Skip to main content

Stay in the Bass Strike Zone with Texas & Carolina Rigs

They're easy to rig and they flat-out catch bass, says host Todd A. Kuhn in this episode of Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight.

Texas and Carolina rigs are among the most-popular ways to catch bass for a good reason.

They're easy to rig and fish, and they flat-out catch bass.

In Episode 3 of Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight, Dr. Todd A. Kuhn goes into detail about the bass-fishing advantages and disadvantages of Texas and Carolina rigs. You can fish either rig with a variety of soft-plastic lures (lizards, Senkos, finesse worms, creature baits and more) and in a variety of ways.

Texas rigs — typically a hook with a sliding worm weight above — is almost a fool-proof bass bait, Kuhn says. It’s hard to fish a Texas rig completely wrong, which is why it's a good tactic for bass anglers to get their starts in the sport.

>>WATCH: More Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight episodes

Carolina rigs — tied with a leader, swivel and sliding weight — is one of Kuhn's favorite ways to fish soft plastics. The leader allows you to customize your presentation, keeping the bait above the bottom at whatever length you choose, and in the strike zone longer than most other baits. The worm weight stirring up the bottom and added glass beads will produce clicking sounds; both will get a largemouth’s attention.

Learn more about Texas and Carolina rigs in the video above.

Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight is a 13-episode video series on gameandfishmag.com that focusses on the best baits for bass fishing. Join Game & Fish’s Dr. Todd A. Kuhn every Tuesday this spring as he goes deep into how bass lures work, what bass find irresistible about them, and how you can catch more on your next trip.

Beyond the Bait Powered by Streamlight

Scheduled videos


  • Episode 1: Soft Plastics — Flukes, Worms and Lizards
  • Episode 2: Soft Plastics — Tubes & Creature Baits
  • Episode 3: Rigging Soft Plastics — Texas & Carolina Rigs, Live Feb. 25
  • Episode 4: Rigging Soft Plastics — Jig Heads, Live March 3
  • Episode 5: Rigging Soft Plastics — Swimbaits, Live March 10
  • Episode 6: Selecting the Right Soft-Plastic Hook, Live March 17
  • Episode 7: Spinnerbaits from Top to Bottom, Live March 24
  • Episode 8: Technical Topwater, Live March 31
  • Episode 9: Choosing the Right Bass Rod, Live April 7
  • Episode 10: All About Lines, Live April 14
  • Episode 11: Baitcasting Vs. Spinning, Live April 21
  • Episode 12: Find More Fish with Search Baits, April 28
  • Episode 13: Weighting Your Bait, May 5

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Lew's Custom Pro Gen 3

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Other

Light up the Salt

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

Caring for the Catch

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

Snook on the Hook

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Guns

TriStar Cobra III Field Pump Super Compact .410

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Federal Premium Freight Train Copper Sabot Slug

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

Saltwater Setup

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

Jacks to the Max

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Baits & Tackle

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Reels

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Gear

Beilue's Best from ICAST 2024: Rods

Saltwater gamefish like sailfish, mahi-mahi and jack crevalle are known for their blistering runs, acrobatic jumps and p...
Fishing

The Fight is On

Game & Fish Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Game & Fish App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Game & Fish stories delivered right to your inbox every week.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use