I’m super pumped to talk about one of the hottest new rigging techniques that’s been killing it out on the water—the Free Rig. If you haven’t heard of it yet, don’t worry because we’re going to break it down for you. The Free Rig is all about giving the bait maximum action, and it’s perfect for fooling fish that have seen every other rig out there. So let’s talk about selecting the right baits to make your Free Rig as effective as possible.
Before we jump into picking the best baits, let’s quickly talk about what the Free Rig is all about. The idea behind the Free Rig is simple but genius. You have a weight that slides freely up and down the line, and that allows the bait to move on its own, just like a real fish! It’s made up of a weight with an O-ring that slides along the line, a tiny bobber stop to keep the weight in place, and then a hook. What makes this rig so special is that the bait isn’t tied down. It can move freely, creating a natural, lifelike action that drives fish crazy. Now, with all that said, let’s talk about the baits that work best with the Free Rig.
When selecting baits for the Free Rig, the most important thing to remember is that the bait must have a flat bottom. It doesn’t matter if you’re using a big power fishing plastic or a smaller finesse bait, that flat bottom is key to getting the right movement. Why? Because when the bait falls, that flat bottom helps it glide smoothly to the bottom, mimicking a real fish in distress. Without that flat bottom, the bait could tumble or roll unnaturally, and that’s not what we want. So, remember this rule…flat bottom = better action!! Let’s take a closer look at two categories of baits I love for the Free Rig: power fishing baits and finesse baits.
Let’s start with power fishing. If you’re using a baitcaster, you’re probably going to want to go with bigger plastics; something in the 4 to 6-inch range. My two go-to baits for power fishing with the Free Rig are the Berkley Powerbait Power Hawg and the Berkley Powerbait Power Lizard. Both of these baits have that flat bottom we need for the Free Rig to work its magic. The Power Hawg is a creature-style bait that has big floppy legs and appendages, and it works great on the Free Rig because of its flat bottom. The Power Lizard is a 6-inch lizard with the same flat bottom, and trust me, it’s deadly when rigged on the Free Rig. When I rig these baits, I make sure the flat side is facing down. That way, as the bait falls or drags toward the weight, it has that smooth, gliding action we’re after.
Now, if you think the Free Rig is just for power fishing, think again! This rig works just as well for finesse fishing, and I’m here to tell you that it’s a game-changer for lighter tackle setups. For finesse fishing, you’re going to want to use smaller, more subtle baits that still have that all-important flat bottom. A couple of my favorites are the Berkley Powerbait Bottom Hopper and the Berkley Powerbait The General Worm. The Bottom Hopper is a straight-tail worm that comes in 4 and 6-inch versions, and it has a flat bottom, just like the Power Lizard. The General Worm is more like a French fry-style bait, and when you rig it on the Free Rig, it glides down beautifully. Both of these baits work great for finesse fishing, and the Free Rig lets them fall and move freely in ways other rigs just can’t match.
When rigging these finesse baits, I use the same setup as with the power fishing baits: make sure the flat side of the bait faces down. This is crucial because when you cast it, the weight hits the bottom, and then the bait follows, gliding down like a real fish. It’s a natural movement that fish can’t resist, especially in areas where they’ve seen every other rigging technique. Whether you’re fishing around cover or open water, the Free Rig offers a new action that fish haven’t seen before, and that’s why it works so well. The key is using soft plastics with a flat bottom to maximize that natural, free movement.
To wrap it up, the Free Rig is a technique you definitely want to try if you haven’t already. Whether you’re power fishing with big baits like the Power Hawg or finesse fishing with smaller baits like the Bottom Hopper, the flat bottom is essential for making that bait glide naturally and freely. Don’t sleep on this rig, it’ll change your fishing game, and you’ll catch fish that you never would’ve gotten before. So go out there, pick the right baits with that flat bottom, and give the Free Rig a try. You’ll be amazed at the results!
__________________________________
_____________________
Like Ike on Facebook, and follow him on Instagram and TikTok for fishing and fun content.
Subscribe to Mike’s YouTube channel, to ensure you see every adventure video. (Download the YouTube app on your phone and the videos will come to you automatically.)
_________________________________________
