The free rig came out of Korea and Japan and has taken over a lot of the Carolina rig's job. A tear-drop weight with a swivel eye slides freely on the line above the hook. When it hits bottom, the plastic keeps drifting down naturally on slack line, which gives the bait a longer, more natural fall than any pegged rig. It is quick to tie and easy to fish.
What you need
- Free-rig weight1/4–1/2 oz teardrop or "free rig" weight with a swivel eye
- Offset hook3/0–4/0 EWG
- Soft plasticCreature, craw, stick bait or flapping worm
- Line12–16 lb fluorocarbon
How to tie the free rig
- Thread the line through the swivel eye of the free-rig weight.
- Tie the hook directly to the line with a Palomar knot — no leader or stopper.
- Texas-rig the plastic with the point skin-hooked.
How to fish it
Cast and let it fall on a completely slack line. The weight hits bottom first and the bait glides down the last few feet. Wait, then lift and let it fall again, or drag it slowly. Watch the line on the fall.
Tips
- The slack-line fall is the whole point — do not fish it tight.
- Bulky, buoyant plastics get the most glide.
Common mistakes
- Adding a peg or bead; that turns it back into a Texas rig.