Texas Rig Bass Fishing: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners (2025)
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Quick Answer
The Texas Rig is a versatile, weedless bass fishing setup that uses a bullet weight, hook, and soft plastic bait to target bass in heavy cover. Perfect for beginners, it offers snag-free fishing in weeds, brush, and rocky structure — while still delivering a natural presentation that triggers strikes.
What Is a Texas Rig?
The Texas Rig is a simple but deadly bass fishing setup invented in the Lone Star State in the early 1970s. It consists of:
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A bullet-shaped weight (slips on the line)
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A worm hook (offset or straight shank)
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A soft plastic bait (worm, craw, creature)
The key to its success is its weedless design — the hook point is buried (or “tex-posed”) in the plastic, allowing you to fish through lily pads, hydrilla, laydowns, and other snag-heavy cover without hanging up.
Internal Link: For a full breakdown of other rig styles, check out our Plastic Worms & Creature Baits: 2025 Beginner-to-Pro Master Guide.
Why Use a Texas Rig for Bass Fishing
If bass fishing had a “Swiss Army Knife,” this would be it.
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Weedless — fish it in thick cover without snagging.
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Versatile — works with worms, craws, lizards, and tubes.
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Year-round effectiveness — works in spring spawn, summer grass, fall transition, and winter deep fishing.
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Beginner-friendly — easy to learn, hard to mess up.
Texas Rig Setup: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Slide on the Bullet Weight
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Thread a bullet-shaped sinker onto your line point-first.
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Weight size depends on depth & cover:
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1/8–1/4 oz for shallow/light cover
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3/8–1 oz for deep/heavy cover
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Step 2: Tie on Your Hook
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Use an Extra Wide Gap (EWG) for bulky plastics, or a straight shank for worms.
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Knot choice: Palomar for strength, Improved Clinch for speed.
Step 3: Rig the Soft Plastic
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Pierce the bait’s nose with the hook point.
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Push 1/4” down, rotate hook 180°, and slide bait up to hook eye.
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Insert the hook point into the body so it’s tex-posed (just under the surface).
Step 4: Adjust for Weedlessness
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Slightly bury hook tip into plastic (“skin hook”) for maximum snag resistance.
Best Hooks & Weights for Texas Rigging
| Component | Recommendation | Affiliate Link Placeholder |
|---|---|---|
| Hook | Gamakatsu EWG Worm Hook (3/0–5/0) | Check Price |
| Hook | Owner Wide Gap Plus | Check Price |
| Hook | Mustad KVD Grip-Pin | Check Price |
| Weight | Reaction Tackle Tungsten Bullet Weight | Check Price |
| Weight | VMC Tungsten Worm Weight | Check Price |
| Weight | Bass Pro Shops Worm Weights | Check Price |
Best Plastic Baits for Texas Rigs
The Texas Rig works with almost any soft plastic, but here are proven favorites:
| Bait Type | Example | Best Use Case | Affiliate Link Placeholder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stick Worm | Yamamoto Senko | All-around, subtle action | Check Price |
| Trick Worm | Zoom Trick Worm | Finesse, clear water | Check Price |
| Creature | Strike King Rage Craw | Flipping, heavy cover | Check Price |
| Lizard | Zoom 6” Lizard | Spring spawn beds | Check Price |
| Tube | Strike King Coffee Tube | Cold water, vertical jigging | Check Price |
Texas Rig Fishing Techniques
1. Lift & Drop
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Cast near cover, let bait hit bottom, lift rod tip, let bait fall.
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Most strikes happen on the fall.
2. Dragging
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Slowly drag along the bottom for lethargic bass.
3. Pitching & Flipping
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Quietly present the bait into tight spots in heavy cover.
4. Swimming
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Retrieve steadily to imitate a fleeing baitfish or craw.
Troubleshooting & Common Mistakes
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Bait Sliding Down Hook — Use a hook with a bait keeper or add a bobber stop above your weight.
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Missing Strikes — Wait a second before setting the hook; bass often inhale and reposition the bait.
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Getting Snagged — Check your skin hook placement; fully bury the hook point.
Pros & Cons of the Texas Rig
Pros
- Weedless design for fishing in heavy cover
- Works year-round in all water temps
- Compatible with a wide variety of plastics
- Beginner-friendly setup
- Inexpensive and easy to find components
Cons
- Can miss hooksets if rigged incorrectly
- Requires weight adjustments for different conditions
- Not ideal for ultra-clear, highly pressured waters
Final Verdict
The Texas Rig is the ultimate gateway technique for bass fishing. It’s simple, versatile, and proven — making it perfect for beginners yet still relied upon by pros.
Internal Link: Learn more rigging styles in our Plastic Worms & Creature Baits: 2025 Beginner-to-Pro Master Guide.
FAQ
Q: What size hook for a Texas Rig?
A: Generally 3/0–4/0 for standard worms, 5/0 for larger plastics.
Q: Can I use a Texas Rig without a weight?
A: Yes, this is called a “weightless Texas Rig” and works well in shallow water.
Q: What line is best?
A: 12–17 lb fluorocarbon for most situations; braid with a leader in heavy cover.
Final Verdict
The Texas Rig isn’t just another rig — it’s the bass fisherman’s bread and butter. It’s the setup you can throw when nothing else is working, the one that’ll pull fish out of gnarly cover without costing you a small fortune in lost tackle. Whether you’re skipping a Senko under a dock, punching through hydrilla, or dragging a craw across rocky structure, the Texas Rig will deliver.
If you’re new to bass fishing, start here. If you’re experienced, refine your technique and experiment with different plastics, weights, and hook styles. And remember — patience and presentation are just as important as the rig itself.
Internal Link: Ready to master other weedless and bottom-contact rigs? Check out our full Plastic Worms & Creature Baits: 2025 Beginner-to-Pro Master Guide for every style worth knowing.
About the Author
Brian Bahr is the founder of Bark & Brass, a no-BS outdoor gear review site where honesty comes before hype. After decades of fishing, hunting, and spending more time outdoors than indoors, Brian knows what works, what’s junk, and what’s just marketing fluff. His mission is to help everyday anglers, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts make smarter gear choices without feeling like they’re reading a technical manual.
When Brian’s not testing gear, you can find him with his Golden Retriever, Willie, on the boat or by the grill, living by his go-to motto: “Go big or go home — but don’t go broke doing it.”