A Carolina Rig is a bass fishing staple. It’s one of the most popular and effective presentations ever created. It’s versatility and effectiveness will help you catch bass when other fishing methods won’t.
One thing that I’ve learned over the years while throwing the Carolina Rig is how important it is to select the right bait for your fishing conditions. Selecting the best soft plastic baits for your Carolina rig can dramatically increase your odds at catching more fish.
So what’s the best bait to use on a Carolina Rig? In my opinion there are 4 different bait categories you should considering using when throwing the Carolina Rig: creature baits, worms, lizards & flukes.
In this article we will discuss the best Carolina Rig baits and each of the different bait categories and discuss when you should consider using each one.
Best Baits for the Carolina Rig
The Carolina Rig is one of the most popular and tried and true methods of presenting a soft plastic bait in bass fishing and will help you catch a ton of fish.
It consists of sinker, a bead, swivel, leader, hook and most importantly a soft plastic bait. There are a ton of different soft plastic baits you can use on a Carolina Rig.
In my experience the best Carolina Rig baits are creature baits, worms, lizards and flukes. When fishing conditions call for a Carolina Rig, these soft plastics are must-haves.
However, there are a ton of different soft plastics out there to choose from but if you want to have success you’ll want to have the best ones tied on.
Here are the top overall soft plastic baits to use on you Carolina rig.
The 10 Best Carolina Rig Baits
- Zoom Brush Hog
- Berkley Power Worm 10”
- Keitech Crazy Flapper
- Zoom Ol Monster
- Big Bite Kriet Tail Lizard
- Big Bite Baits B2 10”
- Zoom Super Fluke
- Strike King 10” Bull Worm
- Zoom Big Dead Ringer Worm
- Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw
Now that we have covered the best baits to use on a Carolina Rig let’s look at the different bait categories and discuss when to use each.
Make sure to check out My Recommended Bass Fishing Gear and Tackle Guide to ensure you have the right gear for your next fishing adventure.
Worms
When to use: All around great option, especially when targeting bigger bass
There are few soft plastic baits that work on a Carolina Rig as well as big worm, especially in the summer months.
When choosing a worm, you have two main options: a straight tail worm or a ribbon-tail worm. In my experience ribbon-tail worms are a great choice in the summer when bass tend to be more active.
On the other hand, straight tail worms are ideal for finesses situations when the bass are less active or heavily pressured. However, you can’t go wrong with either option and both can work year round.
When targeting big fish, I like to throw a 10 or 12-inch worm (or bigger). If I am fishing for smaller fish I’ll stick with the 10 inch or power down to an 8. The larger the worm, the bigger the bites you’ll get but you may not catch as many.
As far as colors go, in muddy or stained water situations I like to throw black & blue or junebug, especially in the summer.
In clear water conditions natural colors are preferred and colors like green pumpkin, watermelon and brown are ideal.
Best Worms for a Carolina Rig
- Big Bite Baits B2 10”
- Berkley Power Worm 10”
- Zoom Ol Monster
- Strike King 10” Bull Worm
- Zoom Big Dead Ringer Worm
Favorite Colors: Junebug, Black & Blue, Greep Pumpkin
Creature Baits/Lizards
When to use: When bass are targeting crayfish and baitfish
Another extremely effective bait to use on a Carolina Rig for both largemouth and smallmouth bass is with a creature bait or lizard.
When the bass are hunting and keying in on crawdads and bait fish, dragging a lizard or creature bait is an extremely effective way to catch bass, especially in clear water.
One of my all-time favorite creature baits to use on a Carolina Rig is the Brush Hog. If I’m fishing for numbers or smallmouth, I’ll power down to a baby brush hog. Using a bait like the Brush Hog is a great way to catch a ton of bass.
Dragging a Lizard is another effective way to catch fish on a Carolina Rig. This bait is especially productive in the spring and summertime months. If I can only choose one Lizard, I would have to go with the Big Bite Kriet Tail Lizard. This is a phenomenal bait that will help you catch a ton of big fish.
Best Creature Baits for a Carolina Rig
- Zoom Brush Hog
- Zoom Baby Brush Hog
- Keitech Crazy Flapper
- Zoom Ultravibe Speed Craw
Favorite Colors: Green Pumpkin, Green Pumpkin Magic, Watermelon, Junebug, Black & Blue
Best Lizards for a Carolina Rig
- Big Bite Kriet Tail Lizard
- Z-Man Lizardz
Favorite Colors: Green Pumpkin, Watermelon Red Flk, Junebug, Hematoma
Flukes
When to use: Best when bass are keying in on small baitfish such as shad and shiners
When to comes to selecting baits for the Carolina Rig anglers often overlook small bait fish imitations like the Fluke. This can be a big mistake.
The Fluke really shines in the spring and fall and gives the bass a much different profile then they are used to seeing from the C-Rig.
If you haven’t given the Fluke a shot on the Carolina Rig it’s time to try it. You won’t be disappointed with the results.
Best Flukes for a Carolina Rig
- Zoom Super Fluke
- Strike King Caffeine Shad
Favorite Colors: White, Pearl, Baby Bass, Houdini
Carolina Rig Bass Fishing Tips
Having the best soft plastic baits tied on your Carolina Rig is essential in order to be successful out on the water. However, there are other factors and things you should do that can dramatically increase your catch rate.
Here are 10 tips that will help you catch more fish on the Carolina Rig:
- Use Tungsten Weights – Tungsten is denser which provides you with better sensitivity and allows you to feel the bottom better. This will help you detect more bites and catch more fish.
- Brass and Glass is Key – Adding a glass bead and some brass to your Carolina Rig will give your presentation a unique sound as you drag your bait around rocks and other types of structure.
- Upsize for Bigger Fish – If big bass is what you are after try upsizing your soft plastic baits. 10-12+ inch worms are a great way to get those bigger bites.
- Mix Up Your Retrieval – The C-Rig is generally most effective when its slowly dragged on the bottom but don’t be afraid to mix it up, it just might be what the bass are looking for.
- Downsize – Bigger baits catch bigger fish but if you aren’t having any luck, don’t be afraid to downsize your soft plastic baits. This will help you catch those finicky fish.
- Adjust Your Leader – Your leader length can play a major factor in your fishing success. A good leader length is usually around 20 to 22 inches but feel free to experiment with different lengths until you find one that is right for you and your fish.
- Focus on High Percentage Targets – When throwing the Carolina Rig it’s important to focus on key targets. Flats, points and ditches are all great areas to throw this rig.
For other Carolina Rig bass fishing tips check out these other articles:
- 5 Carolina Rig Mistakes to Avoid
- The Carolina Rig: Tricks, Tips and Tactics to Catch More Fish
- Carolina Rig: Catch More Bass With These Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
Final Thoughts
A Carolina Rig is a fishing technique that every bass fishing angler needs to have in their arsenal. It can be an effective way to catch bass year round and is a lot of fun to fish.
As we discussed in this article selecting the best soft plastic bait for your Carolina Rig setup is absolutely critical. I would encourage to go out and get the baits we discussed and apply what you have learned in this article out on the water.
Best of luck out there.
Tight Lines
