Free Rig vs Texas Rig UNDERWATER TEST

[@rionsummers5939]

I haven’t tried the free rig yet, but from what I gleaned from this demonstration is that the free rig appeared to allow the bait a slower fall rate. I would categorize the free rig as more of a finesse technique to the Texas rig when fishing steeper banks whenever you want the bait to separate from the swivel sinker. I think experimenting with the right weight of the sinker and type of s method could trigger bites when other methods fail. I look forward to testing it out! Thanks for the video!!

[@bruceraiken2806]

I think you"ve drilled down to the true difference. Subtle but real. A bullet sinker has a tighter hold on the line simply because its in contact with more surface area on the bullet weight, whereas the larger eye with the twisted top allows less influential contact on the rate of fall, thus allowing it to fall slower, with more influence to the bait's shape/design. It's the slower fall that creates a trigger when the fish want that slower, gliding descent. (other times we pitch/flip heavy sinkers, not cause we need that much weight to get down, but because it triggers a poop or get off the pot bite, now or never - again for those times where he fish respond well to that trigger! )

[@andrewwolf8652]

You might think you’re not noticing much of a difference but when you pay attention to the fall and action of the lure (not the weights) it’s a huge difference. You’re testing the action of both rigs at most what like a foot or two of water. Imagine in 5ft or deeper. Look how the bullet weight pulls the lure down with it compared to the tear drop where it is “freely” going down the line (less friction) which will hit bottom faster and give the lure more time to fall (slower) naturally. It’s not the pendulum effect or how straight the rig falls; you can fix that with both rigs by giving slack line after a cast. The Free rig lure action looks more natural and it is definitely more for finesse technique for sure.

[@artillerylife]

You 100% right

[@tylerwarner2260]

Good point

[@joestrummer9507]

There's a reason why 99% of professional bass anglers and Millions of others who've seen this and every other rig under the Sun still prefer a bullet weight t-rig: NOTHING is better at coming through all types of cover and not getting snagged, fouled with weeds, etc. Just rip it and the weeds are off.

[@simplyengineering2350]

These should be considered the same technique. The bullet wieght doesn't make it a texas rig. The Texas rig is how the Soft plastic is rigged on the Hook. I would consider both of these a Texas Rig. Anyone who's ran out of bullet weights has used this "free" rig. I've been callin them the slide weight rig for the past 20 yrs.

[@FrankLadd]

@@simplyengineering2350 Before is was Texas rig I think it was called a knocker rig. I think Texas rig refers to the combination of the free weight and the weedless worm hook.

[@rcandy4u]

I fish a Carolina rig with a 10 pound test & a 5:47 3/4 tungsten flipping weight with a shrink wrap insert and it falls completely different than the same rig with out the insert, Similar to the free rig with out the shrink wrap insert.

[@daveversion2.2]

Yet another bass catching technique! Just when you thought…..what else is there? Great vid.

[@MaluHunterFishing]

Great video man. Watching from Australia. Great comparison video. I agree, hardly a damn diff.

[@MrRourk]

Well as I was told the Free Rig came from Korean Finese Salt Water Fishing.

[@kitcarson7572]

Was not the original intent for just any ole plastic bait. Use a floating bait, such as the Z man floating worm. Now toss it up by a dock and now you can slack the line, it floats up, pull on the line and it dives, you can yo-yo the bait in position as long as you wish, hop it to the front of the dock and do it some more. Works well on points and ledges also, the intent is to use a floating bait and allow the floater to rise, pull it down, let it go and so on. Originally also it was called the reverse wacky rig, floating worm again, rigged so you can yo-yo the bait in place like way back under a dock. I generally twitch the worm gently and if there is a fish under the dock, you will soon know. Dense baits that do not float really have no advantage that I have ever found. Cheers Kit

[@Restrodsworth]

You definitely get a better separation between the bait and the weight with the free rig. With bouyant plastics you can pay out a little bit of line and the bait will rise up off the bottom.

[@jooky5]

Great vid! The key to free rig is slack line, otherwise it will pendulum like a Texas rig.

[@morkwork3507]

I think the difference the japanese anglers said was on initial cast, That the free rig stays on the area of landing compared to the sliding motion of texas rig towards you. I could be wrong.

