Carolina rigging soft plastics has been around for several years now; in fact it was first used by Lloyd Deaver of North Carolina to fish shallow stumps. Jack Chancellor learned to fish it and won a 1985 BASS Tournament using the rig. By 1990 the word was out and pro's all over made sure they had at least one rod rigged with the proven Carolina rig.

It is a simple method of presenting a soft plastic bait to a bass, first take the main line, (17lb. or stronger) slide on a one ounce egg shaped sinker add a bead, tie on a swivel. Next tie on three feet of smaller test line to the other end of the swivel, to this tie on a 3/0 light worm hook. Most anglers start with a lizard but any plastic from worms to flukes will work.

When I first tried using the rig I had convinced myself that it was hard,
but I soon learned that the feel is much the same as Texas rigged worm
fishing. The bite is often the same, only due to more line being out the
hook set is a little different. Use a long side arm hook set so that you
move as much line as possible when responding to a fish.

With the heavy weight you keep contact with the bottom better, feeling
every rock and stump as the lure is dragged back to you. This rig is great
as a search bait, not as fast as a spinner bait or crank bait but faster than
a jig or Texas rigged worm.

Depending on the type of under water structure the leader length can be
changed. In rocky flats you can get by with a one foot leader while in weeds
the longer three foot leader will help keep the lure above the weeds where
the bass can see it.

Top pro's like David Fritts uses the rig as a follow up bait, first covering the area with his favorite bait the crankbait. Then he will go over the same ground with a Carolina rigged lizard. He says he catches about half his fish on the rig.

As fish move into their pre-spawn moods the Carolina rig comes into it's
own. I will first use something like a jerk bait, searching for active fish,
then like Fritts I will go over the same area with the Carolina rig, looking
for any bass that may not be as active.

The rig is mostly a shallow water bite, but don't be afraid to toss it
out into deeper water. With the heavy weight it can search out bass still
holding on drop offs out in ten , twenty and thirty foot of water.

Experiment with different plastics, learn what the bass like on any given
day, some times a long 12 inch worm works, other days a short 4 inch bait may be what they want. Have fun with it and don't be afraid to try it.
Catch all you want, keep just what you need and release the rest for
the future.