“Look at that drop,” I thought to myself. The spot looked so good with so many exposed root systems and overhanging bushes. But the bottom was almost vertical – way steeper than a 12/12 roof pitch! “I wish there was a unique way to fish this… Something different than a weightless wacky that these fish haven’t seen before,” I pondered.
Good news. In a situation like this, there is – and it’s awesome! Meet the free rig.
Free Rig Fishing: What’s It All About?
A few summers back, I watched a clip of Elite Series pro, Taku Ito, dropping a rig into clear, mid-lake water. He let it fall. And sit. He waited… And just a few seconds later the rod tip twitched. With a masterful flick and a few cranks of the reel, a beauty of a 4-pounder came in over the side of the boat. Trust me, it was like slow-motion poetry!
It wasn’t aggressive or flashy. It wasn’t a gimmick – it was the free rig. Originating in South Korea, this rig was refined in Japan before making its way to the United States. And I’ll be honest, at first I was completely uninterested.
It wasn’t until a few months later, when a reader contacted me and asked if he could send his favorite free rig baits that I really started to pay attention. See, I’m always looking for ways to reduce my fishing gear, while at the same time, improve core fishing skills to catch more fish. It’s the minimalist fishing ethos. But the combination of these two events struck me: this was something I needed to try.
Boy, am I glad I did.
In the Midwest, we have all sorts of unique fishing opportunities. You’ll find that, to be successful, your technique in each location must be dramatically different. And on a recent (hot) August fishing trip, I was getting frustrated. This morning, I was faced with super-high visibility and a rocky bottom, with a few laydowns and brush piles. I was confident to start, but 90 quiet, painful minutes quickly passed. I couldn’t buy a bite. I’d had several fish follow a jerkbait but not commit to any of four different colors. My topwater? Ignored. Shallow water felt abandoned, and the steep bottom in the borrow pit dropped to the 20-foot range quickly before leveling out.
I had a feeling more active Bass would be in that cooler water, but I still needed to finesse ’em. So, I rigged up. A 1/4 ounce cylinder weight that could slide up and down my line. A 2/0 light wire EWG hook. And a green pumpkin Yamamoto Hula Grub. I went to work. Focused and quiet.
Tick. Less than 5 minutes later, the first of 10 Bass came over the side of the boat, and I knew how I was going to target offshore ledges, every depth along the points, and rock piles for the rest of the day!
This isn’t just another rig “tutorial.” This is a comprehensive breakdown of one of the most surprisingly effective rigs in Bass fishing today. It’s also one of the most misunderstood. Learn why the free rig is more than just a trend – it’s a stealth tool that will let you control the fall, coax the bite, and fish clear or pressured water like a sniper.
Why fish the free rig?
When the fish have seen it all, you have to do something different. Texas rigs? Super-effective, but they’ve been around for years. Carolina rigs? Same. Dropshots, jigs, Whopper Ploppers… The fish have seen ’em all! It is very important that you remain a flexible fisherman if you want to catch the most Bass. Yes, showing the fish something different is critically important.
And the free rig is different.
Does it replace all these other tools in the toolbox? No. But it sure complements them.
Why & How the Free Rig Works
Separation is key.
When you fish a free rig, you can work any depth. But it shines in deep water. Since the weight slides freely up and down the line (hence the name), it shoots to the bottom after the cast.
If your bait is bulky, the weight will separate from the hook, but they will both sink – until the weight hits the bottom. When that happens, a dramatic drop in speed takes place. Your sinking plastic that was moving fast, suddenly slows to a crawl. Any curious Smallmouth or Largemouth Bass that were following to inspect will quickly find your plastic up close and personal. And often, they will react.
A finesse presentation that has the ability to generate reaction strikes? Bingo.
But the best part is that this triggering tactic doesn’t just happen on the initial fall. It happens again and again, every time you lift or pop your bait off the bottom. You can even utilize a reverse yo-yo if you use a floating plastic. Move your rod tip up and down to pull the floating plastic down to your weight, then allow slack so the bait can float up a bit, then pop and repeat.
As you can see, this is an incredibly versatile technique. But, as expected, it doesn’t work everywhere.
You wouldn’t want to use this rig in heavy cover, fishing Midwest canals, for example. The separation of the weight and the hook would be a nightmare in thick slop. The free rig is a precision tool for precise locations.
To the fish, it looks real. There’s no resistance, no tension. The fall is natural. But here is one of the biggest mistakes I made when I started fishing the free rig…
Fine-tuning the Free Rig
Your plastics matter and, in my personal opinion, you want drag. Bulk provides drag, and with that resistance, the separation between the plastic and the weight can occur. Slender baits like straight-tail worms – even the floating variety – don’t separate enough to be effective. There are simply better methods for fishing slender profiles.
