The Carolina Keeper - Keeping Your Rigging Simple

I came across this amazing product, the Carolina Keeper, by chance browsing a sporting goods/outdoors store several years ago. I've been using it regularly every since.

Carolina rigs or slider rigs, which use sliding weights (weights that can slide up and down the line), allow a fisherman to use weights (often heavy weights which increase casting distance or maintain solid bottom contact) with the benefit that the fish will not feel the weight when taking your bait or lure because the line slides through the weight. Weights such as split shot that are pinched on to the line will be felt by a fish when the fish picks up your bait or lure and swims off with it. Sensing the weight will cause some fish to quickly drop the lure or bait.

We use slider rigs for catfishing with hot dogs, worms or live sunfish, carolina rigging soft plastics for bass and bottom fishing bait for trout.

Normally when fishing using a sliding weight and a leader such as a carolina rig or slider rig a fisherman must use the sliding weight, a bead of some sort to protect the knot, a barrel swivel and a leader. This requires the fisherman to tie three knots... the main line to the barrel swivel, the leader to the barrel swivel and the leader to the hook.

This obviously increases the chances of losing fish due to knot failure. Also, every time you retie the hook/bait or replace a lost hook/bait it shortens up your leader. Eventually, a new leader is necessary.

The Carolina Keeper solves these problems. You simply slide the sliding weight on to your line, use a pair of pliers to squeeze open (instructions come with a package of Carolina Keepers) and slide the Carolina Keeper up your line so that your leader is the desired length and tie on your hook or bait. Only one knot, main line to hook, is required reducing your chances of losing fish due to knot failure. No bead is necessary to protect the main line to leader knot. Of course, a bead can still be used if desired. And, if you must retie or replace a lost hook, you simply use a pair of pliers to move the Carolina Keeper an inch or two further up your main line. Leader length becomes easily and quickly adjustable. You will tend to lose less tackle also as usually just the hook or bait is lost which makes it quicker to retie and get back to fishing.

Of course, using a Carolina Keeper is not every fisherman's preference. Some fisherman like to use a braided main line and a mono-filament or fluorocarbon leader. In that case, the barrel swivel and bead is necessary. But it can be a useful product to simplify your rigging, which I am big believer in.

Caroline Keepers are available in red or clear at some tackle shops and on Amazon. Click here for clear or here for red.