Best Baits To "Free Rig" For Spring Bass!
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- Опубліковано 27 сер 2024
- Have you tried the "Free Rig" yet? The subtle action of the Free Rig has been outperforming both the Texas Rig and Carolina Rig in a lot of situations! It's a fish catcher that's it's here to stay, and these tips will help you use it effectively. Not all baits are created equal, but Tim has been exploring this technique for several years and has some key tips to help you catch fish.
The Free Rig isn't new, but is continuing to gain popularity! It shines around stumps, laydowns, docks, and grass. Bass that have become conditioned to traditional presentations continue to fall for this subtle approach. The benefit of this rig is it allows your bait to fall very slowly, while still keeping great contact with the bottom.
Below you'll find links to Tim's favorite baits for free rigging, along with the gear he uses to fish them effectively. We've also included our favorite colors for each bait to help you get started. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item.
HOOKS AND WEIGHTS...
Light Wire Hook- Hayabusa Round Bend: bit.ly/3Zbo8Ty
Sizes: 2/0 for small profiles, 4/0 for large
Heavy Wire Hook- Owner Cover Shot HD: bit.ly/36Gunbf
Sizes: 1/0 - 3/0
Wide Gap Hook- Gamakatsu Offset EWG: bit.ly/2d07gvp
Sizes: 3/0 - 4/0
Heavy Weight- Reins Heavy Tungsten: bit.ly/47iSN4V
Size: 1/2 oz
Standard Weight- Swagger Tungsten Casting Pencil: bit.ly/2YAoMuv
Size: 1/8 - 3/8 oz
Light Weight- Zappu Pinfree Shot Tungsten: bit.ly/48750Kw
Size: 1/8 - 3/16 oz
CRAW BAITS...
•XZone Adrenaline Craw Jr (3.5"): bit.ly/3ebTO5h
Colors: Green Pumpkin Blk Flake, Tilapia
•OSP DoLive Beaver: bit.ly/3ECnepu
Colors: Green Pumpkin Pepper, Watermelon Pepper
•Crush City Bronco Bug: bit.ly/4aUfkGv
Colors: Black Blue Green Pumpkin, Green Pumpkin
CREATURE BAITS...
•MissileBaits Baby D Stroyer: bit.ly/3248BXL
Colors: Super Bug, Green Pumpkin
•MissileBaits D Stroyer: bit.ly/2QiTTrM
Colors: Super Bug, Green Pumpkin
SHAD/GILL PROFILES...
•GeeCrack Bellows Shad: bit.ly/3E4zVdl
Colors: Electric Shad, AJ's Juice
•GeeCrack Bellows Gill: bit.ly/3PUJgbL
Colors: Electric Shad, Green Pumpkin Blue Flake
•Zoom Super Fluke: bit.ly/2aqys0H
Colors: Baitfish, Smokin Shad, Electric Shad
TIM'S FAVORITE COMBO...
Rod- Shimano Expride B 7'2" Medium Light: bit.ly/2nTq9FL
Reel- Shimano Aldebaran MGL (HG): bit.ly/2fdX1Uy
Line- Sufix 131 Braid (30 lb): bit.ly/314VoyF
Leader- Sunline Super FC (12 lb): bit.ly/2p7fxju
SPINNING COMBO...
Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium Light+ Fast: bit.ly/2jOUXAO
Reel- Shimano Vanford 3000: bit.ly/2gu84t7
Line- Seaguar SmackDown Braid (15 lb): bit.ly/43KGHQH
Leader- Seaguar Gold Label (10 lb): bit.ly/3UqrUbi
BUDGET COMBO...
Rod- Cashion Element 6'9" Medium XFast: bit.ly/48w69eC
Reel- Daiwa Fuego CT (HS): bit.ly/35hugfH
Line- Sunline FC (12 lb): bit.ly/2h4LNjm
TACTICALBASSIN LURE DESIGNS (AND APPAREL)
We have a variety of custom lure designs and apparel available! Everything from Swimbaits and crankbaits, to hats and hoodies! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here...
TacticalBassin Lure Designs: bit.ly/38YpPIz
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*MAJOR EQUIPMENT WE USE DAILY...
