Texas Rig
A weedless soft plastic rig: a sliding bullet weight, an offset hook, and a bait with the hook point tucked back into it. This page is the quick reference for tying one.
- DifficultyBeginner
- Time to tieAbout 2 minutes
- Best forBass in and around cover
Parts
| Part | What it does | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Bullet weight | Takes the bait down and sets how fast it falls | 1/4 oz. Lighter in shallow water, heavier in thick grass |
| Offset worm hook | Holds the bait and hides the point so it does not snag | 3/0 extra wide gap (EWG) |
| Soft plastic | The part the fish eats | 6 inch worm in green pumpkin |
| Peg (optional) | Keeps the weight against the bait in heavy cover | Small rubber bobber stop |
Tie it in 6 steps
- Slide the weight on, pointed end toward the rod.
- Tie on the hook with a Palomar knot.
- Push the point into the nose of the bait a quarter inch and out the side.
- Slide the bait to the hook eye and turn the hook to face the bait.
- Hook the body where the bottom of the bend falls, so the bait lies straight.
- Tuck the tip of the point just under the surface of the plastic.
Line and rod
| Open water and light cover | Thick grass and brush | |
|---|---|---|
| Line | 12 to 15 lb fluorocarbon | 40 to 65 lb braid |
| Rod | 7 ft medium-heavy, fast action | 7 ft 3 in to 7 ft 6 in heavy |
Fish it
Cast to cover, let the bait fall to the bottom on a slightly slack line, then drag or hop it a foot at a time with long pauses. Watch the line: a tick, a slack line or a sideways move means set the hook.
General guidance. Follow state fishing regulations and your host’s lake rules.