Texas rig: what is it?
This is a type of equipment in which a bullet weight is first placed on the fishing line, then a glass or plastic bead comes, and after the fishing line is attached to an offset hook. Thanks to its versatility and catchability in overgrown reservoirs, it has gained immense popularity among spinning anglers.
Absolutely all silicone baits - worms, crayfish, creatures, twisters and vibrator tails can be equipped with a Texas rig and can be as effective when fishing for pike, walleye and perch as any other style of equipment. The Texas rig is the most snag-resistant of all existing rigs, and can save anglers from losing baits - this is its main advantage.
Installation of equipment
Texas equipment is mounted in one of the following ways:
1. Classic; 2. A more complex option - multi-component
Classic installation involves assembling the following elements:
- A piece of fishing line is taken and a bullet sinker is attached to it. The narrower part of the sinker should be located away from the hook.
- Next, a glass bead is put on the fishing line. It should move along the fishing line and, accordingly, collide with the sinker. The harder the metal of the sinker, the more sonorous the sound produced from contact.
- Now you need to attach the offset hook.
- The hook is camouflaged in silicone bait. The masking process was described above.
Another assembly method, the most complex, includes the following steps:
- A piece of fluorocarbon fishing line is taken and a bullet sinker is also attached to it. To avoid chafing of the line thread on the sinker, a cambric or any other homemade plastic gasket is placed in the sinker.
- Next, two plexiglass balls are attached.
- Now you need to attach the micro fastener.
- At the end, a hook is tied and bait is placed on it.
The first installation method is easy, but it can be simplified even more if you do not add a bead. It is worth noting, with a bead or not, a spinning rod equipped in the Texas style almost always brings a catch. Also, while fishing, you can fully explore the bottom of an unfamiliar body of water.
Tackle for fishing with Texas rig
Spinning
Since the tip of the offset hook is located inside the silicone bait in the Texas rig, the rod must be able to cut through the mouth of a predator through the bait. Spinning rods come in a variety of types: from light to heavy, and there are also several types between them. Most anglers find that a medium-heavy rod provides plenty of hook-up power and is best suited for Texas-rigged silicone baits. Rod blank speed is also taken into account - this is the rod's ability to load and cast bait. A rod that is too fast will limit your casting distance, and if it is too slow your accuracy will suffer.
Fast action spinning is universal and provides sensitive fishing when fishing with different weights. The length of the rod used for fishing with a Texas rig depends on the angler. But it’s best to buy the longest fishing rod that fits comfortably in your hand. A fishing rod in the range from 7 to 28 grams and a length of 2.2-2.7 m will provide effective forced fishing when fighting a large trophy if the bite happened in a shelter, for example, in a snag.
Coil
Both baitcasting and spinning reels are effective for fishing with Texas rigs. Most anglers prefer baitcasting reels because they have higher gear ratios and therefore reel in line much faster. The real advantage comes when the bite occurs. For example, a predator often grabs the bait and swims towards the angler. This creates sagging in the line, which gives the fish that has bitten an advantage - it is at such moments that disappearances occur. Faster gear ratios put the advantage back on the angler's side.
Main line
The type of line used in this rig is determined by the conditions of the reservoir. When fishing in lakes that have relatively clean water and very little vegetation, it is sufficient to use monofilament. In water areas with heavy vegetation or cover, it is recommended to use a durable line such as fluorocarbon or braided line. If the water is dirty with low clarity, regardless of whether there is aquatic vegetation or not, feel free to use a braided line. Braided cords have zero elongation. This leads to an instant sensation of a predator striking the bait. Braided lines above 40 gauge are also very durable, which reduces the risk of breakage when fishing in difficult shelters. The only downside to braided lines is visibility in clear water, and anglers find that fish may be spooked by the line and not attack the bait. Conversely, when fishing clear water, it is recommended to use fluorocarbon lines. They have minimal stretch and are virtually invisible underwater.
Installation elements
Hook
The size of the hook depends solely on the size of the bait:
- For lures up to 10 centimeters : use a hook size from 1 to 1/0
- Lures from 10 to 14 centimeters : equip with a 2/0
- If the bait size exceeds 15 centimeters : from 3/0 to 5/0
Sinker
The Texas rig uses only bullet weights. The bullet cone shape helps the bait pass through grass and bounce off rocks and snags. One of the key factors to consider when using a Texas rig is the weight of the sinker. You can fine-tune the fall speed by changing the bullet weight. Recommended weights depending on water depth :
- For water depths up to 2 meters, it is recommended to use light weights from 2 to 5 grams
- At average water depths from 2 to 4 meters : weights from 5 to 9 grams
- At greater depths from 4 to 6 meters : weights from 8 to 12 grams
- Where the water depth exceeds 6 meters : weights from 13 to 18 grams
Bead
The use of glass beads is especially recommended if the water is heavily polluted. The collision of the glass ball and the bullet causes an obvious “click”, which arouses the predator’s additional interest in the bait. On the other hand, in very clear water, the clicking sound can have the opposite effect and scare away the fish. In this case, it is advisable to do without glass beads altogether.
