Plugs, jigs, soft plastics, spinner baits–the list goes on and on when talking about bass lures. If you have ever wandered into the lure and bait aisle of your local outdoor store and felt overwhelmed, welcome to bass fishing. Before you go fishing, you need to know how to tie the basic rigs involved with bass lures, and this will show you how.
Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Bass plug, jig or spinner bait
- 3/0 or 4/0 EWG (extra wide gap) hooks
- Monofilament fishing line
- Snips
Lures with Attached Hooks
Step 1
Select a plug, jig, spinner bait or other lure that has a hook or hooks attached. Position the lure so that the line eye is in a position to be attached to your fishing line.
Step 2
Feed the tag, or free, end of the main line through the lure’s line eye to being tying an improved clinch knot. Make sure that there is at least four to five inches of line extending past the line eye.
Step 3
Wrap the tag end of the line around the main line six or seven turns. Begin making the turns near the line eye and work your way up the line. Make the turns around the main line as close together as possible.
Step 4
Turn the tag end downward and pass it through the small loop formed with the line just above the line eye. Pull the line through, but do not tighten.
Step 5
Pass the tag end of the line through the long loop along the side of the knot. Moisten the knot, pull it down securely, and trim any excess line from the knot. This is the improved clinch knot.
Setting Up the Texas Rig
Step 1
Slide a bullet weight onto the end of your fishing line so that the nose is pointing up the line. A weight in the 1/8 oz. range is a good place to start with many Texas rigged Zoom baits.
Step 2
Pass the end of the fishing line through the eye of a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG fishing hook. Pull three to four inches of line through the eye so that you will have enough to tie an improved clinch knot.
Step 3
Hold the hook by the shank, or long section, so that the point and barb are on top. Push the point of the hook through the nose of the Zoom bait and into the body about one inch.
Step 4
Turn the hook point downward and push out through the bait’s belly. Push the threaded section of bait up to the bait keeper bend in the hook next to the eye.
Step 5
Turn the point of the hook upward. Slightly bend the bait downward at the back end, and insert the hook through the bait’s body and out the top. Straighten the bait on the hook so that it lies flat.
The Carolina Rig
Step 1
Cut a 15- to 20-inch piece of line from the end of your main line to use as a leader. Tie one end of the leader to a 3/0 or 4/0 EWG hook using an improved clinch knot. Rig a Zoom bait on the hook as you would a Texas rig. Do not attach a bullet weight to the leader.
Step 2
Tie the free end of the leader line to a swivel. Use an improved clinch knot to tie the leader to one eye of the swivel. Pull the knot tight, and trim any excess.
Step 3
Slide a bullet weight onto the main fishing line with the nose pointed up the line. Slide a brass or glass bead onto the line below the bullet weight. The bead clacks against the weight and makes noise, and it helps protect the knot in the next step.
Step 4
Attach the main line to the eye of the swivel with an improved clinch knot. Tie the main line to the swivel eye that is opposite the one used to attach the leader.
