By Matt Straw
Hardbaits are straightforward affairs. A bass might be triggered to strike a crankbait with a twitch, or a change of speed. A spinnerbait might be more successful when pumped occasionally. In either case, the angler has to manipulate the bait with rod action.
A bass rig is less predictable, and sometimes manipulates itself. Bass rigs can be simple or complex, but most have evolved to include multiple variations. The famous Texas rig was invented back in the 1960s to get a plastic bait through weeds without fouling, leading to the development of cone-shaped sinkers and specialized offset hooks. The cone shape slides through vegetation better, and the offset hook rigs the worm...
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