LURE 101
04 Lures / Soft Plastics & Rigs / Texas rig
16 · Texas Rig

Texas rig

テキサスリグ · Also called Texas

A sliding bullet weight + offset hook + soft plastic. The hook point is buried in the plastic, so it almost never snags weeds or wood; the standard rig for fishing thick cover.

Typical depth
0.3–6+m
Typical weight
Weight 3.5–28 g (up to 56 g for punching)
Beginner-friendly
●●●●●
Snag resistance
●●●●●
Depth zone
Bottom
AMotion

Action Demo

FIG.1Texas rig · HoppingHop · drop · pause · reel
SIDE VIEW
The dashed line traces the lure's last 4 seconds; top left shows the rod tip movement and line slack.
BHow it works

How It Works

  • Rigging order: main line → bullet weight (point toward the rod) → (optional: glass or plastic bead for click) → offset hook → soft plastic.
  • The bend of the offset (EWG) hook locks the plastic's head in place; the point comes out the back of the plastic and is then pushed back in, buried just under the surface (or resting against it, called Texposed).
  • The streamlined nose of the bullet weight slides between obstacles without getting stuck.

Main Types

TypeNotes
Sliding weightThe weight slides freely on the line, so a fish feels little resistance when it takes the bait.
PeggedA bobber stop or peg holds the weight above the hook eye, so the bait and weight push through thick weeds together.
PunchingA heavy 28–56 g weight with a punch skirt breaks through matted weeds to reach the fish below.
CRetrieve

Techniques

  1. Hopping: lift the rod to hop the weight off the bottom, then let it drop.
  2. Dragging: slowly sweep the rod sideways to drag it and feel changes in the bottom.
  3. Pitch it precisely into cover and let it fall straight down.
Related techniquesHoppingDraggingFall / Free Fall
DWhen & Where

When & Where

● Good for

  • Any cover: weeds, wood, rock piles, reeds
  • Bottom, with fish hiding in cover
  • All seasons

○ Not ideal for

  • Very clear water, very inactive fish (switch to a lighter drop shot or weightless rig)
ETackle

Recommended Tackle

Rod
MH–H, fast or extra-fast, 7'0"–7'6"
Reel
Baitcaster, high gear ratio
Line
Fluoro 12–20 lb; PE #2–5 in heavy weeds

For rod power and action see 01 Rods; for line size conversion see 03 Line.

FTarget & Tips

Target Species & Tips

Largemouth BassMandarin FishNorthern Snakehead
  • When you feel a bite, reel up slack, point the rod tip at the fish, then swing hard and decisively; the hook point has to go through the plastic before it can penetrate the fish's mouth.
  • Lighter weights fall slower and more naturally; the thicker the weeds, the heavier the weight.