The Free Rig for Bass Fishing is fairly new to the game. Find out why and how to fish the free rig to up your bass fishing game.
Why to Fish the Free Rig
The free rig is effective because the weight falls down the line at a faster rate than the weedless plastic bait. This means that it hits the bottom before the bait and allows the bait to drift more slowly before hitting the bottom.
Read This Report To See Some of the Baits I Use
An unpegged Texas rig will do something similar, but the weight won’t fall as fast due to the friction caused by more contact with the line. This provides a little different view than the bass are used to and that is why to use it on pressured fish.
This is the same reason that slight variations in baits, or weights and fall rates, can make a tough fishing day better. The free rig is a new look at the Texas Rig style bait.
Watch Me Catch a Bass on the Free Rig
How to Fish the Free Rig
This catch was kinda funny as it came after I popped the bait off of a snag. Typically, I have found that my free rig bites come on the fall after the weight has hit the bottom and the bait is still settling down to the bottom.
This speed change makes all the difference.
To fish this rig, I typically cast it out and let it fall on a semi-slack line or even a slack line. I leave my bait open as it falls and engage once the weight hits the bottom and the line goes slack.
This lets the soft plastic fall slowly to the bottom. In my experience, the speed change is what can elicit the strike from a bass that is following the bait down.
Gear to Use
I like a lighter line between 6 – 10 pound test for this method. This gets a little tricky, but remember, the less resistance between the line and the weight will let the rig fall more freely.
I have fished this rig on both casting and spinning gear, but the spinning gear does make it easier to fish. Do what’s familiar to you. I do like a white or high-vis braid to a fluorocarbon leader so that I can see the line pop when a fish hits the bait on the fall.
For this rig to work I use a drop shot weight with an open loop at the top so the line doesn’t get crimped onto the line. You could use a bass-casting sinker, but the loop is typically too big and will let it slide over your hook. This would ruin the whole rig.
Because I am fishing with lighter line I typically use a light wire hook that allows me to rig the bait weedless. I’ll list my favorite below. You fish your favorite soft plastic and see what works for you. The bulkier the bait, the more drag and the bigger the separation between the bait and the weight will get.
Read This Report To See Some of the Baits I Use
To your fishing success,
Jonathan Burke
LiveBassFishing.com