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Charted WatersCoastal Virginia
Sheet 04 of 28

beginner rig

Bottom presentation

Carolina rig

A sliding weight above a leader — natural presentation, fewer snags.

Best for
Dragging baits along the bottom for flounder, bass, and structure fish.
Water
ShoreKayakInshore boatFreshwaterPier
Carolina rig schematicTop to bottom: main line, sinker, bead, swivel, leader, hook, bait.

Schematic, not to scale. Hover, tap, or tab through the parts; the drawing isolates each one.

Terms usedMain lineSinkerBeadSwivelLeaderHook sizes

Components

As listed in the rig record, top to bottom.

  1. Main line
  2. Egg sinker (1/4–1 oz)
  3. Plastic bead
  4. Barrel swivel
  5. 18–36 in leader
  6. Hook or jig head

Step by step

  1. 1Slide the egg sinker onto the main line.
  2. 2Add the bead below the sinker to protect the knot.
  3. 3Tie the main line to the swivel.
  4. 4Attach 18–36 inches of leader to the other swivel eye.
  5. 5Finish with your hook or light jig head and drag slowly.

When to use it

  • Sand-to-mud transitions and gradual points
  • Clear water where a long leader helps
  • Drifting or slow shoreline retrieves

Common mistakes

  • Retrieving too fast for bottom-oriented fish
  • Skipping the bead and abrading the knot
  • Using a weight so heavy it plows the bottom

Variations

Sliding-sinker rigs: the same idea, adjusted

Rigs drawn from the same schematic family — heavier, lighter, or with one part changed for a different fish or water.

All bottom rigs

Where to use it

Water this rig is documented for

Spots marked “species match” document a fish this rig is for and the way it is fished — a place to try it, not a report that it has been fished there.

All fishing spots