Advice For the New Guys: Lure Techniques

[randerson52]

Lets get this one going like we did Lones!

First off, the most basic bait you can get are plastic worms. These also produce the most fish year round. Companies that make great worms, are Yum, Zoom, Wave Worms Tiki sticks or Dip Sticks, and Strike King. There are 3 basic rigs that I will explain, The first is The Texas Rig, this is probably the most popular way to fish a worm. It involves sliding a bullet weight on the line, tying the hook using the palomar knot(i find it to be the strongest). For hooks, it depends on the bait itself, thin bodied baits, I would just use a regualr offset shank worm hook. For thicker bait(tiki stiks and senkos) I would use and Extra Wide Gap, or EWG. Then, you place the worm on the hook. To do this, you poke the hook point into the head of the worm, slide it about a 1/4 inch, then bring the hook point out. Then slide the head of the worm up onto the top of the hook, and then bury the hook point into the body of the worm. This is the most weedless lure that I fish.
The second rig is a carolina rig. This requires a 3ft leader. But before we even put that on, you need to put a egg sinker with a bead bleow it on the main line, then tie on a barrel swivel, or do a direct tie, which I believe most guys do. Then you take a 3ft or so leader of flurocarbon, because it is invisible underwater. Then tie an EWG hook(i find that when taking up the line you get a better hookset with an EWG.) Then you place the worm on the hook the same way you place it on the texas rig. The most popular baits for a carolina rig are a Lizard. I use Zoom Super Salty Lizards, or a YUM Zellamander.
The last basic rig, I use the most, is a Weightless Worm rig. This is best done using stick baits, like a SENKO, or Tiki Dipstick or Tiki Stick. I prefer the Kinami Flash, even though they are the same thing, and just about the same price per worm as Senko. I just buy thembecause it is more convienent. Anyways, you just tie a hook to your main line, I use the palomar knot. Then place the worm on the hook the same way that you did with the texas rig or carolina rig. The key here is a slow retrieve, most strikes come on the fall, I personally like to let it sit for up to 5 minutes after the initial fall, raise the rod tip and let it fall then deadstick it again. I do this all the way back to the bank/boat.
These are 3 Basic Rigs For Plastics I know that there are probably a ton more. I am looking for people to help me post up this information. I need someone to post Jig techniques and Crank techniques and Poppers. If you would want to post anything for those lures, or correct me on anything feel free to do so, I figure these posts will stop people from asking Q's like how to fish a texas rig, or stuff like that.
-------------More To Come---------------------