Weight for Texas Rig

I have been using Texas rigs mostly in slack or slow current. I am constantly hearing 1oz weights in comments by tournament anglers in some of the larger series. I consider
Texas rigging one of the finesse types of presentations and don’t quite understand how tossing a one ounce piece of lead figures into that equation. Can anybody shed some light on this.

I usually rig with 1/4 or less for texas rigging. Two thoughts on this:

1. Maybe in heavy current or weeds they need the extra weight to keep it down or punch through the bottom?

2. Is it possible that the bass are reacting to the “thump thump” on the bottom, and a heavier weight contributes more noise to this?

I try to keep it to a 1/4 or less myself.I really dont like using anything heavy.I try to keep everything a 1/4 or less.Spinner baits or what ever.Just came in off the river and had a good day using 1/4 rattle traps.Found some nice bass today.Hope they will stay put till next sat!!…..ya right!

When people indicate they are using 3/4 to 1.5 ounce weights… They are basically sagint they are fishing heavy vegetation and they need this much weight to get the bait into the cover. Say for instance you have a solid mat of pads that make a perfect canopy. There are bass under them and a rat will just not get any attention. In these types of areas you are all but required to use a heavy weight. Many people pass on these and look ffor pads that have small openings to get there offering in but they are in fact missing many good quality fish.
jc

Guys

I know this is “Fish the River” but occasionally I get to fish a lake. If the right conditions exist I love flipping milfoil. The Twin Cities lakes are some of the best. There is nothing like yanking a 4 plus largemouth out of extra thick milfoil in 10′ of water. That’s where the heavy texas rig or big jig comes into play. A flipping stick with 25-LB test line is in order. Worms, craws or tubes for texas rigs or a jig and pig as lures. The technique is to make short flips (about 10 yards.) ahead of the boat as you move you boat along at a steady pace. Get to far from the boat and you’ll likely lose the fish because the will tangle you in the milfoil and pull free. The bite can be a violent hit or just a heavy feeling on the lift. After a couple lifts you reel it up and make another flip. One of the keys is a vertical free-fall as the bait drops. I think something crashing into a fish’s lair draws lots of reactions strikes. I usually start on the visible milfoil edge, typically around 10′ and work in and out if you don’t contact the fish on the edge. It can be boring till you contact the fish but after that it’s toe-to-toe knockdown drag-out action. It’s typical to get 2 or 3 fish from a small area so stop the boat and work the area. This is also where the trolling motor becomes an issue. MinnKota is clearly better for the heavy weeds.

Riverfan