Published: August 04, 2008 08:23 am         

BARRY ST. CLAIR: Something different: Bass fishing in plain language

Those of us in the outdoor information business occasionally need to be reminded there are potential newcomers “out there” who don’t understand some of the terms we use to describe various aspects of outdoor activities. I am as guilty as anyone of falling into the comfortable zone of using words and phrases as familiar as an old fishing jacket, but incomprehensible to someone new to the business.

Take bass fishing for example. As with any specific activity, certain terms are used to describe techniques, equipment or methods of procedure. Many times trade names or colloquial phrases take the place of plain language and eventually become an integral part of the communication process among aficionados.

For example, “Pitch that pork frog back in to that gator wallow Billy Ray and cross the eyes on that nesting hawg.” Imagine someone new to bass fishing reading that sentence and trying to make sense of it. Pitch, pork frog, gator wallow, hawg—what does any of this gibberish mean when applied to fishing for largemouth bass?

To a seasoned southern bass angler the above sentence could be translated to mean two East Texas bass fishermen were using jigs tipped with pork frog trailers and casting them into small pockets of open water along a marshy shoreline trying to catch a large female bass on her nest.

But what sense would those terms make to a newcomer? The answer is none, and the way to overcome that problem is to remember to court the very group we need by explaining things in plain language.

This introspective look into how newcomers to fishing sometimes get the short end of the fishing rod was triggered by a simple question from a reader. “What is the difference between a Texas rigged plastic worm and a Carolina rigged plastic worm and what are the advantages of each? That question got my attention and emphasized the need for a small treatise describing those two basic rigs responsible for a significant amount of the bass caught by sport-fishermen.

Plastic worm fishing is one of the basic foundations upon which modern bass fishing has been built. The plastic worm, invented by Nick Crème in 1949, changed the entire fishing industry when it was mass marketed in the 1960’s.

Texas rigging is a popular, weed-less or snag-proof method for fishing with any soft-plastic lure most commonly in the shape of a worm, lizard, crawfish or baitfish. A bullet-shaped weight is threaded onto the fishing line first. The amount of weight varies with the intended depth or cover to be fished. Typical weights used for the Texas rig range from 3/16-3/4 ounce. Next a hook is tied onto the fishing line. Offset eye worm hooks are the easiest to rig but any bait hook from 2/0 to 4/0 will cover most applications.

To construct the Texas rig, insert the hook into the head of the plastic lure _ to _ inch and then push it out through the ventral or bottom side of the lure. Rotate the hook point back towards the body. Pull the head of the lure over the offset portion of the hook until the eye is covered. Now insert the hook point into the body of the lure. It sometimes helps to stretch the lure body slightly during this process in order to get the rig to lie in a natural position. That is all there is to it.

The Texas rigged bait can be cast into heavy vegetation or timbered areas which are off-limits to exposed-hook lures like crank baits. Hopped or slithered along the bottom, the rig will not hang up easily because the hook point is protected by the body of the lure. When a fish bites, a quick sweep of the rod upward will drive the hook point through the lure body and catch the fish.

Carolina rigging plastic baits incorporates the snag-less feature of the Texas rig but allows the lure to hover enticingly just off the bottom. This is achieved by moving the weight away from the lure. The basic rig consists of a _-1-ounce bullet or barrel sinker slipped on the main line, then a swivel is tied to the terminal end. Next a leader of 2-3 feet is attached to the remaining swivel eyelet and a worm hook is attached to the other end. Thread on a plastic lure as outlined above and the rig is ready to use. This combination is then cast, allowed to settle to the bottom and slowly retrieved. The weight bangs and bumps along the bottom attracting attention while the lure flutters along behind. Bass find this combination simple irresistible.

The Carolina rig is ideal for fishing ledges, humps, creek channels and other deep water structure. Floating crank baits can also be used with this rig making it one of the most versatile deep water presentations available to bass fishermen. Carolina rigs are a standard tool for catching bass when summer water temperatures send them fleeing to deep water structure to escape the heat.

Learning how to bass fish is no different than any other endeavor. The easiest way for anyone to become familiar with a new activity is to have directions written in plain language, and thanks for reminding me of that fact.

Barry St. Clair is a guest columnist for the Athens Daily Review. His columns appear weekly.

     

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