What Does the Free Rig REALLY Do Underwater? - See 3 Different Lures

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

My new Bass Behavior Bundle is active. You can join here or find out more by following this link: www.steverogersoutdoors.com/bass-behavior-bundle-info Thank you! Have a blessed day!

[@grandwonder5858]

Why don’t you show us the side by side comparisons between the traditional weight and free weight for the lures with appendixes? I thought this is what this video is all about.

[@TheFishinMortician]

I find one of the better uses for the free rig is with floating plastics like Z-man stuff. I had one break me off on the third cast trying a free rig with a Z-man RaZor Shad. You can release line tension and let if float then give some light tugs like its a bait fish feeding off the bottom.

[@Radican1]

I came here to comment and ask about this. I haven’t used the free rig but I fish a lot of Z-man baits and I was curious about this. I was hoping one of his 3 baits would be some type of floating plastic.

[@TheFishinMortician]

@@Radican1 I cant remember who but I saw a video on it with the razor Shad and it worked. Test it in the shallows to get an idea how much time to give so it doesn't rise to far, but they do fall slower and bounce more on the bottom from my tests!

[@CatchReleaseRepeat]

Zman craws on the free rig are killer! 👍

[@LimitedGunnerGM]

Zman stick worms wacky rigged is great!

[@johne4220]

@@Radican1 I've had great luck on the free rig using the Palmetto Bugz.

[@LowBrowFishing]

This has to be the absolute best video I've seen yet on KZbin about the free rig. As someone who uses stickbaits quite often, I never really felt like there was much difference between an unpegged bullet weight and a free rig, as far as soft plastic worms go. But seeing this video makes me realize that's not where a free rig is going to shine. I can't wait to try it with a craw or creature bait!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I need to use the flat lures to on it sometime and test those out for sure.

[@brkyq]

Last summer I had deep bass at 27 feet. I was getting a few bites on a drop shot. Then thought why not free rig a whacky stick bait. The rig allowed fast fall to within 3 feet of the bottom and then the slow fall of the stick. Works great and precise.

[@allenfowler1794]

I can't fish a dropshot worth a toot but love a wacky!! Gonna give this a try for the deep ones. Thanks for the idea!!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@AndrewGarnerAdventures]

Why this channel isn’t over 1M subs 😢

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! Some day I hope.

[@moncorp1]

He's steadily growing though. I watch his subscribe #'s and they've moved up quite a bit in the past year or so.

[@Woefman911]

You and me both, no matter how good you think you are, Steve teaches you something, and his delivery, videography, and narrations are stellar.

[@kurtrindgen4708]

Saturated market.

[@AndrewGarnerAdventures]

@@kurtrindgen4708 I agree. Can you click on my channel and subscribe please

[@ikazukison2]

the free rig is the exact same thing as using an egg-sinker or any sort of slip-sinker if you really want your plastic bait to be "suspended above the bottom" instead of "right on the bottom", you can just use a bobber-stop to give some distance between the egg-sinker and your plastic bait (exactly like the Carolina Rig)

[@JTelly-e5x]

Watching this, it confirms that I’ll keep using my bulletweight rig. I use braided line, run it through a bulletweight 3 or 4 times, leave 1 to 3 feet of line to attach a fluke to. Slow fall and very erratic side to side motion

[@MichaelBurke-f2p]

Been bass fishing 35+ years best Lures crankbait & any soft bait best worm rig for me has been the wacky floating & non floating with floating I use a split shot kinda like a Carolina rig 6"-12" works well. I also will use finish nails ass weight in non floating works for me I can adjust weight easily.

[@somewhereinsd362]

Definitely a great presentation on pressured lakes... the bellows shad or deps bull shad works the best because of the wide profile... it really glides around... my experience at least 😊

[@darrellgrant7615]

I was wondering if he was going to try one of those.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I have heard a lot of good things about the bellows shad.

[@Nate_Cross]

It would be cool to see a floating elaztech soft plastic used on the free rig. I've tinkered with it a litle, but haven't really seen that the free rig works all that much better than a texas rig.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I will have to try the Elaztech. Thanks for suggesting that.

[@MrJohnB-qs6dp]

Awesome video!! Have never seen any other video explaining what bait to use or not to use. Thanks for sharing that information and will stay away from the slimmer baits & go bulky!!!😀Stay Safe & God Bless!!!! 🤠👍

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

It was a fun one to investigate! Have a blessed day!

