How to Rig and Fish the Carolina Rig with Seth Feider

In this video, professional angler Seth Feider demonstrates the nuances of using a Carolina rig for deep-water fishing. From selecting the right equipment to mastering the technique, Feider provides a comprehensive guide to improving your fishing game.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

Feider begins by walking through all his tackle components for optimized Carolina rig fishing. For deep-water fishing, he prefers a combined 3/4-ounce of weight created by pairing two 3/8-ounce sinkers back-to-back. His rationale is that the two weights create additional fish-attracting noise, which draws them to the setup. The use of a rubber bead is crucial to protect the knot from the heavy tungsten. Feider uses a VMC No. 6 swivel and ties a basic polymer knot for durability.

MISC. ACCESSORIES

TERMINAL BOX – Plano WaterProof StowAway 3440: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
SCISSORS – Rapala Elite Scissors 7″: Buy at Tackle Warehouse

SETTING UP THE CAROLINA RIG

Setting up the Carolina rig involves a few essential steps:

Attach a rubber bead to protect the knot.
Use a short leader for better casting and fewer tangles.
Choose the right hook, with Feider recommending a round bend offset.
Use a longer rod in the 7’6″ to 8’0″ range for better casting distance, control, and hookset power

FISHING TECHNIQUE

Feider’s fishing technique with the Carolina rig is straightforward:

Make a long cast and let the rig fall to the bottom.
Reel down and drag the bait slowly along the bottom.
Feel the bottom structure to locate fish.
Set the hook with a sweeping low-angle hookset to remove as much slack from the system as possible.

Feider emphasizes that the Carolina rig is highly effective on new waters, allowing you to cover a lot of ground and read the bottom composition.

WHY THE CAROLINA RIG WORKS

The Carolina rig excels in various conditions:

It allows you to feel the bottom and identify different bottom compositions. Do they prefer muck, sand, gravel, or rock? If rock, are they holding around bigger boulders?
It’s effective for both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
The setup minimizes tangles and ensures the bait stays in the strike zone longer.
Hooking and landing percentages are exceptional.

LANDING FISH WITH THE CAROLINA RIG

Feider explains that the Carolina rig offers a high landing percentage due to its simple yet effective setup. Heavy line and a solid hook set make bringing fish to the boat easier. He uses straight 20-pound fluorocarbon line and an 8:1 reel to ensure quick line retrieval, as removing slack is critical when using fluorocarbon on a long cast.

ROD SETUP

ROD – Daiwa Rebellion Casting Rod, 7’6′ Heavy – Fast: Check out at Daiwa | Buy at Omnia
REEL – Daiwa Tatula Elite Casting Reel, 8.1:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at Omnia
LINE – Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon Line, 20-pound: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse | Buy at Omnia

Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a beginner, the Carolina rig is a versatile and effective tool in your tackle box. Follow Seth Feider’s tips to enhance your deep-water fishing experience and increase your catch rate. Don’t overlook this classic technique—it’s a proven fish catcher that still holds its own in modern fishing.

BOAT SETUP

FISH FINDER – HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA DI+ GPS G4N: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://bassproshops.vzck.net/ORG2xG
360 SONAR – Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging Transducer – Ultrex: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://bassproshops.vzck.net/RyJvVy
TROLLING MOTOR – Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST, 112lb, 36V, 52″: Buy at Bass Pro Shops https://bit.ly/49npejB