Page 38 - ODUMar-Apr2019

Carolina Riggin’ For Spring Bass

By Shane Beilue

Bass fishermen across the country can see light at the end of the very long, cold tunnel of winter.
Regardless what your temperature gauge reads today, you know the calendar promises warmer days
(and nights) with hungry bass ready to move shallow for the annual spring spawn. This is often power

fishing at its peak: intercepting aggressive bass with fast moving spinnerbaits, crankbaits and bladed jigs
in the shallows as bass feed up before the spawn.

Another approach to add to your spring arsenal is a technique often associated with the summer
months and deep water: the Carolina rig. If you’re new to bass fishing, the Carolina rig consists of a ½ to
1 oz weight followed by a plastic bead (to protect the knot from the heavy sinker), a swivel and a leader
of 18 to 36 inches. Then comes a light wire 3/0 hook and the soft plastic bait of your choosing. The
heavier weight kicks up silt and sediment as it is dragged along

the bottom, which attracts the bass to the soft plastic offering
trailing behind. The benefit of a Carolina rig is the ability to
cover a lot of water very efficiently with a bottom bumping
lure, yet the soft plastic has a more subtle appeal than, say, a
crankbait.

The places to look for in the spring with a Carolina rig are
broad, flat and relatively shallow points (8 feet or less)
located within the various creek arms of the lake. The