Leash
Some anglers use a fluorocarbon leader when using braided line. There are several reasons for this. The main thing is visibility. Braided cord is easily visible under water because it is not transparent. Fluorocarbon is almost invisible under water. In addition, the fluorocarbon leader prevents shearing when fishing for pike.
In such cases, it is recommended to add a fluorocarbon leader 0.5-1.5 meters long and 10-14 pounds in diameter.
Stopper
The stopper is a type of rubber plug that can be used to protect the assembly. It is installed between the bead and the hook. The stopper ensures that the bead does not damage the knot and thereby protects against breakage. When installing without a bead, it is imperative to use a stopper.
Installation
Installation of the Texas rig, although somewhat more complicated than a classic jig, is still quite simple. To manufacture this version of the equipment you will need the following elements:
- Offset hook.
- Silicone bait.
- Sliding bullet weight.
- Bead.
- Leash made of metal or fluorocarbon.
- Swivel.
- Carbine.
The colors of the beads in the case of this equipment do not matter, however, in the case of regular fish attacks on the bead, it is worth changing it to a less noticeable one, for example, black.
The presence of the last three elements is considered optional if it is possible to do without them.
The production of a classic Texas rig is carried out as follows: a swivel is tied to the main braided cord, to which a leash is attached. Next, the free end of the leash is threaded into the hole of the sliding weight. Next, a bead is put on the leash, which in this case plays two roles - a shock absorber that protects the knot in the hook area from impacts of the lead sinker, and also a noise element that creates an acoustic effect when it hits the sinker. A carabiner fastener is attached to the end of the leash or a hook is directly attached. The corresponding silicone bait is put on the hook. The equipment is ready.
If you plan to fish mainly with Texas rigs, but you are not sure about the conditions of the reservoir, you can make several rigs in advance and change them by tying a fastener to the end of the main line - the finished rig does not take up much space.
The selection of the parameters of the elements is carried out depending on the specific fishing conditions that the fisherman plans. The size of the offset hook is selected depending on the type and size of the predator that is supposed to be caught, as well as the size of the bait. There are many varieties of baits used with this spaced mounting option. The classic technique for Texas rigs is the use of lures with a long tail, but the usual vibrating tails and twisters can also show excellent results. Various baits that imitate insects, crustaceans, with many legs and tails have proven themselves well among fishermen - they are especially relevant when catching perch.
Lures with an extended tail are especially relevant when using the classic slow dragging method for Texas rigs.
Installation of Texas equipment
Texas equipment, installation: stopper (1), bullet weight (2) , glass bead (3) , offset hook (4) .
Step 1 (optional): If you need to limit the distance the load can move, place a stopper on the line. First of all, this is recommended when fishing in snags. First of all, this will prevent the situation when the bait and the load are on opposite sides of the branch. Otherwise you won't feel the bite.
Step 2: The bullet weight is placed on the fishing line so that the tapered part is closer to the tip of the rod.
Step 3: Place the glass bead directly after the bullet. The bead must be made of glass, otherwise there will be no "clicking sound" when the bullet hits the bead. If the clicking sound is excessive, the bead is replaced with a stopper.
Step 4: Tie on the offset hook. As a result, the installation should look like the picture above.
Elements of the Texas rig for walleye
The equipment in question is considered quite simple. It consists of several elements that are sold today in a variety of specialized stores.
The main ones can be called:
- Sinker. This element resembles a product with a high degree of smoothness, which has an axial hole. In most cases, lead or brass is used in manufacturing. You can make such a product yourself.
- Hook. In most cases, in the manufacture of the equipment in question, offset machines are used, due to which wiring through difficult places is significantly simplified. If fishing is carried out in free areas, then single hooks are used. They are selected for bait and potential prey.
- Leash. This element can be made using a variety of materials, recently most often from monofilament.
- Bead. It can be made of glass, plastic, metal. This element is placed between the sinker and the hook. Acts as a damper and is noisy during wiring.
Often equipment is created for hunting pike, which has sharp teeth. This is why you should choose durable materials.
Bait
NOTE. The bait is properly secured when the hook point is inside the silicone, but the hook point does not come out on the opposite side of the bait, and the bait is straight.
