Carolina Rig 101 | How to Rig and Fish with Jacob Wheeler

Our Wired2fish staff was pleasantly surprised when Jacob Wheeler grabbed an old school Carolina rig and started catching the heck out of pressured bass from an offshore school on the Tennessee River. Wheeler has been making good use of classic presentations like deep cranking, Texas rigging and Carolina rigging in recent tournaments with outstanding success. He takes the time to provide a detailed rigging walk-through and explanation of how to fish the Carolina rig to catch bass others are missing.

TACKLE USED (retail links)

Wheeler walks through the entire rig from terminal tackle (i.e., hook, weight, swivel and line) to his top 3 soft plastic baits. He spends a good deal of time explaining his preference for light-wire EWG hooks attached to a lighter monofilament leader while using a heavier fluorocarbon mainline. Wheeler goes so far to classify his Carolina rig setup as a finesse rig — the bait glides along in an extremely natural fashion that bass can’t resist. Additionally, Wheeler explains the offshore situations when a Carolina rig excels and how to fish the setup in current.

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[Strongobado]

The underwater footage of the rig working is absolutely fantastic!

[alexdowns]

My favorite bait to use on a Carolina rig is those zman elastic ones. They are very buoyant and they suspend really well

[jkdurden]

Thanks for the tips and that underwater footage is stellar!

[DanielBoone]

This is something I have laying on my front deck 365 days a year. It's the 1st real technique I ever learned and without a doubt I've caught more fish including big fish on a Carolina rig then any other technique.

[workingclasschump]

1. Great vid! I've never seen such a slow hook set and maybe I need to try that. 2. The bait doesn't seem to be floating at all; but more like it stays on top of rocks longer before slipping down the side. 3. I think the c-rig big advantage is the bait is so much lighter the fish is much less likely to quickly spit it out. So better odds of hooking up.

[regulardude]

I am a new fisherman! I just started a couple weeks ago. I have tried a lot of rigs now, and C rig seems to work great! Where I fish, I catch lots of panfish. But today, I caught two bass at local city park. A 12inch bass and a small 4inch baby bass. I fish with earth worms. This rig is great at finding fish! I found one spot today and was pulling them one after another. One thing I hate though, that sometimes I gut hook the fish and can’t get the hook out! Im not a pro by any means, still learning how to properly use this rig, but I do catch quite a bit of fish once I find where they are

[jonboatjonfishing]

I really just started throwing the old “ball and chain” this year... catching 19lbs in a 3n5 really just hooked me 🤟🏾

[joshuaneal]

My grandpa taught me the "rig" over 30 years ago. Gear has definitely changed in 30 years but the carolina rig caught fish then and I still catch fish today

[mikedaily]

I know that this is an old video, however, during the dog days up here in Illinois fishing is pretty rough. Much like alot of places right now. Looking for something new to present and ran across this with Jacob. Watched it Sunday morning. I have all the ingredients to build this rig. Planning on throwing it next to a weed line outside the main channel of the Mississippi river. Took it out last night in a stump field and I put a 12 inch Yamamoto Curly Tail on it the first cast and drag I caught a 3.5. Job Jacob. Love the content.

[KrayKits]

I haven't gone out for a couple years, but just got a Mastiff puppy and decided to look into something he can participate in for work, couldn't remember my old set up... Just wanted to say your video brought waves of nastalgia and familiarity. It's clear to see you really understand rod and line mechanics, and also fish behavior, and i agree once i learned about this rig, its worked for me every where From Texas to Alabama and even Colorado. I think ots just too easy to get snagged running a sinker too low to the bottom, giving yourself just the right amount of weight to get an accurate cast, but not too much so you can have some fluidity and get your bait and or lure to move appropriately in the current, almost makes it impossible to not get a good pull. Thank you so much for this i Appreciate it!

[joshuaAdam]

I've never used a Carolina rig. I've used drop shots, mostly when im wanting a soft plastic to stay in the strike zone. But I also fish a lot of muddy bottoms, so i really haven't had the opportunity to do so, but i plan on trying it soon. Thanks for sharing these videos 🤘

[michaelcowell]

Definitely gonna try this technique with those baits

[dhjhawk]

Needed more explanation of Carolina rig and appreciate getting from an expert like Wheeler. Thanks

[prideNwinning]

Thank you Jacob that was something I needed that heck yeah

[deadpanfish]

Been using this rig all summer slaying when other people are catching nothing. Just with use half a crawler. It's especially good in currents. Never made the leader that long tho... 18-20" maybe. Thought it was harder to hook up the longer I go, will try going with more length maybe. Gonna try some 10" worms and creature baits too. Thanks for this bud!

[mch.l.trecords]

I have been fishing for 25 years of my life and one thing that makes me cringe every time is when people are trying to catch something other than Bass and I recommend using a Carolina rig and they think the Carolina rig is only for Bass fishing. And I have to literally sit there and explain to them that the Carolina rig is actually a multi-species rig just like the long forgotten split shot rig was back in the day. I mean for crying out loud I'm not even a bass angler and I have used the Carolina rig for Catfish, Panfish, Trout, and even saltwater Red Snapper.

[troyharper]

Awesome video JWheels 💯 Great information and tips buddy Thank You 👍💯 definitely going to try this AsAp 💯💯 #HometownGuy

[Tomcat]

Great presentation, good job. Will try it this weekend.

[ejzabojnik]

Based on your video the monofilament leader line was not floating your bait above the bottom. Mono doesn't even have the floating capability of floating your 3/0 hook off the bottom.

[coryambush]

Fantastic informative video. Keep it up.