How to Tie a Texas Rig for Small Mouth Fishing

The smallmouth bass angler needs to have the ability to deliver her plastic lures into areas full of such structure as boulders and downed trees. Fishing a typical rig in these scenarios can be problematic, as the point of the hook will constantly snag as the lure goes through this setting. The solution to this is for the angler to know how to "Texas rig" her presentation so the hook, which is no longer exposed, will not catch on anything as the lure is reeled in.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

plastic worm, lizard or crayfish
offset worm hook
bullet weight

Step 1

Choose such plastic creature baits as worms, lizards or crayfish. When using plastic worms for smallmouth bass, make sure to downsize from the 7- to 10-inch type you'd typically use to fish for largemouth. The 6-inch and 4-inch varieties of plastic worms will attract smallmouths and you can Texas rig these sizes just as easily as the larger ones.

Step 2

Take your plastic bait and hold it with one hand with the offset worm hook in the other. Right-handers will hold the bait in their right hand and left-handers vice-versa. The head on a lizard bait or plastic crayfish will be obvious; on a plastic worm, the "head" is the thicker end.

Step 3

Stick the sharp, barbed point of your offset hook into the top of the head of the plastic bait and push the bait onto it as far as to where the hook first begins to bend. After reaching that point, stop and bring the hook's point back out below the head, about 1/2 inch from the top where it first penetrated.

Step 4

Slide the plastic bait over the bend of the hook and all the way up the shank to the top, past the spot where the hook offsets at a 90-degree angle. Make it snug as close to the eye of the hook as you can.

Step 5

Turn the entire hook 180 degrees so you have the point positioned facing the hanging plastic bait. Line up a spot on the bait opposite from where the point of the hook is and then push the hook into that place. Do not go all the way through the worm. Leave the point inserted in the plastic body of the bait. Without the point exposed, the presentation will not catch on rocks, weeds or branches as you fish areas where smallmouths congregate.

Step 6

Slip a bullet weight onto the end of your fishing line with the pointy end facing toward your rod tip and away from where you will tie on the offset hook. The bullet weight holds the Texas rig down in the water and serves to keep it free of obstructions as it passes through weeds and brush. Tie the offset worm to the line and your Texas rig is ready for action.

Tips & Warnings

Jam a toothpick into the middle of the bullet sinker when it sits close to the hook and break it off; this will keep the weight from moving up and down the line when you cast.

Article Written By John Lindell

John Lindell has written articles for "The Greyhound Review" and various other online publications. A Connecticut native, his work specializes in sports, fishing and nature. Lindell worked in greyhound racing for 25 years.

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