[@mrwhipper21]

I gave the free rig a try and caught a 2 lber on the second cast. Haven't caught one since. But I haven't fished it that much since. I have been trying to find some floating jigheads to try with a trd to let it float up from the weight once it hits bottom. I figured to let it float up a couple feet and do a jiggle to see what happens. Can't find any meijer was sold out.

[@daveengstrom9250]

That music really detracts from this video.

[@artillerylife]

Thank you I think your spot on and I’m not going to put music in anymore over talking

[@ScottCooperOutdoors]

I think in deeper water is where the Free Rig shines. I also like using the Z man baits to float the hook more. You can pull the bait down to the sinker.

[@barryhowell9]

The #freerig works for sure better than a non pegged Texas rig, it’s a situational presentation though. There’s a time and place for both, but the free rig definitely has a different fall rate than an unpegged Texas Rig, throw them both with a Bellows Gill and you will see the difference, another point is baits also make a difference.🤷‍♂️ I jus get bit more on a free rig

[@user-by6yc8yl7v]

Add a glass bead or a rubber peg between the hook and weight.

[@bubbafarmer4867]

In my humble opinion, the free rig was only more free because that set-up had fluorocarbon, which falls slower than braid because it’s thicker. You need to tie up the same line to get best comparison.

[@robcarey4189]

If you use a JDM free rig bait, they have flat water catching shapes, they flutter and seperate more on the fall

[@Choffa09]

Great video…. King of Battle!

[@thomascarmichael6760]

From what I’ve seen on this style of fishing the free rig is used with a floating worm or other type of plastic and the idea is to move the plastic down to the weight and then let the plastic float up again without moving the weight. It’s suppose to mimic a fish or creature feeding in one spot. Don’t get a bite there, then move the weight and repeat the same thing! The Texas rig keeps the worm and weight moving with short pauses in between each pull on the rod.

[@BenJamin-ny1kw]

In a river the lure on a carolina rig might drift in the flow a little more, especially if you put a swivel up the line to stop the free weight hitting the lure

[@BenJamin-ny1kw]

Great video though 🖒

[@timg185]

The line might slide through the free rig easier. Allowing a longer separation of the bait and sinker. Maybe? It would be easier to tell in deeper water.

[@artillerylife]

Agreed

[@BassGeek]

Hmmmm great test I really want to test with the line at an angle similar to what you would see with a cast. Which you just said you want to do. lol Good stuff man.

[@totalannihilation9065]

For those saying it wouldn't make any difference. It looks like the free rig makes the bait fall a tiny bit "softer" It looks a little bit more natural. Bass have tremendous reaction and considering some bite your bait as soon as it hits the water imagine what that slightly more natural fall can do. I have to be honest I thought the Japanese guy who was talking about it was full of it but it could make a difference.

[@bryonbustillos7790]

Waki

[@cpk2GIRL]

The exact same tank test should be filmed using a floating plastic lure. That's where this Free Rig shines.

[@Crocskin]

That's brilliant

[@darkinertia2]

interesting because you can buy swivel sinkers that clip on i think so you can switch easily between weightless and weighted while bank fishing

[@blasthemi]

New Subscribe! 🥳 I have been wondering the same thing myself! I fished the free rig this weekend at Norfork Lake all day Sunday. Well not all day but long enough for me. It got really HOT 🥵! 🤷🏼‍♂️ However it did seem to be much more accurate on the fall as far as compared to a Texas Rig. I truly believe the rate of fall as well as the direction of the Fall if applicable, is also very dependent on which specific plastic you are throwing at the time. An example would be a beaver tail or creature bait versus a Senko or trick stick or just about any plastic without a paddle tail or flat tail. Hopefully you can see my point with that explanation. That was my first time using the free rig, I was fishing from a boat and I did try it using multiple rod and reel setups as well as different types of fluorocarbon line. With the line I noticed a huge difference when going from larger to smaller. An example of that would be, 16 lb sunline and 20 lb Seaguar we're more difficult to cast at a longer range as expected. Whereas 8 lb Seaguar fluorocarbon all the way up to, I think it was 12 lb, was much more efficient and a lot more fun to fish in general. Not to mention the super clear water there at Lake Norfolk, AR, is extremely difficult to fish with heavier line because the fish just see it. 🤷🏼‍♂️. I did enjoy fishing the free rig and I think I will even pick up some specific terminal tackle so I can use it more in the future. Awesome video man. Like I said, it was just what I was looking for. Oh and by the way. Army Veteran Strong! 11Bravo's lead the way! 🤘😜

