Texas Rig Fishing 101 

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When it comes to bass fishing, a must-know setup is the Texas rig. Its simple setup is perfect for beginners, and its effectiveness is a favorite for long-time anglers. 

A Texas rig is most commonly used for fishing shallow areas covered in weeds, lilypads, or other structures prone to snags. But this doesn’t mean you have to use Texas rigs for weeded areas- in fact, anglers have found many reasons to fish a Texas rig. 

Despite its versatile uses and techniques, the correct setup will make life much easier. 

Key Takeaway: Today’s article will describe the perfect Texas rig setup and the optimal applications to catch bass in no time. 

What Is A Texas Rig? 

Texas Rig Fishing 101 

A Texas rig uses an offset hook, soft plastic lure, and bullet weight to fish highly covered areas without snags. With the weight as an anchor and lure used as a weed guard, Texas lures can be punched or finessed into high-coverage areas that hold bass.  Once cast, a Texas rig can be slowly dragged through the structure to entice big bass. 

Read more: Carolina Rig Vs. Texas Rig

Texas Rig Setup & Components

The Texas rig is one of the oldest modern rigs, so anglers have found ways to modify its setup. Today, we have provided the bare-bones with some considerations so you can quickly find the correct gear for your rig

GearSize or TypeConsiderations
Sinker/Weight1/8oz. to 1/2oz. can be used depending on the size of your lure and hook. Bullet weights are recommended as they easily pull through snags. These often come in small, medium, or large options. Fit your weight pegs to your line size. Small pegs = 4-8lb. test /Medium pegs = 8-12lb. test /Large pegs = 12-20lb. test 
Sinker Stops/Weight Pegs
(Optional) 
These often come in small, medium, or large options. Fit your weight pegs to your line size. Small pegs = 4-8lb. test /Medium pegs = 8-12lb. test /Large pegs = 12-20lb. test Pegging your line is highly recommended for fishing in thick vegetation or cover. This will keep your line and presentation tight and compact to avoid snags.
Bead(Optional)Some anglers tie on a bead between a peg and weight to add extra noise between each retrieve. This isn’t necessary- especially if you’re using Tungsten weights. Tungsten weights are loud and sound similar to a jig rattle.
Hook Offset hooks are best, though some people use straight shank or baitholder hooks.
As always, match your hook to your lure size, but hooks in the 2/0-5/0 range will be the most common for Texas rig lures.
An offset hook will retain your lure’s integrity longer than a straight shank hook, but the hookup rate is typically higher with a straight shank hook.
Soft Plastic LureSoft plastics in the 5-10” range are most common. 
You can use any tail style, such as ribbon, paddle, or straight tails. 
This rig will work with various soft plastics, so pick your favorite! 

Tying On A Texas Rig 

Now that you have all the correct gear for your Texas rig, it’s time to set up! Luckily, it is very easy. 

  1. If you use a sinker stop or peg, first thread it through your line. Doing so might leave a small kink in the line, so tie everything above that kink if necessary. 
  2. If necessary, thread your bead through the line. 
  3. Thread your bullet weight through the line. Pull your sinker stop to the head of the bullet weight so your hook, weight, and peg are all together. 
  4. Tie on your chosen hook. 
  5. Poke the hook straight through the head of your soft plastic lure. 
  6. Drive the hook about ¼ of an inch through the lure and out the side of its body. 
  7. Run the head of your lure to the top of the offset hook. Your lure and hook should be running perpendicular to each other. 
  8. Poke the hook through the lure’s body so that the hook is barely sticking out. Your lure is now a weed guard, but your hook is ready to puncture a bass’s mouth. 
  9. Time to fish! 

Best Baits for A Texas Rig 

What type of lure do I use with a Texas rig? Worm-style or creature and craw-style soft plastics are best. 

Having an assortment of tail styles is also helpful when choosing your soft plastic. Ribbon-tailed soft plastics are very effective with Texas rigs, but so are straight, paddled, and curly tails.  

Your preference for lure length depends on your rod size and the area you are fishing in, but soft plastics ranging from 5-10 inches are ideal. 

The beauty of Texas rigs is their versatility with soft-plastic lures. When picking the best lure for a Texas rig, the choice is really yours- go with what you love! Sometimes the best lure is the one you’re confident in. Just make sure you’re fishing a soft plastic lure of some sort. 

Best Rods & Reels for A Texas Rig

What’s the best rod length? 7’2” – 7’11” rods will provide backbone and accuracy. 

What’s the best rod power? Medium-light to heavy-power rods are best, depending on technique and location.  

Using a medium-powered rod gives you some finesse for those pinpoint casts, but as you size up, the heavier rods help in thick cover and provide a punch when setting the hook. Think of this as a trade-off: you’re looking for a rod that provides power to punch and accuracy for finesse. 

Should I use a baitcaster or spinning reel for a Texas rig? Some anglers enjoy a spinning reel for easy application, but baitcasters are more popular with Texas rigs because of their bulk and heft. 

How To Fish A Texas Rig 

Texas rigs can be fished from the shore or a boat. After you cast to a fishy area – or an area with great structure – let your lure sink to the bottom. As you retrieve your Texas rig, there are three main techniques. 

  1. Hopping: give a couple of pops or twitches with your rod tip, let the lure sink to the bottom, and reel in your slack. Repeat this as you retrieve the lure to imitate the erratic movement of the injured bait. 
  2. Swimming: reel your lure at a steady pace and provide frequent pauses. Using a paddle-tailed swimbait with this retrieve will cover a lot of water in a short amount of time. 
  3. Dragging: this style imitates a creature or crawfish crawling along the bottom. Drag your lure by slowly raising the rod tip, then reeling in the slack. This is similar to hopping, except your focus is to keep the lure on the bottom rather than “hopping” into the water column. 

When To Fish A Texas Rig

Best season for a Texas rig? A Texas rig is best when bass moves into shallow waters, particularly in spring during the spawn and again in the fall. 

Best water conditions for a Texas Rig? A Texas rig is a perfect tactic for calm days on the water. With its slow retrieval and weedless action, a Texas rig will reach protected areas with subtle movement. 

Best water structure for a Texas rig? If you’re fishing shallow water with weeds, structure, or potential for snags, there is no reason not to fish a Texas rig. Trust us, and you’ll love its ability to remain snagless in high-coverage areas. 

Summary 

A Texas rig will be your best friend when fishing shallow water with lots of structure. Not only will you be able to avoid snags, but you will also be able to fish at a slow, enticing pace that lures even the pickiest bass. 

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