So what does work?
As I mentioned, the Yamamoto Hula Grub is one of the best baits for Smallmouth Bass year-round. Largemouth love it too! The skirt adds a ton of drag, even though the bait is soft and sinks. This pairs amazingly well with the free rig, especially when the Bass are in the mood to feed.
If they’re lethargic or need something a bit more subtle, a floating paddle tail minnow can work well, but another surprising option is the OSP DoLive Beaver. (This was actually the bait that the reader sent to me!) The underwater movement is legit, giving off a “dolphin kick” on the fall that essentially buys bites, which is good, considering the cost. Rapala now offers a very similar bait for about 40% less, called the Bronco Bug. Not as supple, it’s geared more towards the American flip and pitch angler that needs durability more than flexibility. But it can still be effective at times in open water.
Whatever plastic you select, just remember – it’s all about that free-fall window!
How do free rig bites feel?
One question I see often is “What does a free rig bite feel like?”
Well, that depends. At times, when the fish are active, it feels like a ton of bricks. These aren’t timid nibbles, they’re decisive. It’s a beautiful contradiction, really. You want separation and free-falling weightless finesse and subtlety – until… BOOM!
When they’re neutral or negative, it feels like a slight tick – which means a sensitive rod is a must. It is also strongly recommended that you learn to watch your line. This is an important tip in Bass fishing, no matter what technique you’re throwing. Unnatural bounces or sideways movement mean a Bass picked it up – and they don’t have pockets!
Reel down, remove the slack, and drive it home.
The intensity of your hookset will depend on the size and strength of your hook – whether or not it’s buried in the plastic or exposed – and the depth at which you are fishing.
Experiment!
When does the free rig work?
60% of the time, it works every time. I heard that somewhere once – similar to this little nugget:
“Any color will work as long as it’s green pumpkin.”
There is no magic presentation. No magic bait. On any given day, the fish will tell you what they want. But for me, I’m going to reach for the free rig when the water is hot – when I know the fish are deep and I need to get something down quickly. But naturally, with some added triggering opportunities. It excels in clear, pressured water.
The heavier your weight, the faster (and deeper) you can fish it. Try it at the base of underwater humps, deep ledges, along bluff walls, the outside edges of thick, deep weed beds, and all along underwater points at every depth.
If you’re worried about the visibility of the sinker, don’t. The sinker leading your bait to the bottom makes it look like a small fish chasing an even smaller meal. Fish will focus on the bulkier plastic, and when they pick it up, the separation allows them to move off with almost zero resistance, giving you more time to reel down, remove the slack, and set the hook.
If you’re fishing deep matted grass (think sandgrass or chara algae), the free rig can be a secret weapon in your arsenal – provided you ensure maximum separation. If you hide the hook, your bait will come to rest on top of the matted grass, not get buried. This can be an effective way to fish this kind of cover while keeping your bait from getting hung up.
How to Set Up a Free Rig
Another great benefit of the free rig is its simplicity. Chances are, you can make one with gear you already have. This is all you’ll need to get started:
- Weight. Bell-style with a circular opening. Don’t use a dropshot sinker that pinches onto your line, unless you use pliers to expand that pinch-point out (yes, this does work). 1/8 to 1/4 oz is my sweet spot. The slimmer the profile, the faster it drops.
- Stopper. Use a bobber stop to protect your knot from weight slap. You can also leave a slightly longer tag-end on your knot. Both of these suggestions are optional.
- Hook. This depends on your plastic. Match up well – and if you can get away with a lighter wire option, go for it.
- Line. Straight fluorocarbon, if possible. This helps the rig get down, remain completely invisible, and fluoro won’t fray as easily as braid.
Use your favorite knot, and go to work!
Free Rig Fishing Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made ’em all… Here are the top mistakes to avoid so you can catch more fish, faster:
- Too tight of a line on the fall. It kills separation.
- Wrong plastics. This can mean no resistance, no drag, and no hang time.
- Too light of a weight. This also kills separation.
- Fluoro to braided line. Unsurprisingly, this kills invisibility.
- Overworking the bait. This will look unnatural. Let the rig do the work!
Give the Free Rig a Try When You Go Fishing!
The free rig isn’t hype. It’s not even new. But it’s misunderstood in my opinion – still underutilized. It teaches you to slow down. To strip away the extras. To let the bait move naturally in a way that Bass just don’t see every day. If the bite slows and I’m fishing clear, deep, pressured water, I’m going to tie it on and let the fish decide.
You’re not forcing the strike – you’re offering an invitation. Welcome to the party!
Tight Lines & Godspeed, Patriots.