Trolling Motor- Minn Kota Ultrex Quest: bit.ly/41RErpY
Electronics- Humminbird Apex 13: bit.ly/3pdaK1q
Anchors- Minn Kota Raptors: bit.ly/3iMUrEJ
Camera- GoPro Hero 12: bit.ly/3MwQToy
*FAVORITE TOOLS AND GEAR…
Favorite sunglasses: bit.ly/3cLH0kl
Favorite Pliers: bit.ly/3xJFwTu
Favorite Rod Cover: bit.ly/3UewJEx
Favorite life jacket: bit.ly/2odXXIP
Favorite Scale: bit.ly/2f7QgQ9
Favorite Lure Retriever: bit.ly/2TLTJc6
Favorite Braid Cutters: bit.ly/35KSp3O
Favorite Split Ring Pliers: bit.ly/2fT4Qw0
Favorite Storage Box: bit.ly/3U9y4cl
Favorite Net: bit.ly/3kdZ3kA
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If you plan to do any shopping, using our links before doing your shopping at Tackle Warehouse is the single greatest way to support us! You won't be able to even see a difference but they'll know you're one of us!
#fishing #bassfishing #freerig
Called in sick to go fishing, I’ve got big bass fever bad right now. Pray for me boys
I love it, call in sick to go fishing and work on your sick days hahah
That's right I don't ever call in sick but man when I do it's fish on😂 and just pull through the sick days at work
@@kevincampbell5357 nice nice
Man, I’ve done it plenty, but ime karma usually causes the fish to lock it up 😂
Too cool! Many years ago, when I was a kid (maybe 10?), a buddy showed me the Texas Rig. He gave me a couple of worms (Mann's Jelly Worms in grape). I got home and didn't have any bullet weights, so my Dad gave me a couple of his catfish weights and hooks and I rigged up something very similar. I caught a 3 and a 4.5 pounder in one of the farm pounds we were allowed to fish and I became a bass fishing fanatic! Still am at age 60!
Has been my go too rig for the last year. And congratulations on the 600,000 subs on the channel. You guys rock.
Would love to see some underwater footage of these baits on the free rig
Good video. I like the one with your boys too. How about a video on spring time cold fronts. Before and after.
Been fishing the free rig ever since I saw Shin’s original video talking about it five years ago. It’s a really good rig I’ve caught a lot of fish on it since then.
I am really looking forward to trying this technique this season. Every winter, I sit down and identify a technique that I am going to add to my arsenal and work on throughout the season. Last season it was spybaits, and I still have some work to do there, and the season before it was ned rigs.... This year, it is free rig and hover / mid strolling. So this video is timely and super helpful. Thanks for posting.
underwater footage would be great to see for the free rig with different baits
A combination of different techniques all into one. Nice!
Thank you for a presentation about the free rig that finally makes sense to me.
I did an experiment, one rod one reel in one of my favorite ponds. Grass and bluegills. I free rigged a berkley gilly and the learning experience was fun because there were a ton of bites.
TacticalBassin, You're amazing! I hit the like button as soon as I saw it!
Fast tip and solid tip really helps with the rip off of the bottom.
I've caught a ton of fish offshore on toledo bend throwing a free rig it's a bite getter for sure... Great video as always keepem coming brother!!!
I love to use the Berkley gill swimbait on a free rig, the only difference is I use bass casting sinkers due to them being much cheaper and I don’t need the extra feel from tungsten.
Tim the Dolive beaver has quit a bit of movement. They do not flap like a normal craw but they wave in and out. The action looks really good as the weight is pulling it down then when the weight hits bottom it turns up flat and falls like a senko and the flappers quiver in and out. Awesome bait. Another great video thanks
I use the same terminal box. It's great since I go bank and kayak fishing. It's easy to transfer and holds the tackle in place better than anything else I've used
I love all the bellows series. HVe them in all the sizes. But I will say I had not thought about free rigging one
Tried it this year and it has been producing. Been using the Cleanup Craw.
Great explanation. Appreciate the video
Thanks!
Hey @Tim, the Bronco Bug (copy of the Dolive Beaver) has a HUGE KICK as it sinks under tension, which is the point of this bait. They call it a dolphin kick, or like Rapala calls it, a Bronco kick. The appendages only sit there with dead action, when the sinker hit bottom and it glides to the bottom.
Tim, I think it’s better for deeper water. But if you’re shallow, use no weight on the Bello and hop it. It’s magical 🧙♂️
This would be certainly a challenging underwater video. I think this could be your next great underwater video. Just to show how the action changes when that weight hits the bottom and you get the glide. There is a lot of baits that would be great for this but also some that are designed just for this. I looked to you guys for guidance on which ones are the best.
Check out Steve Roger’s Outdoors. He did an underwater video on this a couple weeks ago.
@@jv59 Thanks that was good. I wish he would have shown some of the baits that are design for free rigging like bellows shad and bronco bug/osp craw. But this does give me some good ideas.