[@xiongthao7888]

Worthy of a sub. Straight to the point, clear demonstrations.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@majorwayne9866]

If you are new to this technique, remember to use a side sweep style hook set like you would for Carolina Rig. If the lure & weight have separated, you get a bite & set the hook straight up, you will be lifting the weight first, it will slide to the lure before you ever move the actual hook. The sliding weight might even scare or hit the fish causing it to spit the lure before the hook can set

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you for sharing this!

[@SBD36]

One thing that's not talked about much with the free rig is that you should provide slack line to maximize lure/weight separation. For casting, lift your rod tip high as the lure approaches the end of the cast, and then drop down your rod upon entry and leave your reel open and/or strip line. Once it's on the bottom you lift and immediately drop the tip quickly in one motion. A bobber stop helps too as the sinker can catch on the knot.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

This is excellent stuff! Thanks for sharing this.

[@cnone3785]

Yep I'm use to the striping line & rod tip up at end of cast. But it norm involves a lot of cussing .. never thought it would actuly be of use ...🦤🪹

[@davidkimbler4744]

Great tip about the bobber stop! Thanks and Good Luck

[@patrickcotter945]

So a modified Carolina Rig? 😁

[@joestrummer9507]

Say you're in 10' of water - you cast and the rig hits the water. The slack lets the weight sink to the bottom very fast and as the bait falls "naturally", slack is created between the bait and the weight. How can you detect bites by feel or line movement? You're not in contact with your bait and that's a problem. A fish has to fully take the bait AND swim up or horizontally with it to take up the slack and then you feel the bite or see your line move. That's a lot of time for the fish to spit out the bait. Do you have to keep taking up slack slowly as the bait falls? Try to feel the bait as it's falling? Determine the fall rate beforehand? Guess? This is why jigs, t-rigs, drop shots and just about any other baits or soft plastic rigs are effective. Tightlining - rod tip down, keep line tight (varying degrees), you're in complete control of your bait; Slacklining - rod tip up, slight bow in your line from rod tip to water entry point, bite detected tip down reel up slack set hook. Bite Detection is fishing 101 day 1, along with covering more water and letting the fish tell you what they want and how they want it.

[@bxcloud104]

Thank you for the video Steve. I requested this a few months ago. I've done my own experiments getting the free weightless fall. I've fished with a longer leader Dropshot/PowerShot. The weight will always hit the bottom first and it's dragging the bait down with it. Once it hits the bottom the longer leader dectates the free fall length on slack line. At bottom, I can snap the rod to get the same effect. A Wacky rig with a slow fall worm works great.

[@bxcloud104]

For the Free Rig experiments, since it's easier to cast without a long leader. I might add a skirt plus run ribbed baits like a Bellows Gill or DBomb to slow it down more.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Excellent! Thank you. That would work really well.

[@joewinkler2168]

Interesting, very interesting. Thanks for sharing Steve

[@kevinbeaudean704]

Thanx Steve. When you use Tungsten worm weights with inserts you get a pretty good separation of bait and weight.

[@jorgetorresrodrigify]

how´s that build ? ...aprecciate your help !

[@bradr.7249]

Great underwater footage Steve. I have just started delving into the free rig. I tried a 6th sense panorama. It looked like a dying baitfish and had a slow glide to it. The Bellows shad and the DoLive craw baits also look good as well. Thanks for another great video.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I will have to give those a try. Thank you!

[@skidemn]

The best free rig baits I’ve found are flatter gliding baits. The Deps Bullflat is just awesome, as is the OSP Dolive Beaver.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I have heard great things about both of those. I will have to try them. Thank you!

[@jesslanders1700]

Love the videos. So, apparently, I have been using the free rig for a few years now. With one exception... to add a free'er bottom hit, I tie a tiny a swivel 4-6" up from the hook, using the swivel as a stop. A large bobber-stop can be used as well. Much softer landings. I also paint some red or chartreuse with a simple pattern mimicking a chase. You know what follows...If I don't use a small crankbait snap I'll tie a tiny loop knot.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Very nice. Thank you for sharing this.

[@AlIsUpOutdoors]

This is pretty much exactly what I expected to see with the underwater footage.

[@alexm1841]

😂 I was doing this back in 1995 when I didn’t own any bullet weights. Guys at the lake used to laugh at me for it and now I hear pros using it lol

[@user-gj1uh3cm2z]

sounds like you should be a pro

[@cnone3785]

They were laughing on the out side & trying it out when no1 was looking. I've done plenty of things when didn't have rite tackle like putting little pebbles in my worm or riding a stick on as a float . & got to Learn alot a out what knots were crap . Snap off with no effort or snap stick in half. But once figured out how 2 attach it I said I'd never buy a bobber again. "Don't use um hardly ever so keeps um out my box & from melting my plastic worms into um "

[@basstobasscookingbrentbabi5411]

This was great Steve🙌🏼🎣👍🏻- I definitely will be throwing a kvd shad like this!

