The Texas Rig for Bass Fishing has got to be the most widely used rig in bass fishing with soft plastic lures. It’s easy to set up, easy to fish, and just plain effective.

On top of those advantages to using a Texas Rig for bass fishing you can use a variety of techniques. From dragging to “jigging” to swimming it can be used in all kinds of conditions.

This rig can be used with baitcasting outfits or spinning setups. Baitcasting has the advantage of having a quicker response because of its gear ratios. But you can’t beat the simplicity of a spinning reel. Either one will work just fine.

It’s a good starting point for those who are beginning to bass fish. Soft plastics are relatively cheap and come in a huge variety of styles and colors. This makes your presentation options nearly limitless when trying to “match the hatch”.

I would also suggest starting with worms. These are pretty much standard Texas rig lures and they almost always work. Whether you are working shallow grassy areas or casting to points or dropoffs. 

This rig will allow you to fish at any depth, through weeds, grass, rocks, and brush without your rig failing. This rig is the ultimate in setting up a bass lure as you can use any size plastic worm and vary the sinker weight.

How To Setup A Plastic Worm On A Texas Rig

A Texas Rig for Bass Fishing needs nothing more than the plastic worm, line, a hook of the correct size, and a sinker. Do the following for setup:

1. Place a sinker on your line. Using a cone sinker will help facilitate the movement of the sinker through weed or brush.
2. Tie the line to your hook.
3. Push the tip of the hook into the worm’s nose for approximately ¼”.
4. Decide which side of the worm you wish the hook to exit. For simple worms, but for those worms that are shaped, this may well be something to consider at this point.
5. Now turn the hook and push it out of the side of the worm.
6. As the tip exits the worm, slide the head of the worm along the shank of the hook. Tug sharply so that the eye of the hook is embedded in the head of the worm.
7. Take the hook in the middle of the shank allowing the worm to hang freely and parallel to the bottom of the hook. Take careful note of where the bottom of the hook lines up on the body of the worm.
8. Make sure the worm is hanging freely, and you have not turned the body. Check the line running down the body of the worm to make sure that it is straight and not twisted.
9. Once you have found the correct point to reinsert your hook, push the hook straight through the body of the worm.
10. As the hook exits, take the body of the worm and ensure that it is lying correctly and straight.
11. At this point, you will be ready to fish, but if you are in an environment where there are trees and stumps, this will require you to make the rig completely weedless.

Using Sinkers With A Texas Rig

When a sinker is fitted to the line prior to the hook, it will slide freely. When fishing in water with a thick cover it is not advantageous to allow the sinker to slide freely.  It can be very frustrating when the sinker falls on one side and the worm on the other.

To solve this problem easily, take a toothpick or match and jam it into the hole of the sinker. Cut off the excess, and you will have successfully stopped the sinker from sliding up and down the line.

Using a sinker with the Texas Rig will give the angler a split-second extra to set the hook.  Theoretically, the fish will not feel the weight of the sinker as it will slide up the line. Using a sensitive rod and line should give the angler plenty of time to set the hook.

The only decision regarding the sinker should be the environment within which one is fishing.  If you want your lure to float over submerged vegetation, then applying a sinker will be counterproductive. Very shallow water does not require a sinker. Leaving the sinker off will provide a more lifelike motion.

Choosing the hook to use

There are some very general guidelines regarding the relationship between the size of the hook and the worm.

Modern hooks come in a myriad of styles and shapes. Deciding on what is best for you is a very personal choice. In general terms, an offset shank holds the worm well and leaves plenty of room to hook a fish. At the end of the day, the choice of the hook must suit your personal style and fishing conditions.

You can also read about how to rig the Wacky Rig.

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