I ordered the decoy free rig which is a special weight for this technique that seems to let the weight move on the line more freely I’ll try it side by side with a regular dropshot weight
The Deps Bullflat is another really good one available at TW for the free rig.
You need to try the Bottoms up Scooper frog Daddy. It's one of the best free rig baits. Also the Jackall honey nuggets are money!
I've had a lot of good luck with this rig, I was using a rattle shot drop shot weight and a caffeine shad....
I love to throw the free rig in rocky area but it's a pain in the a#s to fish it near wood or submerged trees. The weight get caught easy
What weight do you use the most Tim? The one you start with
I would love to see some under water footage of what this setup is doing.
Questions-I have seen this using a pear shape weight. Your thoughts? Also what do you think about using a 1/4 oz weight?
I find this an execellent option for the texas or carolina rig. Since texas is very common and I belive it does not produce in pessured waters. And carolina rig is harder to cast specially with creature baits like lizzard.
I’m interested Tim! Is it important to cast and let that weight fall on an open spool to get separation?
I experimented with this some last year, but I felt like my weight was staying near the bait, not really sliding down the line. Any suggestions?
Ensure your weight is heavier than the bait……
Try using baits that have no salt in them or are made of elastech. More buoyant. Works for me.
Cast and let it drop with slack line
@@swamp_rat_fla1126 seems obvious but I can’t say I really thought about that. Thank you
@@sergiocerdabeltran5338 good tip 👍
Tim, I’ve been using the free rig with the GeeCrack baits,and the adrenaline craw,along with ZMAN baits that float,but I fish it in mostly shallow ( under 12’ of water) and it doesn’t seem to separate. I’ve been using the 1/2 oz free rig weights thinking it would separate more in shallower water. I have 3/8, and 1/4 tungsten ,but I just haven’t dialed it in. I’ve watched the action in the 2-3 foot depths with the bellows Shad and only get 6-8 inches…. I would love your advice on weights and depths. I’m using the baitcaster
In offshore fishing I have been leaning more towards the free rig than a shakeyhead or Texas rig
Please do underwater of the baits with this technique
Electronics question. What bow mount monitor do you like best to pair with livescope? Thanks.
Tim, is that not the same rig as an unpegged Texas rig
That’s what I was thinking. The free weight would slide up and down the line easier than an unpegged flipping weight but these free weights haven’t been the easiest to get a hold of and I want to use the ones I have for drop shot weights.
@charlieschmitz759 so you're saying that a normal bullet weight used in the Texas and Carolina rigs won't slide as easy as an eyed drop shot weight, may be a line fray issue without the eye. We'll I was wanting an answer and your is a good start of a conversation
Sorry I kinda flipped back and forth within my comment. Yeah the free weight will technically slide up and down the line better because of the amount of line in contact with another material on a free weight is just the eye of the weight vs the length of a flipping weight. Is the difference enough that a bass would notice the difference? Probably not. I doubt we’d even notice any difference.
A bandito bug works well with this technique also
Cool I will try the bug got the JR
Would you consider using the Berkley Gilly on this rig?
Free rig is going to blow up as soon as people realize it’s a drop shot for baitcasters.
3/8 tungsten sinker, ultra vive speed craw
I guess my main question would be… if we’re looking to get a fall out of this rig like it’s weightless then why not just throw it weightless?
What’s the difference between a Carolina rig and a free rig?
Let's see some underwater action with this rig.
How about fishing a finesse tube with a free rig?
Interesting rig but I see the separation between the weight and bait as creating slack line which hinders bite detection. The weight and bait hit the water, the weight sinks along your line to the bottom while the bait slowly falls creating more and more slack as it sinks. From your rod tip to the bait there's a big V with a ton of slack between the weight and the bait. Any bite you feel is after the fish has the bait, swims, and takes up the slack in your line, maybe. The slack gives the fish plenty of time to spit the bait out before you can set the hook. The term controlled slacklining describes what you do with a t-rig, jig, etc. and you can't do this with this rig.
I killed them with this on a twin grub Yamamoto. DO NOT BEDFISH WITH THIS YOU WILL BREAK OFF ON THE HOOK SET
i Am Second!!
so the difference between a texas rig with a bullet weight and this is? ....the dropshot weight?
🤔 🦎 🎣
I’m sorry but I’m not seeing the difference from a unpegged T rig.
This is literally a Texas rig with a different weight armed with a high buoyancy bait 😂
Crazy I’m first
But not 1st to 👍🏼 which counts
I will not use it.
A Missle D Bomb is awesome to flip with.