Edible silicone baits with streamlined shapes, such as crawfish and worms, work best for the Texas rig. The size of the bait depends on the type of predator and its activity. In turn, it makes sense to use baits made of floating silicone - raising and hovering the bait above the bottom during a pause is the best way to provoke a passive predator to attack.
If the Texas rig is used in open water, it is effective to use active baits such as twisters and vibrating tails. This is the best way to quickly find a predator over a large area. However, when you fish in cover, use long, non-bulky baits - crayfish and worms.
Postings and fishing techniques
In order to ensure effective fishing, you need to use the correct animation of the bait. There are as many techniques for fishing Texas-rigged silicone lures as there are anglers casting them. Beginner fishermen are recommended to use uniform and jerking retrieves.
When fishing with a Texas rig, it is best to do the retrieve by pulling the rod. Although, in those places where the bottom is flat and there are no snags, the bait can be cast with a classic step using a reel. But at the moment when the bait touches the obstacle, you definitely need to switch to working with the rod.
Uniform wiring
Uniform wiring is ideal for searching for predators. This is the easiest way when fishing with a Texas rig. This is done by uniformly winding the line with a reel.
Jerk wiring
Suitable for all water areas. Cast the bait and let it fall to the bottom. Then point the rod tip at the bait and take up any slack in the line using the reel. Using only a spinning rod, slowly lift the tip of the rod so that the bait crawls along the bottom. Once the tip reaches the 11 o'clock position, lower the rod, reel out the slack line and repeat this process. If done correctly, you will feel the bottom of the pond when you lift the spinning rod. If not, then the rise should be slower.
Throwing up and down
When there are no hooks in the fishing area, the toss and drop method is very effective and will allow you to fish a large area of water in one throw. It is performed exactly the same as a snatch retrieve, with one exception - speed. The purpose of the toss and drop is to lift the bait from the bottom half a meter and allow it to fall back to the bottom. To do this, cast the bait and let it fall to the bottom. However, instead of slowly raising the spinning rod so that the bait drags along the bottom, quickly lift the rod so that the bait gets into the water column. With the rod pointed at the bait, quickly raise the rod from the eight or nine o'clock position to the 11 o'clock position. Let the bait fall to the bottom, reel out any slack line and repeat.
Bite and hook
As a rule, voles on Texas rigs occur in the fall phase. Often bites are noticed only by a slight twitch or pulling of the line to the side . Hooking should be done with decisive action, but not too violently. An important advantage of the Texas remnant is that the fish, after an unsuccessful hook, most often attacks a second time, because they do not feel the hook. In addition, you don’t need to hook right away, you need to give the fish 1-2 seconds to swallow the bait. If you do this with a regular jig, there is a risk that the fish will notice the hook or the weight of the lead head and spit out the bait.
Retractable leash (Moscow equipment)
The essence of the Moscow rig is that it involves the use of two leashes, which are attached to the main line using a “triple” swivel. On one leash there is a sinker, on the other there is a hook with bait. Different types of offset presses are used; The weights are the same as in the drop-shot rig.
This method of rigging is also possible, when the leash with a sinker at the end moves freely along the main line thanks to the use of a swivel. Also pay attention to the fact that the longer the lead of the sinker, the closer to the surface the bait will pass, and the longer the lead of the bait, the more actively the latter will play.
What kind of fish can be caught using a Texas rig?
It is believed that the Texas rig is most effective when fishing for pike and perch, especially in grass and snags. Despite this, other fish, not only predatory ones, are caught using the Texas rig. After all, it all depends on the type of bait, since you can put both artificial and natural baits on the hook.
Perch fishing
Most spinners use Texas rigs to catch bass. Edible silicone is used as nozzles as it is more catchy. As a rule, twisters, crustacean lures or worms are used, but as practice shows, vibrating tails or imitation larvae made from the same silicone are no less catchy. As for the color scheme, you will have to experiment here.
Pike fishing
The Texas rig is the best way to catch pike in hard-to-reach places such as snags, water lilies and thickets. But when catching pike, you need to take measures to ensure that it does not bite off the bait. To do this, a metal leash made of string or a fluorocarbon leash, about 35 cm long, is added to the main fishing line. Silicone, up to 10 cm long, is used as bait. In the form of twisters or vibrotails for an active pike, or in the form of crayfish and worms for a passive one pike. As for their lure colors, you need to experiment to find out the preferences of the pike.
Fishing for pike perch
Pike perch, which feed near the bottom, are also successfully caught using the Texas rig. Most importantly, it is necessary to use powerful offset hooks that are sharp enough. This is due to the fact that the pike perch’s mouth is strong and can only be penetrated as a result of a decisive hook.
