bait, it’s very likely you have come across the term “Texas rig.” For the beginner fisherman, this is a very simple thing to set up and a fantastic way to present the bait to hungry fish. But what is it and how can you use it in your fishing? Let’s show you everything you need to know.

What Is a Texas Rig?

An old and popular setup that is worked for anglers of various skill levels and is one of the most effective ways to present a soft plastic bait. The Texas rig is a technique using soft plastic lures. The setup is simple, consisting of an offset hook, an inline bullet sinker, a glass bead, and a float. The approach consists of putting a bullet-shaped weight onto the fishing line first, which is then followed by a glass or plastic bead. Finally, the line is secured to a hook, and the hook is inserted into the head of the worm which goes into the water. 

You are fishing with a plastic bait, but the difference between this and other rigs is that you are protecting the hook point from catching on everything, so it doesn’t snag on any rough surfaces underwater. It is a very beneficial setup for fishing in murky water where you’re not able to see any obstructions and the surface, as well as around weed beds. The term Texas rig came from Nick Créme of Créme Manufacturing who created the first plastic worms.

Texas Rig Setup

The importance of a proper Texas rig setup crucial to its success. You need to tie a Texas rig setup in the correct way:

1. Slide on the Bullet Weight

If using a weight, the first thing to do is to get your line and bullet weight. You slide on the bullet weight over the butt end of the line. You can tend the line to pin the weight, however, if you are casting over a long-distance and need extra accuracy, it is best to avoid this. Once you have slid the bullet weight on, there is no need to tie knots at this point.

2. Tying the Hook

Tying the hook is crucial, and when you are looking for or the white not, we recommend the uni knot as the standard for tying a hook onto a any line, but a palomar knot or several others work just fine with Texas rigs. 

3. Inserting the Hook 

Take the point of the hook, pierce the worm at the top in the middle, work the hook through the soft plastic lure. When piercing it, it should only be ¼ inch deep.

4. Stick the Hook Out 

After piercing the worm, force it out the side a quarter of an inch down the worm. This can be a difficult process, but it depends on the type of worm you use. 

5. Feed the Rest Through 

Feeding the rest of the hook through the worm until you reach the hook eye. When you are using the correct type of hook, it has a joint at the top, to prevent the hook from sliding down the worm, creating a better angle for you to turn the barb around and insert it back into the worm. 

6. Reinsert the Hook Into the Worm 

Laying the worm down on a flat surface, turn the hook around to the barb that is pointed towards the plastic. Reinsert the sharp end of the hook into the worm until it is nearly poking out the other side. Make sure you have space between the hook and the worm.

What Equipment to Use

The equipment you need for Texas rig fishing comprises the lure, weight, line, rod, and reel.

Choosing the Right Hook

Firstly the right hook is crucial for getting your Texas rig just right. It gives you the correct presentation, and while you can use a straight shank hook, the best approach is to use an offset worm hook. These are the types of hooks that have a joint at the top. This will make sure your hook doesn’t slide down the worm, keeping everything in place so that you have a perfect presentation when it comes to casting off. 

When you choose offset hooks, there are two different types to try: round bend, which displays less of the barb, or wide gap hooks, giving you a better chance of hooking with the fish. Use as big of a hook as your soft-plastic lure will hold. For example, if you are using a 6-inch worm, a 3/0 hook will work best. Worms 7 or 8 inches long need a 5/0 hook, and 10-inch ones need a 6/0 hook.

Choosing the Best Weight

When it comes to choosing the best Texas rig weight, it depends on the depth of the water you are fishing in, as well as how heavy the cover is. Texas rig fishing usually means you will use bullet weights most of the time, but there will be some situations where you may use pegging weights. The best approach is to use as light a weight as possible depending on the depth of the water. 

If you are in shallow water less than three feet, a weight of 1/16 or 1/8 oz will suffice. On a deep ledge, you need 3/8 or even 1/2 ounce of weight to cut through 15 or 20 feet of water. If you are fishing in in heavy cover, regardless of the depth of the water cover you need a heavier weight, between 1 and 2 oz, as it can penetrate through long grass. When choosing a weight for your Texas rig, you will need to get a weight heavy enough to activate the action in your soft plastic lure.

The Best Rod for Texas Rig Fishing

When it comes to choosing the best rod for Texas rig fishing, the best type of rod is one with medium or heavy size with enough length so you can get a good casting distance. If you are using soft plastics, you may need a heavier rod, but it all depends on the fishing environment. If you are using heavier Texas-rigged soft plastics, the heavy baits will need a heavier rod to keep them effectively. When it comes to choosing the right rod, you need to match it to the conditions of the size of the lure that you want to fish. 

The best rod length for Texas rig fishing is an important component to make the most of your bass catching ratios. For beginner fishermen, a 7-foot rod is the best place to begin. You can get smaller rods, but it is best to choose a 7-foot rod as the starting point. You may find that you want to use smaller rods for Texas rigging if you are sitting down. But you also need to take into consideration what type of rod you can cast effectively. When you choose a longer rod, it is harder to control, however, it will cast further than a shorter rod. But a shorter rod means more accuracy.

When choosing the best rod action, a fast to moderate action rod is best. If you are fishing in fixed structures, you need a fast action rod to get the bass out quickly, while also making sure that you don’t get wrapped around dock piling. If you are fishing in an open water setup, you can use a moderate or fast action rod for Texas rigging. 