[@johnblythe6284]

Thank you for this video, it is very good .thank you

[@keep10fingersoff]

great information!! Much appreciated.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@CastBlastCamp]

Earned a sub, great info!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@vincentlivoti4184]

Like some other commenters have said Steve, the Z-Man or floating type plastics work best. I would have liked to see you try a tube. I think that would have been something that would have a little bit more erratic action on the fall.

[@darrellgrant7615]

Hey how about a video like this with Core Tackle’s Hover rig and Ozark rig ? I’m sure you’re already planning on these types of videos for the Tokyo, Jika rig, etc. These are great to watch ! Such great and actually informative content instead of the usual commercial in disguise fishing videos that have been the norm for decades.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I actually have a bunch of Core Tackle's Hover rigs on my counter right now. I will be working on that one very soon.

[@michaelsanchez3659]

I've never tried the free rig, but I wonder how a floating worm would act compared to the one you tested that's loaded with salt

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I definitely need to do a test with a floater.

[@akaJb86]

네꼬리그 처럼 머리는 땅을 찍고 꼬리는 치켜세우는 모습입니다

[@tilfliegel]

I also use a C-Rig Version of the free rig. One of the big advantages in my eyes is, that the line gets less contact with sharp stones or shells on the bottom. Also it's a bit more sensitive when fish bite. For my lake i'm pretty much away from bullet weights and have to retie a lot less since.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@johnmundorff4752]

That was an awesome video on how different lure work underwater. Can you do this video with different type lures like a lizard and different lures with appendages. Seems like those type of bait work better on the free rig. Thanks again for all the videos you do.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Yes, I definitely need to do a part 2 to this one with a variety of other lures like the Bellows Shad, the OSP, and some more. Thank you for watching!

[@CDSilverado]

I was about to give up on the Free Rig. But your common sense approach got me thinking that I needed this. THANKS!

[@DaviddoesStuff]

This was good as leftovers also. 👍👍

[@majorwayne9866]

I use this technique on bedding fish with a floating lizard, it really appears that the lizard is trying to eat the eggs. Bass Pro has Bobber Stops, they come in a pack with black, red & yellow tiny rubber football shaped stops that i put directly above the knot. Helps protect your knot from the weight & the yellow resemble fish eggs so it looks like the lizard has an egg in its mouth. Trigger anger strikes.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing this.

[@gregk9387]

No BS, no guessing, thanks for your hard work, that's very useful information for us amateur anglers. Subscribe your channel right away

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for the sub!

[@jimb1283]

I have been trying this technique more this year. Weight seems to be the key for better separation. Using a weight just a little more than you usually would seems to help with the separation of all the bait styles. If you normally throw a 1/4 oz, go to 3/8 or 1/2. for example.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is excellent advice. Thank you!

[@Gstar5150]

What if you tied the weight on and strung the hook thru the line 🤔

[@stevencaldwell838]

Once again, great video Steve! I think I’ll just stay with a traditional Texas rig for my worms… just not enough different for me to go out and buy weights and learn a new technique… that said, I may consider trying a free rig on a Baby Brushhog … jury’s still out 🤔🎣

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Let me know how it goes if you try it. I'd be interested to see what you think,

[@stevencaldwell838]

@@SteveRogersOutdoors will do… going fishing next Wednesday ( without my 10 year old daughter ) and I’m definitely planning on having a Tex rig tied on…. ( lipless, jerkbait, swimbait & blade bait ) Maybe I’ll throw a brush hog free rig🎣👍

[@HopsandQuill]

Great content, Thank you for showing the body input movements and how they affect lure video, that was life changing I had been doing it wrong so many years. I recent switched to fly fishing, and have my spinning reel handy on windy days. Wondering if you may have an opportunity to show streamers under water ?

[@michaelgoode7837]

I also use it for dragging big ten inch worms on the bottom. If you're keeping contact with the bottom. It will cause a little more kick up than a bullet wait

[@fishinwithforsythe]

Caught my personal best river bass on a free rig speed craw in January. 7lbs 9 oz

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is a huge fish! Thanks for sharing this.

