Free Rig
フリーリグ· Free-Rig, Free Rigging· Intermediate
A bottom-fishing technique using a freely sliding sinker above a soft-plastic bait, allowing the weight to fall first while the lure follows with a natural, relatively unrestricted movement.
The Free Rig is a soft-plastic fishing technique that uses a freely sliding sinker, typically a cylindrical or teardrop-shaped weight with a line-through eye, positioned above the hook.
Unlike a conventional Texas rig with a pegged sinker, the weight can move independently along the fishing line. When the rig is cast or lifted, the sinker often descends ahead of the lure, creating a brief separation between the weight and soft plastic.
This allows the lure to fall more naturally, with less direct influence from the sinker. The amount of separation depends on the lure's shape, buoyancy, line tension, and the way the rig is worked.
Japanese bass anglers commonly use the Free Rig with craws, creature baits, and other soft plastics around rocks, vegetation edges, and bottom structure.
A typical presentation begins by casting to the target and allowing the rig to fall on a controlled slack line. After the sinker reaches the bottom, the angler waits for the lure to finish descending before slowly dragging, hopping, or lifting the rig.
The key is to make use of the difference in movement between the sinker and the lure rather than moving both together continuously.
For US anglers, the Free Rig offers an alternative to the Texas rig and Carolina rig, combining a relatively compact setup with a more independent falling action.
