Carolina Rigging for Bull Shoals Bass Bill Cooper for www.lurenet.com The Carolina rig has been around for a long time and been responsible for the undoing of untold numbers of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Mike Welch, of Theodosia Marina Resort on Bull Shoals Lake in southern Missouri, believes that the Carolina rig is as effective as ever. The Carolina rig is similar to the popular Texas rig with the bait rigged weedless, but the weight is separated from the lure with a leader and barrel swivel. “I use a 3/4-ounce egg weight and a red plastic bead between the weight and the swivel,” Welch said. “The bead helps protect the knot at the swivel, plus makes noise as you move the bait across the bottom.” The Carolina rig is Welch’s favorite way to fish for big bass. “It is my favorite bait to use all year round for big bass,” he said. “It’s good in all seasons and weather conditions, but the Carolina rig really gets hot in June. A bass’s metabolism is in full swing, and they are hungry and will eat a big plastic bait being crawled across the bottom of the lake.” Welch likes to rig his Carolina rig with a 30-inch leader. “Some guys go with leaders as short as a foot, or 36-inches, or longer,” Welch said. “The 30-inch leader works well for me. You are going to get hung up a lot on the bottom of Bull Shoals. It’s full of rocks of all sizes and you can’t help but get stuck. I often break off only a few inches of the leader. The 30-inch leader allows me to quickly re-tie and get back to fishing.” Welch says the key to catching big bass on Bull Shoals is knowing where they live. “I’ve fished Bull Shoals for decades,” he said. “My time on the water has taught me that there are places on the lake where I can catch good fish year after year. The structure and food sources are there.” Mike normally sets his boat up in 30-feet of water and casts to rock rubble, old road beds and other structure in slightly more shallow water. “Making contact with the bottom is essential,” he said. “You are putting a bait in the home of bass, and with the right tactics they are going to eat it.” Welch knows that bass will eat a variety of plastic baits, which primarily imitate crayfish. “Bass love crayfish,” he said. “The technique is to put your bait right where bass hang out, let it settle to the bottom, and then make a wide, slow sweeps with your rod. Go slow enough that the egg sinker will never come off of the bottom. It will, however, make noise as it strikes rock, wood and other debris. Too, it will stir up the bottom as you drag it.” Once Welch completes the sweep he allows the bait to settle back to the bottom, but only briefly. “I quickly begin another sweep of my rod,” he said. “As soon as I begin the sweep the bait begins to come off of the bottom, wiggling and moving as if it has come to life. Hungry bass have a tough time resisting the action.” Welch is a fan of YUM plastic baits, particularly the Bad Mamma in Green Pumpkin. “I also like to fish the YUM Wooly HawgCraw,” he said. “Green Pumpkin seems to be a universally good color. I do occasionally throw the Watermelon/Red Flake color as well.” Mike Welch owns Weekend Warrior Guide Service on Bull Shoals Lake, on the Missouri side. He may be reached at bassmaster921@gmail.com.