[@markbowers9579]

I tried a few years ago got the same thing you got. I didn’t see it being much different than just a Texas rig. Your weight definitely does not slide up the line.

[@FishOn1]

Would like to see the craw comparing FR vs TR.

[@twiggsherman3641]

I like floating baits with my free rig. The only time i'll use Z-Man stick baits. I like the hula stick one. Toss it out, then give it a bunch of slack and it'll float back up through the water column slowly.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you for adding this!

[@paddleandhook]

Great analysis sir. Thanks!

[@remcovanvliet3018]

If you want the lure to move more freely, you could just put a bobber stop and a plastic bead about a foot, foot n a half above the hook, so the weight doesn't slide down all the way to the bait.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I really thought about doing that. I will need to do another testing video with a bunch of the ideas/topics folks have shared here. Thank you!

[@frankiedoor515]

Great video love your channel. I’m gonna book a trip in November. How’s the river in Mojave at that time and can I use my small inflatable on the edge of the river up and down without a problem if you could get back at appreciate it.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I haven’t ever been to that river. Hopefully someone here has and can help you out. Good luck on your trip!

[@familiagonzalez0]

Very informative thank you for sharing.

[@christiancognigni6234]

Great demonstration and presentation! I learned something here with regards to the bait profile and the drop... Wonder the difference between salted, sinking soft plastic and buoyant soft plastic... might be able to extend separation by using a fat Elaztech bait or something with extreme water resistance... Berkley Gilly maybe or one of those baits with the skirting material strewn through. I laugh at my buddy when he cuts off his Texas rig and tells me, "Maybe they want the Free Rig." Yeah, maybe buddy... you might be onto something!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

There are definitely a lot more baits to test out. Those flat, wide baits are perfect for this for sure.

[@shannonkirby9295]

Hey, Steve, it is great to see u and I pray u are well. My mother passed Sunday morning. Great video, Steve, be safe

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

We have been thinking a lot about you and praying for your family and will continue to do so.

[@Rooster0529]

🙏🏻

[@shannonkirby9295]

@@Rooster0529 thank u so much

[@shannonkirby9295]

@@SteveRogersOutdoors thank u, Steve

[@bass4996]

Sorry to hear of your loss,Mother's are special and missed every day

[@fishingwithhouse]

Something else I'll try this year. That's for the info !!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Good luck!

[@mikeherpel6308]

With a Carolina rig, the weight is attached at a distance of your choice, and the lure floats freely above the bottom and no slack line is needed to float it and it is not impeded by the line moving thru the line tie

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

A Carolina rig is hard to beat. Just love using one.

[@willperryman4559]

This is a great demo of the free rig underwater, and I would expect a Z Craw or a beaver style would be money,especially if you use floating plastics like ZMAN or Nikko brands or other elastomer material. You’ve definitely helped and given me some great ideas 👍🍀🎣🍀

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you for watching!

[@funkymojo111]

My limited understanding on this subject is as follows: The free rig is best used on a LIGHT (1/6th-1/8th) cylindrical weight with a fixed eyelet. It has less fall resistance moving through the water and less metal trying to slide over the nylon line. It also snags less moving through the rocks. The better baits for fall resistance are curl tails, boot tails, creature baits with the flapping appendages, as shown, and floating elastomer baits. You can also add a blade and swivel attached via a twist lock to baits like a less dense stickbait to slow the fall and add flash.

[@richwhitaker4301]

You should have tried a plastic swimbait and beaver style bait. I have done well with swimbaits. I suspect a beaver style would have a glide.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I really wanted to try that Bellows shad but didn't have any with me. Everything I've heard that one does really well on the glide.

[@SMC4117]

Hey Steve, another great video! I’m a bit late to the dance with the free rig. That said, now that I’m privy, what do you think about using Elaztech baits such as a Zman turbo craw and alike? Too much float or good choice. I always respect your opinion. Thanks 🙏🏻

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Those would be some good choices!

[@maxcole3930]

Definitely a good comparison. I actually been wondering what real differences between the 2 were. Obviously with a creature bait or something with more resistance the free rig will let the bait float slowly. I'm curious what difference would be with a creat bait as well? Would the texas rig also act similar? Hmmm?

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I need to do some more investigating for sure.

[@rickvann3489]

I use a bobber stop 6-8 inches above the hook with all baits, for free rig applications.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Those are such handy little things to use.

[@georgetollefsen994]

Great video Steve !