[@kevinma6103]

when you cast a line the line doesn't sit up and down in the water column. It drapes horizontally across the water and because of the horizontal drape baits pendulum. In your experiment, you just jigged both up and down on a straight vertical line so obviously, there wouldn't be any difference in fall direction. I think the theory behind the free rig is since all the weight is at the bottom of/under the line it has a tendency to fall more vertically than a free texas rig which sits more so on the line. And because of the lower point, the bait will naturally be dragged down more because it will encounter less line resistance. I'm not sure if it actually makes a difference, but the experiment could have been set up a lot better. Great experiment idea tho!

[@kevinma6103]

your also doing it in like 2 feet of water. Where this is more important in deeper water where the effect of the pendulum would be magnified.

[@carnufiasfishing8444]

Hmm... if I'm correct? The rig is called a weightless Texas rig / Tex posed rig. If that's what people are comparing it too then they are wrong my friend. As you mentioned the Texas rig does have a weight of some sort before the the hook. Anyhow loved the video & some folks need to brush up on their fishing lingo 🤪. Keep up the awesome work

[@tjsoutdoors4786]

Cool video and awesome information. I saw that the bait on the free rig seemed to fall slower which I like. I think that would give the bait more time in the strike zone.

[@realjeffgarrett]

I agree. The difference is subtle, but sometimes those subtle differences can be the difference.

[@fishingwithlee9519]

I think that both baits would fall equally fast if: The hole of the lead would be the same size and also the same length. With the free rig it falls only slower because the lead has less contact with the line

[@narkqesse3606]

well, the difference between free rig & texas rig is during horizontal line retrieve, free rig will behave almost similar to jika rig/tokyo rig (assuming you are punching using cylinder weight & floating soft bait)

[@simplyengineering2350]

They're both texas rigs. The bullet weight doesn't make it a texas rig. It has to do with how the soft plastic is on the hook. I would consider these the same rig, the Texas sliding weight rig.

[@Raikon316]

Free Rig is great for float soft plastic. I know there is 3 kind of soft plastic baits. Sink, Slow Float down and Buoyant(Z-man). Texas Rig is so so okay and however it’s good with crayfish soft plastic bait.

[@jayhomusic]

the key of free rig is how it reads the ground situation. compared to texas rig, a swivel sinker delivers more accurate information to the rod when dragging. this rig also causes an erratic action when slowly dragging on the rocky ground because of the sinker. in my opinion, it excels texas rig in rocky ledge or bluff wall. texas rig excels in grassy and soft bottom cause it snags less and can swim if needed. i enjoyed your insight :D

[@artillerylife]

I never thought of it that way but yes you are right now that I think about it. You can feel a lot more with this rig

[@turinreza]

don't you snag more with a swivel sinker compared to a bullet weight?

[@garyblalock371]

Honestly if I'm using the creature baits similar to those I'll texas rig it... But I'm more of a fan of using 2 split shots about 12-15 inches away from the bait and just drag and twitch and pop up and down left and right... It honestly works better than any of the rigs out there unless you're pitching in cover and heavy vegetation.... But when actually targeting 15-20 feet of water the split shots are without a doubt more effective and using soft plastic jerk baits and senkos work even better

[@christophermyerssr7000]

What about the knocker rig it as well does the same in my opinion.

[@artillerylife]

I need to research that

[@bayareaangler4083]

If you think its the same then you gotta be out of your mind. Free rig free falls light and natural the shallow water doesnt do it justice here

[@artillerylife]

I agree, I need to find some clear water and put my GoPro down there. They have different actions

[@bayareaangler4083]

@@artillerylife on a solid drop the free rig is like a fluttering feather texas rig is a faster more erratic drop

[@simplyengineering2350]

They're both texas rigged on the hook. Texas rig = how the soft plastic is on the hook.

