Getting started
Setting Up a Basic Bottom Rig
Rig and fish a basic high-low bottom rig — one of the most broadly useful first real setups for Hampton Roads piers, bridges, and surf.
Why it matters
A bottom rig catches a wide range of common local species with minimal technique, which makes it a strong confidence-building first real rig once you can cast safely.
What you need
- A pre-tied high-low rig, or the components to build one (swivel, two hooks, sinker)
- Bait such as bloodworms, shrimp, or squid
- A pyramid or bank sinker
The rig this lesson builds
High-low (double-drop) bottom rig
Pre-tied high-low rigs from any tackle shop work fine to start
Steps
- 1Tie, or start with a pre-tied, high-low rig: main line to a three-way or barrel swivel, two dropper loops above the swivel each holding a baited hook, and a sinker below the swivel to hold bottom.
- 2Bait both hooks with a small piece of bloodworm, shrimp, or squid — a little bait goes a long way with a potent bait like bloodworm.
- 3Cast to a likely bottom spot — a pier piling, bridge structure, or channel edge — and let the rig settle fully to the bottom.
- 4Use just enough sinker weight to hold bottom in the current you're fishing; too much weight drags the bait and makes bites harder to feel.
- 5Watch and feel for a series of light taps rather than one hard strike, and reel up with steady pressure rather than jerking the rod.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using too heavy a sinker for calm conditions, which drags the bait and looks unnatural
- Waiting too long to set the hook on a light bottom bite
Safety considerations
- Keep the working hook pointed away from yourself and others while baiting up, and store spare hooks/rigs in a covered box
- Wash your hands after handling bait, especially before eating anything
On this coast
Hampton Roads context
This is the same high-low bottom rig documented on this site's own Rigs section, matched to real local piers where it's a strong beginner choice — Ocean View Fishing Pier and Buckroe Beach both see reliable late-summer runs of spot and croaker on exactly this setup.