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@robertgonzalez381]

Steve, good video on the Free Rig…. BUT…. The I think the 1:08 Free Rig is intended to replicate a natural bait. So, why not compare the jerkbait / fluke with a floating fluke like the Strike King Z Too or Baby Z Too. The larger 5” Z too floats well with a wacky style hook. A Little slack in the line will allow the fluke to start rising slowly. Then, lite pops. “Dare to Compare” !! Rob G

[@davidewing6394]

Always on the money Steve! God Bless Brother.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! Have a blessed day.

[@BSFISHING-b4w]

I fish it a lot but with a granda bass air tail worm should try it

[@JimHickeyFishing]

Have to wonder if you rig a soft stickbait or straight tail worm wacky rather that t-rig style, how would that compare to the skirtless jighead and senko you demo in a more recent video

[@eenrique4053]

Is this rug being used with a spinning or baitcaster?

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Great question. I was using a baitcaster, but lots of anglers use spinning gear with it.

[@bryanhayes9728]

Good video, thanks for the comparison! Question: what advantage would this provide over a Carolina rig, which creates separation to free float down at the bottom? thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks! That is a great question. I definitely feel the C rig is much better at covering water and investigating a larger area. I see myself using the Free Rig for more "spot" specific applications if that make sense. Working around a specific target.

[@bryanhayes9728]

@@SteveRogersOutdoors that makes sense - thanks! I just found your channel, subscribed, and appreciate the info you pack into each video - can’t wait for more to come!!!

[@RickWebb-nn6hy]

As mentioned elastec seems to work better for this I think a regular straight tail worm would require a bobber stop and bead then the weight all slid up the line a foot or so to get a worm to slow fall that distance to the bottom

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I think that would be a great idea.

[@RickWebb-nn6hy]

I would like to add , experiment with lighter weights.The one you were using looked and acted on the heavy side.

[@RonnieWells-ci8ph]

Thanks for sharing

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@ronaldworthington5426]

I would like to see that underwater footage with a wacky rigged worm and possibly a wacky rigged Ned worm on a free rig. That would be interesting and could use it on a baitcaster.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That would be. Thanks!

[@mattthomen1608]

Dolive beaver osp. It has a wacky action on a creature bait,and the keitech noisy flapper, i think? Is the other bait that i freerig.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I will have to try that one. Thanks!

[@mattnash5159]

Noisy flapper or crazy flapper?

[@fluppi123]

What I do to have a free fall with every plastic, I fix the lead about 12 inches from the lure so that the lead can't move. You will always have a free fall of around 12 inches.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@fluppi123]

​@@SteveRogersOutdoorsYou're welcome 😊

[@lantose]

Great video!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@JoeBobLink]

Great for working it under rocks where the big ones are

[@johndynneson662]

I’ve. Seen adding a skirt. To the craw. Makes it fall a lot slower and naturally.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is a great idea!

[@Shaqoneil81-ci7dr]

How is this any different than a sliding bullet weight?

[@WadeOntheLure]

It's not when you use the wrong baits lol.

[@NeilGraham.I.M.F]

Definitely need more important dates to get the true action out of it I would think

[@Woefman911]

I re watched this, i also went out purchased those hand grenade weights in your other video. All this after a year ago purchased from hookup tackle in Az the what i now call japanese free rig. 2 types. 1. You use special japanese hooks and tiny nail weights. Or 2. Special japanese hooks and really tiny free rig weights so to me jury still out on free rig, but not giving up. I so far also beleive this shines more when fishing 20ft plus. Also will add. My belief better be good at line watching and or super sensitive rod because more bass get gut hooked than i like to see

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That line watching is super important for sure. I get so mad at myself when I don't sense a bite as soon as I should.

[@nachopretzel3533]

I've never thrown the free rig yet, but creature baits seem to be the best, lizards, hogs, and doliv beaver.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Agree

[@TimEdwards-sx2pq]

I used to fish with a plastic slider on the line I had a clip for your weight on that plastic slider and it would slide above your bait live bait that is the 2 Oz weight would hold your bait fish down on the bottom of a deep hole you set your drag to where the bait fish wouldn't strip all your line off until that big old striper got a hold of it just took off that's when the fun started just open your bail long enough to tighten your drag strip that Bell closed and when your came tight you just rare back set the hook and hang on

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@Southcherokeehunt_fish]

Could you repeat this vid with a demo of floating lures? Maybe using lizards, hellgrammites, or a tube? The underwater view really helps

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I can sure add that to my content list. Great suggestions. Thank you!

[@PuddleWalkersOutdoors]

I think the slight difference does matter. If color its self can make a difference I would also say subtle changes makes a difference.