[@Nubenhoofer]

Why aren't more people getting on board with the use of buoyant plastics with the free rig? When elaztech hit the market, that was the very first thing I did with texas rig. Unpeged, you can perform whats essentially a reverse jigging action. It didn't take me long to start using a swivel weight to achieve a more aggressive action. It really shines with the zman razor shad. It looks just like a shad nibbling at crud on the bottom! Also, try hooking one WACKY style! It's NUTSO! SO COOL!. I bust that tactic out in the fall for smallmouth that have seen everything under the sun thrown at them.

[@mikedeguzman1]

The tank experiment can’t be used for results. There is no angle from the rod. Basically the tank is just like drop shot. If you cast from your boat or bank. There is an angle from the rod to the bait. The deeper the bottom the more the free rig and depending on how heavy the weight is so the buoyancy of the plastic and hook. The bait will sink slower allowing the weight to slide towards the rod. Plus the free rig weight has less resistance while sliding VS a bullet weight because of how much of the line is actually in contact with the sinker (the inside of the bullet sinker) Hope this makes sense. If you are just jigging with it. Both techniques are identical. If you are casting and allow big the bait to slowly sink and depending on how heavy the weight. The free rig will ride the line back towards the rod while the bait is still fluttering down. Do it will be more of a Carolina rig IMO.

[@6rantfishing]

What part of Louisiana you in brother. I'm in Monroe

[@아랫물]

Cover short casting fishing- Texas rig Open water long casting fishing- Free rig This is how it is used in Korea Free rig Excellent dragging ability

[@louisvanginder6648]

A good clear lake sounds like a swimming pool to me. Try casting those rigs in someone's pool; with permission of course.

[@CruzesLouisianaOutdoors]

Enjoyed the video buddy....mark me down as team ‘too similar to argue about’. Hahaha

[@artillerylife]

Yeah I just had to try and see the difference since I got a lot of comments on it

[@Mogs01gt]

Technically they are both Texas Rig'd since all Texas Rig means is to rig your creature bait weedless.

[@LimitedGunnerGM]

Free rig abuses the line less. Not banging it between the weight and the rocks.

[@joehadaway5018]

I figured the free rig would shine with finesse gear and light tackle. Use a floating bait its kinda like a dropshot that's easier to pitch into tight areas

[@PastorPeewee20]

Definitely different and better

[@chnchris]

The best way to find out the difference is to ask Mr. Bass

[@simplyengineering2350]

The fish's opinion is the only one that matters imo ^_^

[@The_Bass_Stunters]

Well if your using a taller “free rig” style tungsten sinker like what the Japanese anglers use in you guessed it, Japan. The taller sinker will allow your bait to slightly remain off the bottom by how ever tall your weight is. That’s the real difference IMO! Like the Gika Rig and or Tokyo Rig.

[@derekapage1971]

That's what I needed see! Thank you!

[@artyomdaniloff]

Useful and interesting information.

[@nathanreeves5735]

In a foot of water not much difference but 20 feet , huge difference

[@mauricemiller1128]

To give a real test this needs to be done in a pool were you can do a long cast and then see how they react the short tank just show how they act in like a straight drop below the boat and not a true cast.

[@MrRourk]

Try the Free Rig with Wacky Hooks and lures hooked wacky style.

[@artillerylife]

I will thank you for the advice

[@rhodesianhunter9360]

If you river fish and use the pencil style free rig weights, you'll see what the difference is. The free rig is almost snagless. Much more so than a Texas rig. Plus when u do snag the free rig will come off almost every time.

[@Nedhester]

I am from Louisiana also, where you fish finesse style fishing in Louisiana? You know we're pretty much power fisherman. I looking to gradually start finesse alot

[@artillerylife]

Yes exactly. I love to power fish. I’ve been doing more finesse in the mid days of summer when it’s hot and the bite is slow

[@Nedhester]

@@artillerylife what part of the state are you from?

[@artillerylife]

Brandon Scott Southwest

[@cabinmusikslaps]

I've free rigged so many times because I didn't plug my bullet weight lol. Got mad bites either way.

