Method

Texas rig: how to get started

On a Texas rig, a sliding weight sits right in front of the soft lure and the hook point is buried in the plastic. That lets you fish snag-free through weed.

Good for

Plan a day of Spinning

What you need

Spinning rod with a stiff action, heavier for pike, about 2.20 m and 70 g casting weight
Fixed-spool reel, or a baitcaster for accurate casts
Braided main line plus a fluorocarbon leader
Where there are pike: a pike-proof trace of soft wire
Bullet-shaped sliding weights (bullets) in several weights
Glass beads, or hard rubber beads with tungsten bullets
Offset or wide-gap hooks, for pike heavy-wire in 5/0
Lures: long soft plastic worms, creatures, artificial crayfish, no-action soft plastics

Step by step

Before you go, sort out your German fishing licence (Fischereischein), your fishing permit and the rules for the water, for example whether lures are allowed right now.
Thread the bullet weight onto the leader first, pointed end forward, then the bead, and then tie on the hook.
Choose the weight to suit the depth: up to 2 m about 2 to 5 g, 2 to 4 m about 5 to 9 g, 4 to 6 m about 8 to 12 g, deeper than that 13 to 18 g.
Rig the lure: push the hook point into the nose, bring it out after a short distance, slide the lure up to the eye, turn the hook and push the point back into the plastic.
Cast to weed, water lilies, timber or drop-offs and let the lure sink to the bottom.
Work it in small hops with pauses. When you lift, the weight and bead click together and attract the fish.
Bites usually come on the drop. Wait 1 to 2 seconds, then strike firmly.
Any fish you keep, stun and kill straight away in a humane way. Unhook all the others quickly in the water.

Common mistakes

Combining a glass bead with a tungsten bullet: the hard metal smashes the bead and damages the leader.
Using a swivel in weed: it collects bits of plants, in weed a knot is better.
A rod that is too soft for pike fishing: the strike does not get through and fish come off more easily.
Heavy weight without a stopper: the weight and lure slide apart and the rig loses its advantage.

Tips

With heavy weights, put a float stop on the rod side behind the weight so it stays tight against the lure.
After winter, perch are sluggish, so work the lure slowly with long pauses.
For pike, try bright lures such as white or chartreuse and feel free to pause for several seconds.

Quick questions

Which weight should I use for a Texas rig?

That depends on the water depth: up to 2 m about 2 to 5 g, from 2 to 4 m about 5 to 9 g, from 4 to 6 m about 8 to 12 g and deeper than that 13 to 18 g. In dense weed it can be much heavier.

Which hook size suits a Texas rig?

As a guide: lures under 10 cm with hook size 1 to 1/0, lures from 10 to 14 cm with 2/0, from 15 cm with 3/0 to 5/0. For pike, use a heavy-wire offset hook.

Why is the Texas rig snag-free?

The hook point is buried in the soft lure and the slim weight slides over branches and weed. Only when a fish bites does it squeeze the plastic, and the point comes free.

Check the rules

Closed seasons and minimum sizes are set by each German state (and by each country abroad) and can be stricter on individual waters. We are building an overview with sources and check dates. Until then, check the local fishing regulations and the rules of the club or permit for your water.

Sources (4)

Last checked 2026-10-10. Found a mistake? Write to [email protected].

Know more?

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