Mark Rose shows off his gear setup and techniques for fishing both a Texas Rig and a Carolina Rig.
The new Strike King Midsize Rage Bug is a bait that Mark Rose is extremely excited about. “I have been a big fan of the Rage Bug for several years because it catches fish. It has a great profile, look, and action that fish love. I have been waiting for this new size and it’s a great addition” explains Mark. He will fish it Texas rigged style or on a Carolina rig setup.
He uses the same rod and reel for both of these rigs. A Lew’s Signature Series Mark Rose Rod is his rod of choice. This paired with a Lew’s Hypermag Baitcast Reel in the 7.5:1 gear ratio makes a deadly combo. The rod provides enough backbone, and the high-speed reel allows him to keep slack out of the line during hook sets.
Mark likes to fish the Texas Rig whenever he is fishing targets like trees, brushpiles, or specific structures. He likes to make multiple casts and will flip and pitch this rig as well. When the water is stained, he will use this over the Carolina rig. A 3/16-1/4oz weight pegged with a size 3/0 KVD flipping hook is what Mark specifically uses for his Texas rig set up.
He will switch to the Carolina rig whenever he is fishing open water such as pea gravel points, humps, and bars. “I like to make long casts when throwing the Carolina rig to search for bass. The bait is free floating behind the weight and the bass just can’t stand the Strike King Midsize Rage Bug” says Mark. He uses a Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Carolina Rig Weight with a swivel and bead as his go-to choice. A 2/0 round bend hook with a keeper is important to have. “A lot of times, fish will come up behind the bait and pull the body. The grip pin keeps it from sliding off” explains Mark. He spools his Lew’s Hypermag reel with 15-17lb main line and will have a 12-15lb leader.
One additional way Mark will fish the Midsize Rage Bug is with a Strike King Tour Grade Tungsten Swinging Football Head. He will use the same hook that he uses for the Texas rig and will use this method to fish for active fish in open water environments. It’s a quicker alternative to the Carolina Rig that can be fished faster to cover more water.
These are the three set-ups Mark likes to use and has found a lot of success with. The Strike King Midsize Rage Bug is a great addition and can be fished on all three techniques.