[@s.v.gadder1443]

The difference on the free rig vs tx isnt that big, if you're pulling lures into 20ish ft of water yes they pendulum but that free rig will too..... The problem is available slack line for the weight to drop straight down. What ends up happening is part of that downward motion is lost and the rig then pulls back towards the pole.... I use a loose type texas rig all the time both are gonna act the same but the free rig may move just a bit more under water as it doesn't have to drag line through the sinker...

[@BRandomFishing]

Awesome new subscriber here! I think I’ll stick with the more weed less design of the Texas rig.

[@delwigzieful]

Great video dude i think when you fish the free rig in deeper water It falls more natural i certainly swear by the free rig ALIEN

[@artillerylife]

Thank you!!! I agree

[@groomingtable]

Looks the same! Thanks.

[@steveprall3478]

Isn't an un pegged Texas Rig called a Carolina rig and when you Peg the weight to the hook it's called a Texas Rig. am I wrong?

[@artillerylife]

No, the Carolina rig weight is stopped before reaching the bait. This allows the bait to float around at the bottom. Similar concept but a different. Hope this helps!!!

[@steveprall3478]

I was down in the garage thinking about my reply and you're right the Carolina rig is stopped by a swivel and in my opinion that free rig and a Texas Rig or pretty much the same thing

[@simplyengineering2350]

The Texas rig has nothing to do with the weight. It has to do with how you rig the soft plastic on the hook. Both Rigs in the video would be considered Texas Rigs. The Carolina rig is when there is a peg/swivel inches away from the hook to keep the weight from going all the way down to the hook/soft plastic.

[@sudinfishin]

Good job man.

[@ericstaffordfishing7403]

You throw a free rig with slack line. A Texas rig has more of a curved fall a free rig thrown on slack line will fall straight down and bait slowly falls down behind. Best for structure fish when they are in tight on the brush, so it gets that bait right in on more fish you’ll be surprised how many fish don’t see a Texas rig.

[@rickbowen2629]

Using braid for the bullet weight isn't an identical test. Not as slick as floro or mono.

[@5660foster]

That neighborhood looks familiar lol. You’re south Louisiana? Lol

[@artillerylife]

Yup

[@5660foster]

@@artillerylife I knew that area looked familiar lol good video buddy

[@rcandy4u]

Free rig is similar to the fish finder rig

[@artillerylife]

😂😂 true

[@fishzilla6934]

Good job buddy. New sub

[@jimlrffishing4071]

Definitely helpful!!New sub!

[@themajik1]

Considering you were testing in a small fish tank and "jigging" straight up and down, this demo did not answer anything about the differences. A person will have to perform the testing in a pool or other really clear body of water to see a difference (if there is one). Which I think there is, but that isn't the point.

[@artillerylife]

Thanks for the input

[@deborahcincotta3600]

LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME TO ME NOT ENOUGH DIFFERANCE TO MAKE ME CHANGE

[@Crappie_Day]

What you mean YOU people

[@simplyengineering2350]

@Eddie Chaves WHAT DO YOU MEEAAN YOU PEOPLE?

[@dkoriss1]

I thinks that the texas rig "hurts" sagnifincantly less your braid or line, because there is a soft tube inside the bullet weight that protects your line. Additionally the line enters through the center of the weight rather the weight hunging on it. creating more friction. To my opinion this is the only difference.

[@mrBDeye]

Great video. You proved there is no difference.

[@jacobwalton669]

It's the same thing just a different weight 🤦‍♂️

[@simplyengineering2350]

They are. They just don't know that the weight isn't what makes it a texas rig. Both baits are texas rigged on the hook.

[@Hawk-iy2iz]

Your testing was only vertical

[@artillerylife]

Yeah, I wish I had a pool to make the test better

[@simplyengineering2350]

The Texas Rig is how you rig your plastic and hook. Nothing to do with weight.

[@CHAVOFRATE]

Free rig ftw

[@មាសហេង]

Can you do j rig

[@moc1969]

they fall different

[@simplyengineering2350]

Not enough difference to consider them different. :\

[@robertwhite1469]

Test in swimming pool with a cast

[@simplyengineering2350]

There are plenty of videos testing this in a pool. There is no difference. It will pendulum if you reel in the slack as it falls, this happens with both. The bullet style may need to be slightly larger to have same sliding effect due to friction tho.

