Texas Rig Fishing on Higgins Lake
Higgins Lake · Michigan · Midwest
Higgins Lake is one of Michigan's clearest and deepest inland lakes, spanning over 9,000 acres with depths exceeding 130 feet. The lake features diverse habitat including sandy shoals, rocky points, weed beds, and deep basins that support healthy populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass. Its clear water and abundant structure make it a premier destination for bass fishing in the midwest.
A bullet sinker slides freely on the line ahead of a wide-gap hook with a weedless-rigged soft plastic. The rig is completely snag-resistant, making it the go-to choice for grass, timber, and heavy cover. Works with virtually any soft plastic — worms, craws, creatures, lizards.
Texas Rig Setup for Higgins Lake
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium-heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1 or faster baitcaster |
| Line | 15–20 lb fluorocarbon or 30–50 lb braid in heavy cover |
| Weight | 3/16–1/2 oz tungsten bullet weight (peg it in heavy cover) |
| Hook | 3/0–5/0 EWG wide gap hook sized to plastic |
Seasonal Tactics on Higgins Lake
Lake: Spring bass move to shallow flats and rocky areas as water temperatures warm, with peak activity around spawning beds in April and May. Crankbaits and jigs targeting 8-15 feet of water produce excellent results during this transition period.
Texas Rig: Slow drag through spawning flats and around beds. Lizards and creature baits in crawfish colors.
Lake: Summer bass suspend deeper or relate to weed lines and points as the lake warms, requiring anglers to fish deeper structure and early morning/late evening periods. Drop-shotting and finesse techniques work well in the clear water targeting 20-40 foot depths.
Texas Rig: Pitch into shade — docks, mats, and laydowns. Pegged weight for matted grass punching.
Lake: Fall cooling triggers aggressive feeding as bass congregate on points, drop-offs, and shallow structure in preparation for winter. Topwater lures and swimbaits near transition zones produce excellent action through October.
Texas Rig: Cover water quickly on points and along weed lines. Faster retrieve with a reaction element.
Lake: Winter fishing remains possible through the ice with jigging presentations around deeper structure and basin areas where bass congregate. Live shiners and small tungsten jigs fished slowly near 40-60 foot depths can produce steady winter catches.
Texas Rig: Slow drag on deep structure, 15–30 feet. Finesse Texas rig with 1/4 oz and 6" worm.
Best Conditions
Heavy cover — grass, timber, laydowns, docks; murky to stained water; any season; pre-spawn and post-spawn periods
Peg the weight with a rubber toothpick when fishing grass. A sliding weight catches weeds; a pegged weight punches through clean.
More Techniques for Higgins Lake
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