04 Lures / Soft Plastics & Rigs / Free Rig
21 · Free Rig
Free Rig
フリーリグ
A teardrop (or stick) weight with a line hole threads directly onto the main line and slides freely, with the hook and soft plastic tied at the end. The weight sinks to the bottom fast, and the plastic follows on its own, slowly drifting down with a very natural fall.
Typical depth
0.5–8+m
Typical weight
Weight 5–21 g
Beginner-friendly
●●●●●
Snag resistance
●●●●●
Depth zone
Bottom
AMotion
Action Demo
FIG.1Free Rig · Lift & FallLift ↑ · fall ↓ · reel slack
BHow it works
How It Works
- There's no fixed distance between weight and hook: the weight leads on the fall, and the plastic slowly “slides” down the line after it.
- Lifting the rod raises the plastic, and when you let off it falls on its own again, giving repeated falls that trigger strikes.
- Compared with a Texas rig, the plastic is separated from the weight and moves more freely; compared with a Carolina rig, it's simpler and better for hopping.
CRetrieve
Techniques
- Lift the rod (about 30–50 cm) to raise the plastic → let it drift down → reel up slack, and repeat.
- Drag it along the bottom and pause at cover.
DWhen & Where
When & Where
● Good for
- Bottom, in open water or moderate cover
- When fish respond to slowly falling baits
- Sand or mud bottoms, gravel bottoms, weed edges
○ Not ideal for
- Thick weeds (switch to a pegged Texas rig)
ETackle
Recommended Tackle
FTarget & Tips
Target Species & Tips
- An offset hook with the point buried makes it fairly snag resistant.
- Choose plastics that move on the fall (curly tails, craws, creature baits with legs).