[@Twangtown7]

Doing this test in a foot of water really isn't gonna show anything.

[@artillerylife]

Very true

[@grandwonder5858]

I would also argue that because he is testing both rigs by standing directly on top of both of them, both rigs would look similar because it lacks angles. Imagine if he casts both rigs from the shore to a swimming pool about 30 feet away I would imagine you would notice the Texas rig being pulled towards the angler more than what it does on the tank tests since he would no longer stand directly over the baits as they fall. Instead, because of the angle in which the bait is forced to fall from the fisherman holding the rod you would probably see the baits starting to pull towards the fisherman as it falls and that would definitely be more likely to happen with the Texas rig because in the Texas rig the line doesn’t pull away as quickly and easily from the bullet weight as it does with the teardrop sinker since with the teardrop sinker the line only has to go through a skinny wire that is attached to the sinker. With the bullet weight the line has to go through the entire length of the weight and that creates more tension areas for the line to rub against the weight, which would cause the the bait to fall towards the angler as it falls since it would also take more time for the line to go through the bullet weight, therefore, giving the bait more time to pull towards the angler. So, this test doesn’t prove anything in my opinion.

[@adwhite804]

@@grandwonder5858 good points...I can attest they do not run the same...I have run both the last week or so....free rig is certainly different.. especially in current

[@svanginault]

​@@grandwonder5858 Tension area.. Great explanation. Never thought about it like that. I've always got a texas rig on one of my poles. I'm gonna have to switch it up and try this free rig

[@artillerylife]

I wish I had a pool to do that. Would be a much better test for sure!

[@seansmith5082]

I think both techniques would look a lot better without a pound of lead on em. Way too heavy bruh.

[@delwigzieful]

The free rig is far superior than the texas rig my opinion,para

[@simplyengineering2350]

But they're both Texas rigged in the video. The weight isn't what makes it a Texas rig. But it's how the soft plastic is on the hook.

[@felixliao5801]

Your test is flawed. The tank is too shallow to imitate real fishing conditions. The angle of your line in the tank also doesn't reflect how real fishing conditions are. In reality an unpegged Texas rig will glide at an angle a moderate speed and then slowly drift by itself because the bullet weight will ride along the line when sinking. If we take into consideration the depth of the water, the deeper the body of water, the more the bait will glide further away from where the lure entered the water. Free rig however, (if you let out a bunch of line right after your cast) the weight will sink directly under where the rig entered the water and the bait will slowly flutter behind the weight. For the Texas rig, the bait will end up a significant distance away from where the rig entered the water. So, I think free rigs are better to target certain location (especially in deeper water) since the bait will land exactly where you cast if given slack line for the weight to sink.

[@felixliao5801]

and of course the free rig allows the bait to fall slowly and in between hops.

[@MillennialPatriot]

not deep enough

[@coelsteel9936]

Your getting a lot of comments..... only see 44 here. Lol

[@artillerylife]

It’s a lot for a little channel like this but thanks for the love! God bless

[@cerebraltackle]

So many things done wrong here... But OK. I'll get around to correcting to. In short - no, just no. Wrong weight, wrong bait, can't tell in an aquarium! It's directly related to the depth fished. It's simple physics. I was planning on doing an in depth video to explain it....I guess now, I'll actually have to.

[@simplyengineering2350]

Why haven't you uploaded it yet?

[@larryjistel3018]

Texas rig looks better...

[@빡라연]

🇰🇷Korean

[@FishingFanatik]

13B1P Ft. Bragg huaaaahh

[@dragonli1863]

This is a kid's test. 1) You only vertical presentation; 2) Too shorter distance; Do a test, first, you should have a standard, a test way, and proper evaluation way; you should have physics knowledge, and you have to be a finesse angler. Anyhow ,you make me to think......

[@artillerylife]

Thank you!!!!

[@Freeduu]

Jesus is King =) God bless & greetings from swiss fisherman ;D

[@Mwingreen]

Texas Rig fo the win

[@simplyengineering2350]

Cus they're both Texas rigged.