The best rod strength for Texas rigging is heavy to medium/heavy, however, the environment will determine the strength. If you are in open water, a medium/heavy power rod will give you the power to set the hook and a bit of flexibility to cast long. However, if you are wading in weeds, a heavy power rod will help you to get the bass out of the water.

You may also want to choose a rod made of graphite over a fiberglass rod. The best rods are made out of graphite, as they are lighter and stiffer but they are more likely to break in comparison to a fiberglass rod. it is all down to personal preference, however, a graphite rod is a lot easier on the water.

Choosing the Best Reels for Texas Rig Fishing

When you are choosing the best reel for Texas fishing you need something with plenty of capacity and strong drag. The important thing is to pick a reel with enough speed so that it keeps up with a fast run towards you. When picking the right reel, you need to make sure that the Texas rig moves with the rod, and the reel will collect slackline. This will mean that you get a strong reel that gives you many strikes in the water. You need to choose a reel that’s very low profile, this will give you a better feel for the bites in the water. The less reel you have to hold, the more you be able to feel if the fish gives you any sharp taps or light pressure.

The Best Types of Soft Plastic Lures for Texas Rig Fishing

When you are looking for the best soft plastic lure, it is down to personal choice. For most people, the obvious and most popular choice is always been the humble worm. But the perfect lure is the one that you feel most confident with. You can choose a big worm, but any soft plastic can be rigged Texas-style. Some people like to use a straight tail worm, as well as curly tail worms. If the bass is more aggressive due to the conditions, a curly tail worm usually works best. 

When you are considering what type of bait to use for bass, the expression “big bait for big bass” is heard a lot. But this is not a hard and fast rule. When you are fishing for bass, you have to remember that larger fish can be lazy, and need a big meal that they will eat without much effort. 

There are different types of bait, such as a 10-plus-inch ribbon tail worm. But you also need to consider the type of water you are fishing in. The colder the water, the smaller the bait. And the warmer the water, the larger the bit. As bass have a greater metabolism in warm water, a larger bait will be more successful.

Another thing to consider is the level of cover. When there is more cover, you should use big soft plastics, and when there is less cover, opt for smaller soft plastics. The reason you need to do this is to make the worm stand out, making the bait easier to target the bass. Because if you are standing in deep vegetation, it is because more difficult for the bass to actually locate the fish.

How to Fish a Texas Rig 

When it comes to fishing a Texas rig, there are some specific methods that you could utilize. Ultimately, the best way to attract bass using Texas rigs is to present the bait in a natural way. So here are the three key methods to try:

Dragging It 

This method is best if you are Texas rig fishing during the winter or fall. As the water temperatures are cooler, you need to work slower and more methodically. When you drag the worm, it gives the fish plenty of time to assess the situation and strike at the bait. When casting out, try to hug it as tight to the cover as possible, and sweep your rod tip from side to side a few times before reeling the lure in. If the bass doesn’t take a bite after this, you may want to try a different location or head out into open water.

Lifting and Dropping 

This is a very useful technique when fishing in the summer. In hot water, the bass are active, so you can use a more lively presentation. When casting out your lure, let it sink to the bottom, and then lift your rod up one foot, and let it fall back to the bottom. As the lure sinks down again, this is where you will get a bite. 

Twitching 

When Texas rig fishing, twitching is a great method. Twitching is where you rig the lure, but without the weight. When you let it fall to your ideal depth, you start moving the rod slowly so the lure moves around, attracting the bass. This is a very useful strategy when you are in dense cover, as the bass will need to see where your lure is. Twitching gives you a better chance of presenting the bait by giving it slightly more rapid movements.

The Benefits of Texas Rig Fishing

There are many benefits to using a Texas rig. It has been a very popular rig setup for so long for a wide variety of reasons, including the following:

You Can Cast Greater Distances

Because the rig has a very dense weight, you compare this perfectly with a casting rod and reel setup to cast further, but with more accuracy. Regardless of the shape and size of your soft plastic, you can cast the lure to hit your target.

You Can Hit Your Target With Precision 

In addition, the Texas rig’s lead weights get your bait into the desirable zone quickly. It is a great way to get deep into the strikes zone quickly without fuss. It is a great setup for deep cover. When you drag the Texas rig through any cover, it doesn’t snag because the hook point is buried in the bait. In addition, the bullet weights complement the rig’s ability to go through dead grass or rock piles. 

It Is a Versatile Setup

What’s more, the nose-down orientation of the soft plastic means to look up, which increases your likelihood of getting a solid hookset. A Texas rig is incredibly versatile, and when you compare the Texas rig to other popular rigging methods, like the Carolina rig, which is a great beginner setup, the Texas rig is great for warm and cold weather. Carolina rigs are not efficient in deep cover, whereas a Texas rig is great due to the heavier weight. A Texas rig is also so much lighter than a Carolina rig. This is ideal if you’re fishing in shallow water. Overall, the Texas rig is a very versatile setup, as you can present a wide variety of bait in numerous fishing scenarios.

Conclusion 

The Texas rig setup has been popular for so long, and it is easy to see why. Anglers can present the worm in a wide variety of cover, it makes for minimal snagging, and keep your bait rig straight, which shows it in a more real-life presentation. What’s more, the hook and equipment is lightweight, easy-to-use, and helps fisherman land fishes that strike. Would you are rigging up a soft plastic worm, and you are looking for a popular rig, the Texas rig is an ideal place, not just for beginner fishermen, but it is a classic and widely used rig for many reasons. Perfect the Texas rig, and it can be the rig setup to help you throughout your entire fishing life.