[@michaelmiller8584]

Wouldn’t a slip sinker react the same way as the free weight?

[@williamradleyjr2577]

What happens with a floating worm or can more lack in the line to gain more separation?

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I should try that with a floating worm. The worm I used is more buoyant than a lot of worms, but it isn't a traditional floater. Thanks for this!

[@eduffy4937]

Been using this since ive been like 6. So about 35years.who knew, back then raiding my dads tackle box for whatever i could piece together i was creating a craze Lol

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That's awesome. Thanks for sharing this!

[@AnthonyQueen-d1o]

I have had some luck with brushhogs

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is a great lure

[@pdfahie]

I would love to see a Zman floating senko (zinkerz, bang stickz) on free rig

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Yes! I need to do a vid with those and then also some lures like the Bellows Shad. Thank you!

[@devinshepard9832]

Seems like it would be much more prone to snag for very small difference in action, probably better off with Carolina rig or drop shot with pressured situation

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

It reminds me a lot of a Carolina rig. I am looking forward to doing a bunch of different investigating with it this season around different types of structure/cover as I travel this year. It is definitely hard to top the C rig and a drop shot!

[@호루랭이]

Oh wow. I am surprised that a lot of people are interested in and have skills on using free rig. I'm a bass angler in korea, and i often use free rig but also texas rig and carolinas too. The difference between free rig and other bottom lures is also a interesting topic in korea too. One advantage of free rig is it can also become a drop shot/down shot rig using some additional snaps or swivels. Tying a line we want between snap/swivels and weight, place it between the hook. Bullet shaped one can also be made to drop shots with additional tackles, but free rig only need snaps/swivels. Also, with choosing a shape of free rig weight made a small difference. If we choose round ones it really sticks to the bottom, while using a longer/slim shaped ones jumps from the bottom more easily. I'm really surprised that free rigs are becoming popular in homelands of largemouth bass. As we also get brand new lures and techniques form America too, I hope there can be a peace and fish by sharing tips and techniques. Have a nice day sir!

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

Thanks and thank you for sharing all this! It is a very interesting rig and has really gotten a huge following here.

[@MrMadhouse70]

maybe a split shot rig would be better for a worm.

[@TimEdwards-sx2pq]

Steve I hope you're listening what happens to a good size Bass that involves a big old plastic lure let's say a caterpillar grub does the fish eventually puke it back out crap it out or does it die with that plastic lure in its gut

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That is an excellent question. I have actually caught bass that were passing a hook. Helped the fish out and they swam off great. But I can't ever remember seeing one that was passing a plastic. My gut makes me think they would spit it out, but I have no proof of that one way or the other.

[@TimEdwards-sx2pq]

Thank you Steve

[@bigjim435]

Same thing as a texas rig and not pegging the sinker

[@ROGERSTAAB]

i caught a 24 inch walleye on my first cast with one of these

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That's a great fish!

[@dirtier2]

How is the free rig any different than using an unpegged bullet weight? 🤔

[@tlbhemi7173]

How can I get one of those Lew’s Jackets

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

The last I checked they were on their website. I really like it. Wear it all winter as my heavy jacket with a sweatshirt under it. I believe it is listed under the apparel tab.

[@kirkallen1246]

Man I have not had any luck with this method. Guess I'll have to switch to craw instead of worms.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

OSP makes a really flat soft plastic called the DoLive. It was designed for this method and floats really well.

[@kirkallen1246]

I'll give them a try.@@SteveRogersOutdoors

[@johnkent9019]

I'll stick with a Carolina rig to get that "free floating" action.

[@bcp5296d]

This is just a weighted texas rig. The drop shot weight may make a tiny bit of difference I guess.

[@geostrong3606]

Whst size hook to use thk

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I use either a 2/0 or 3/0 a lot.

[@gdoutdoors9386]

I do this when I run out of bullet weights didn't know it was a thing now lol

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

You were on to something!

[@davidkavetsky2377]

7 inch weightless Yamamoto...Thats my go too

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

I will try that. Thanks!

[@goodkarmasportfishing5053]

AKA the old school knocker

[@gregc2621]

What color is that filler worm in the thumbnail? Its not fire crawler or red bug.

[@SteveRogersOutdoors]

That one was actually fire crawler. In the thumbnail I had to try and adjust it a little bit. When I took the photo it was dark and not very vibrant.

[@gregc2621]

@@SteveRogersOutdoors oh, gotcha 👍 I'd take a color like the thumbnail, call it red crawler. A red bug with that core. Yessir